M96 Engine Repair

[rshon]

Anyone had any good experiences with a local shop (or SoCal) repairing your M96 engine (996/1st Gen Boxster)? I had my day cut real short yesterday at Fontana with a BAD clacking sound coming out of the right cylinder bank (engine still runs, though).

[Cajundaddy]

Sorry Russell, That surely was an ugly sound.
911 Design/Loren Beggs in Montclair repaired my brothers motor (bad chain tensioner guides) last year and they do have lots of experience inside these things. From what I have read, if it is a top end problem (lifters, valve train, timing chain guides) it is often worth fixing. If it is lower end there will be too much collateral damage. It sounded like timing chain/valve spring to me so there is hope. Good luck!

[4est]

Ryan Calvert at RSR is a factory certified M96 mechanic (and a great guy). He is in Santee. 858.776.8347

[mrondeau]

Ryan and the guys from RSR kept a few cars running over the weekend at CFOS, including swapping out a 944 Turbo Transmission for Mike Cornelius.

[rshon]

Thanks for the tips, guys, but I've got metal sparkleys and bits floating around in the oil filter housing, so the engine is toast.

Anyone got a nice low-mileage ('00-'02) 3.2L (or a '00-'01 3.4L) laying around?

[Steve Grosekemper]

Thanks for the tips, guys, but I've got metal sparkleys and bits floating around in the oil filter housing, so the engine is toast.

Anyone got a nice low-mileage ('00-'02) 3.2L (or a '00-'01 3.4L) laying around?

Call Sean at Auto Bahn, what he doesn't have he car source for you.
Sean 619-44-2290

[ChuckS]

+1 on Autobahn.

But try this:
Sean's number at Autobahn is 619-444-2290

[Cajundaddy]

Thanks for the tips, guys, but I've got metal sparkleys and bits floating around in the oil filter housing, so the engine is toast.

Anyone got a nice low-mileage ('00-'02) 3.2L (or a '00-'01 3.4L) laying around?

Your drain oil is a defining indicator. Some tiny shavings are expected when you hear clanging sounds like that and are probably filtered out. If it looks like a grenade went off inside... it's over.

[Don Middleton]

Anyone got a nice low-mileage ('00-'02) 3.2L (or a '00-'01 3.4L) laying around?

OK, Russell, make the calls and get on with it. Pahrump is only 3 weeks away. We want you there...

[Mike Cornelius]

Ryan and the guys from RSR kept a few cars running over the weekend at CFOS, including swapping out a 944 Turbo Transmission for Mike Cornelius.

Not to highjack the thread, but I just want to say...

Much thanks to Ryan and the RSR crew for keeping me on the track this weekend. It started with the right rear axle giving way (thanks to Otto for the spare) and then after the last session on Friday, my tranny started making some ugly noises and it became apparent that it wasn't going to last the weekend, much less get me home. It sounded like rocks bouncing around inside.
A few phone calls later, Ryan along with help from Sean of Autobahn were able to source a replacement transmission courtesy of Phil Corwin. Ryan had the tranny out of my car in 50 minutes. The replacement was at the track the next morning at 7:00am and Ryan had it in the car in under 2 hours. I only missed one run session on my way to a class win and 4th place BRI.
What teamwork!
Thanks to everyone for helping out. It just goes to show the quality of people in the club and their willingness to assist a fellow driver.