924Board.org

[balanceshaft]

i got burned on a car really bad. after driving it for a while is seemed ok. it even seemed alright during the ride home, untill i pulled up infront of my house. suddenly it was running rough at idle with alot of vibration.
it started to make a noise and i wasn't sure what it was. i ended up taking it to a local mechanic, who was an idiot and i should have just looked myself. but he said it was some kind of guide that was rubbing on a belt/chain? lol. he ran it on a dyno while i was gone for some reason and when i got back it was making a really bad noise.

he definatly made the problem bad-worse.

when i got it home i took off the cover where the upper shaft is located after poking around with a stethoscope. to my dismay i found that the bracket holding the bearings and the shaft was no longer held inplace by studs. apparantly it had become loose somehow and the shaft started to spiral instead of spin and knocked the bracket loose and broke the studs holding it. the shaft luckily(i guess) didn't knock through the block or the shaft cover.

i took the car to a reputable audi/porsche mechanic nearby via trailer. he told me that the shaft would not be able to be replaced without machining as the block was line boared to fit that specific shaft and that the part was not interchangable. and that something i don't understand whathad happened where the rear of the shaft is seated making repair impossible.

i've heard that balance shafts can be removed entirly and replaced with a kit that uses what i assume to be a type of harmonic balancer, or some other method. would this be an option for me? is it expensive?

i'll try to get some pictures of the rear area where the shaft is seated, and everything else so you guys can see for yourselves.

hopefully this is repairable

[John_AZ]

I read and reread your post, this is bad.

I hope you feel you got a good deal on the car. This is why everyone should get a PPI-PrePurchase Inspection. The best $100 spent on a 24 year old car.

The second mechanic you took the car to is correct. The parts are not interchangeable with another balance shaft housing, bridge or compensating shaft. They stamp the parts after machining.

Someone else may respond with a solution and suggest you get another housing and bridge and cross your fingers-----you might be extremely lucky and find a close enough match. Maybe worth a try.

You cannot run the car without the BB (balance belt). Track cars do it but they do not idle much. Without a BB you will shake and break the oil pickup and maybe cause a fire on the fuel rail.

Harmonic Balancer???? I do not know of an add-on kit.

The solution is a short block or a complete engine swap. Many available.

Sorry to read about your disaster.

GL
John
_________________
'88 924S 67K
'87 924S 122K -DD
Past: 1970 914 1.7, 1977.5 924, 1979 924, +++== Gone, Past tutors

[ideola]

I have a short block from the 924S that I am parting out that I would love to get rid of...

...don't know how I'd ship it, but let me know if it would be of interest.
_________________
erstwhile owner of just about every 924 variant ever made

[balanceshaft]

i've been looking around for a replacement engine, but the even prices on used ones with undetermined mileage seem to be a bit much. what is the ideal price range forn one of these engines?
does anyone know a reputable place to buy the engines?
i found one on the german auto dismantiler's site for my car for about 750 $ which is actually the best deal i've seen thusfar. however i could also sell the car to them for 800 $ and probably buy another 924s for that and a couple hundred bucks more.
for now though i think i'm just going to keep looking for another engine somewhere.

[ic932]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230511501646&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

AFFILIATED - I'M THE SELLER...

Shipping might be a killer though?

[gohim]

Whether you should sell the car and start all over depends on the condition of the car you already have. You told us the engine is history, but how about the rest of the car? Ever been crashed? Original Paint? Original interior? What is the condition of the body and the interior? the salvage yard offered you $800 for the car? I would guess that it would be in pretty good condition. Personally I think your better off fixing your car if the body and interior are in good original condition because most under $1000 cars are going to be not running and trashed.

The problem with installing any used 944 engine with unknows history is the cost of servicing the engine when you don't know if the engine is any good.

It's easier to do the FOES (front of engine service) while the engine is out of the car. And, the clutch should also be replaced as long as the engine is out, because of the high cost of clutch replacement (8-12 labor hours when the engine is in the car).

944s are getting to be common in the local self-service salvage yards. I can get a complete 944 2.5L engine for $200 (extra $60 for a 30 day warranty), or $100 for the short block or $140 for the long block. 1/2 price as a mid-week special or on 1/2 Sale Weekends.

But, then there's $600-$800 for the parts for the FOES (including a new Porsche waterpump), and another $600-$700 for a complete clutch set. These parts need to be installed on the engine before it's installed, what if the engine turns out to be no good? Sure, some of the parts can be removed (timing and balance shaft belts, waterpump, the rollers and pulleys), and the clutch disc, throwout bearing and pressure plate. But you will lose some single use parts (front of engine seal set, and rear crankshaft main seal), and the time. If you're doing all the labor yourself, that not too big a risk. but what if you're paying someone to do the labor?

Whether you pay $200, or $750 for an engine, you still need to do the FOES and the clutch before you install the engine. Personally, I've been trying to get a new engine built for my 924S, and I'm beginning to think I should just wait until a 1/2 off sale, pick the best engine I can find (complete for $100), take my chances, drop it in, and whatever happens, happens. At least my car will be running.