Hello All,
You may have seen the thread I started on removing the engine and gearbox from my 996 C2:
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=126372
The reason for doing it, I didn't go into at the time. Long story short, I do my own servicing, (which is a whole other thread with some very good arguments either way) and after a year and 5000 miles of running Millers Nano 10W50 I decided that I should change the oil and filter.
I had dropped the filter 1500 miles before to get an oil sample for analysis as I'd thought that fuel was getting in the oil. (It hadn't, and the report came back very positive with less than 10 parts per million of copper and otherwise good clean oil 'indicative of an engine in good condition") When I dropped the filter, I had a good look through it and there were no undue bits stuck there.
Anyway, when checking the filer this time there was a slight increase in non-ferrous tiny silver particles. That didn't worry me as the oil hadn't been changed last time. What was concerning though, was 2 small flattened flakes of bronzy coloured non-ferrous metal I found in the filter housing. The hot idle oil pressure wasn't great either, creeping down to slightly less than 1 bar. I was very worried to put it mildly. I was now sure there was a problem with a bearing.
This is the third 996 C2 I've owned. The first two were sold as I just felt too paranoid about the whole M96 engine thing, though both had been operating fine. I bought a Lotus Elise S1. Enjoyed it for 3 months, but it wasn't anywhere near the experience and sold it for a small profit. I thought about an old school Impreza Turbo, or Renault Clio Trophy. There just wasn't anything else that interested me enough. I considered a Cayman, but they have engine issues as well, there values are dipping still and it's not the same rear engine 'thing'. Then bought this car. It's a 1998 C2 manual. Aero kit from the factory, Cable throttle, LSD, Mo30 and Sports seats, sunroof delete and had the 996.2 GT3 alloys. (Though mine appear to be Porsche Tequipment supplied – Thanks Colin separate thread)
I've spent a fair bit on rebuilding the suspension and brakes, cleaning painting and fettling. And a new clutch and dual-mass flywheel.
As you can imagine, the money I've spent, I'm not going to get back just yet! ......... and the engine appears it maybe borked........
Disbelief/anger/bargaining/pleading/acceptance. Yep all of those and several times through too.
So, what to do? The thought of selling it on to some other punter was never really an option. It would be someone like me or you, who knows their cars, and their 996's and wants a car with this spec. Probably sink hard earned money and maybe a loan into it. Traders would give be a lot less cash and do they deserve to be lumped with it either?
I have decided to rebuild it, and as it's a keeper, the engine has been posted off to Hartech.
I spoke to Grant at Hartech yesterday and I will fill you in on the result of the strip down and inspection in the next post.
Regards James
You may have seen the thread I started on removing the engine and gearbox from my 996 C2:
http://911uk.com/viewtopic.php?t=126372
The reason for doing it, I didn't go into at the time. Long story short, I do my own servicing, (which is a whole other thread with some very good arguments either way) and after a year and 5000 miles of running Millers Nano 10W50 I decided that I should change the oil and filter.
I had dropped the filter 1500 miles before to get an oil sample for analysis as I'd thought that fuel was getting in the oil. (It hadn't, and the report came back very positive with less than 10 parts per million of copper and otherwise good clean oil 'indicative of an engine in good condition") When I dropped the filter, I had a good look through it and there were no undue bits stuck there.
Anyway, when checking the filer this time there was a slight increase in non-ferrous tiny silver particles. That didn't worry me as the oil hadn't been changed last time. What was concerning though, was 2 small flattened flakes of bronzy coloured non-ferrous metal I found in the filter housing. The hot idle oil pressure wasn't great either, creeping down to slightly less than 1 bar. I was very worried to put it mildly. I was now sure there was a problem with a bearing.
This is the third 996 C2 I've owned. The first two were sold as I just felt too paranoid about the whole M96 engine thing, though both had been operating fine. I bought a Lotus Elise S1. Enjoyed it for 3 months, but it wasn't anywhere near the experience and sold it for a small profit. I thought about an old school Impreza Turbo, or Renault Clio Trophy. There just wasn't anything else that interested me enough. I considered a Cayman, but they have engine issues as well, there values are dipping still and it's not the same rear engine 'thing'. Then bought this car. It's a 1998 C2 manual. Aero kit from the factory, Cable throttle, LSD, Mo30 and Sports seats, sunroof delete and had the 996.2 GT3 alloys. (Though mine appear to be Porsche Tequipment supplied – Thanks Colin separate thread)
I've spent a fair bit on rebuilding the suspension and brakes, cleaning painting and fettling. And a new clutch and dual-mass flywheel.
As you can imagine, the money I've spent, I'm not going to get back just yet! ......... and the engine appears it maybe borked........
Disbelief/anger/bargaining/pleading/acceptance. Yep all of those and several times through too.
So, what to do? The thought of selling it on to some other punter was never really an option. It would be someone like me or you, who knows their cars, and their 996's and wants a car with this spec. Probably sink hard earned money and maybe a loan into it. Traders would give be a lot less cash and do they deserve to be lumped with it either?
I have decided to rebuild it, and as it's a keeper, the engine has been posted off to Hartech.
I spoke to Grant at Hartech yesterday and I will fill you in on the result of the strip down and inspection in the next post.
Regards James