944 shop in OC?

[Chris Moon]

Does anyone have a suggestion for a 944 mechanic in OC? My car's been sitting for quite a while and now that I'm ready to put it back on the street I don't know where to go. Neither Vision nor Hergesheimer are interested, but they're the only ones besides the long gone Andial that I've ever taken it to.

My guess is spun rod bearing, so I'd like to get an idea up front what the damage possibilities are.

Thanks in advance for any help,
Chris

[Tim Comeau]

Are you taking about a 944, or a 944 turbo?

[bw993]

Try John's Foreign Car in Laguna Niguel. I take all my porsches there for service, including my 944 turbo. Ask for Russ. He is the owner and porsche mechanic. It's a one man shop, so call for an appointment. I've been using Russ for the last 15 years.

Bill

[Chris Moon]

Hi Tim,
It's a 944 Turbo. Here's what happened on the way to work one day. I downshifted to go around a row of cars on the freeway and after I let out the clutch started hearing a rattle. More pronounced on throttle, than off. Turned off the engine and when I restarted it struggled for the first turn or two, then started with the rattle still there.

I'm assuming the progression is this, though:
- rod bearing only, replace bearings => get out cheap
- rod bearing plus crank damage => resurface or replace crank plus bearings
- above plus valve damage => more money
- above plus scored piston wall => still more expensive

After calling around a little, Greg Brown from Precision Motorwerks convinced me to have a look at the oil filter before being too certain of the problem, though. So, I'll be doing that next.

Bill, thanks for the recommendation in Laguna Niguel. I'll have a talk with him, too.

Chris

[Tim Comeau]

If you bent valves because of the downshift, the engine probably wouldn't restart at all.
No reason to suppose cylinder scoring at this point.
Rod knock from a damaged bearing should make noise consistent with the rpm. If that's the case, I wouldn't run the engine because you might put a rod thru the side of the block.
Greg was probably wanting to see if there was any metal shavings in the oil filter. I would drain the engine oil to look for metal there also.