Track day 2.7, 987.1 after terminal engine failure?

Track day 2.7, 987.1 after terminal engine failure?

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phazed

Original Poster:

22,000 posts

211 months

Saturday 3rd September 2022
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My daughter just killed the engine on her 06 Boxster. Shame as it had only done 65K.

She didn't heed the low coolant level message when cruising on the motorway and it ground to a halt in the fast lane. Oil pressure light came on for a few seconds before terminal, (so she says!).

I have it back and without inspecting it yet, (AA man said it was toast!) I suspect a full rebuild is required. Thoughts are that I rebuild it, (have done several non Porsche engines in the past) and use it as a replacement for my vRS track day car.

It was a cat D, (although immaculate and had minimal front damage from previous owner) so has limited value. I have a set of Porsche track wheels with Toyo R888's fitted already.

The question are:
What are the thoughts of a home rebuild? It's just an engine, right?
I assume bore work, possibly crank regrind, maybe pistons and all new bearings and seals?
Approximate costs, (ballpark).

Your thoughts appreciated.

Edited by phazed on Saturday 3rd September 12:36

bennno

12,754 posts

276 months

Saturday 3rd September 2022
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Rebuilt engine that’s worn is 8-12k ……

Break it for parts or sell it for parts. I’d not bother fitting a used engine unless it’s still in a bent shell as I’d wager it’ll be borked.

roca1976

582 posts

122 months

Sunday 4th September 2022
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Audi V6 (or V8) conversion?
https://engineswapdepot.com/?p=11070

STiG911

1,210 posts

174 months

Monday 5th September 2022
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phazed said:
it ground to a halt in the fast lane.

Edited by phazed on Saturday 3rd September 12:36
  • Outside Lane - no such thing as a Fast Lane.

phazed

Original Poster:

22,000 posts

211 months

Monday 5th September 2022
quotequote all
Quite right, not in this country!

Had a brief look at it last night. Coolant level not showing, oil level good.

Spins over as normal and when eventually it fired up it sounded like it was running on two or three cylinders so I switched off immediately.

Any thoughts?

Just to add that when it ground to a halt she was in slow moving traffic on the M6 and not doing her usual head down and go as fast as possible, (given restrictions of course).

STiG911

1,210 posts

174 months

Wednesday 7th September 2022
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You're lucky it even turned over at all!
Given the lack of coolant which started all this it's fair to say the oil is going to be utterly shot to bits, and you'll need to do a major flush of the engine.
It's possible that one or more liners will have been damaged as a result of the heat too, and given that it sounded like only two or three cylinders were firing, the sparks will be done as well, possibly one or more coil packs too due to all the excess heat soak once the car stopped.

It's possible you might get lucky, in that you could try a 'major service' of the engine and maybe a bore scope while the plugs are out to check for damage and fire it up again to see how it runs. And / or turn it over by hand when all the plugs are out to see how freely (or not!) it spends and listen for any graunching.

Never knows.

phazed

Original Poster:

22,000 posts

211 months

Wednesday 7th September 2022
quotequote all
It's worth a try I guess.

Car is parked in the drive waiting for No 1 & 3 sons to be here simultaneously to push it slightly uphill into the garage with the 2 poster. Should be Tomorrow or Friday.

Will have an investigation then.

Thanks for your post, you never know. At least the car stopped in typical slow moving UK motorway traffic and wasn't at full chat!

996Keef

435 posts

98 months

Wednesday 7th September 2022
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Sounds borked, first question is where did the water go.

Whip it out and a local engine rebuilder go over it. With any luck a couple / few grand sorts it without porkatax , would be expecting damaged liners and warped heads at a minimum.

phazed

Original Poster:

22,000 posts

211 months

Wednesday 7th September 2022
quotequote all
First thing will be checking for external leaks.

My guess if it is properly cooked it will have blown a/both head gaskets...

Such a shame as it was a very quiet, tight engine that felt fantastic.