top end rebuild - when?

[andyp]

Looking to sell my C2 manual which is on 140,000 miles now.

I recall when looking to buy a 964 it was normal for them to 'need' a top end rebuild sometime after 100k miles. Is there a similar nominal mileage for a 993 needing the top end to be rebuilt as I've never heard the same thing mentioned for these cars?

For the record, the engine runs brilliantly and pulls really well. So I have no reason to believe it needs any work doing on it, but I just want to pre-empt the sort of questions I will get regarding engine work on a 140,000 mile car.

Cheers

Andy

 

[berni29]

Hi Andy

I can only chime in with my personal experience. My car had done 185k miles when I did the top end. It also ran without any negative symptoms, but I took it apart because of a broken piston ring.

The only components that had really excessive wear were the exhaust valve guides which are a weakness on these and previous iterations of this engine. The chain ramps were worn but not terrible. I changed them for new items of course. The pistons and cylinders were hardly worn at all, but I had previously bought a 46k mile set from the USA because I had expected them to be worn. So I fitted the replacement set anyways.

I did change various cam and timing chain gaskets along the way, and there must have been some other bits and bobs like spark plug leads etc. The inside of the engine was super clean. A testament to modern oil. In this case Magnatec 10/40 which my documentation shows the car has run on most of its life. I will not use anything else in this car.

I did all the work myself with the help of my brother so it was not too expensive an exercise.

I'm somewhat surprised you are considering a top end rebuild just in order to sell the car a bit more easily. I would sell the car to someone who is not too bothered about such things. You only need one buyer.

In any case most buyers will not expect a well cared for 993 engine to need rebuilding at the mileage you are talking about.

Best of luck

Berni

 

[andyp]

Hi Andy

I can only chime in with my personal experience. My car had done 185k miles when I did the top end. It also ran without any negative symptoms, but I took it apart because of a broken piston ring.

...

In any case most buyers will not expect a well cared for 993 engine to need rebuilding at the mileage you are talking about.

Best of luck

Berni

Berni,

it's good to hear about your experiences.

I wasn't planning on doing a rebuild before selling. But I guess just trying to fathom out if people are going to get put off by a car of this mileage without a top end rebuild, which it doesn't like it would be perceived as a problem.

Andy

 

[Desert Dragon]

As Berni says these cars are very rugged. Its more rust buyers need to be wary of :thumbs:

 

[wozy]

If correctly serviced and not thrashed from cold, hitting the limiter in every gear .... 140K miles is just about run in.

My pre vario at 160K miles was showing near stock at 270BHP and finished the day at 295 when remapped for the LWF at Chipwizards :thumb:

 

[Desert Dragon]

I have little or no doubt the 993 the best air-cooled :thumbs:

 

[AP90]

I think the top end rebuild is a load of old bollox

If well looked after and not thrashed it'll last forever

I had my old 964 fully rebuilt at 80K because of a spun lower bearing, done very well by Andy at JZM. didn't notice any difference after the rebuild........

Keep your money in your pocket :wink:

 

[badlands]

if the (at operating temp) oil pressure is running below 1 bar then worth considering, according to my Porsche specialist. Or if white smoke etc on startup when it's not just condensation

Mine is on 108k miles and is the strongest pulling 993 I've had yet (this is the 3rd).

Sounds like you have nothing to worry about - get it on collecting cars.

 

[ras62]

As previously mentioned exhaust valve wear is an issue with all 993 even more so than the 964. Oil use at after high rpm is probably the best indicator a rebuild is on the cards.