Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

i had my head gaskit replaced about 3000 miles after my belts and i havent had them retensioned. i asked my mercain who done the work on the head not the belts (tht place was a bad joke) if they need retenssioing as he had the belt off 2 remove the top end of the engine he said they seem fine and never heard of belt needing re tession so close 2 been replaced. was worryed.

Thanks for all the good input as ever. I have booked her in for next Friday and she will be having the belts and rollers done as a minimum. I need to check the history re the pump and anyhting else. I still love my new cup ones !

Regards Mas

When I went to EMC, they retensioned mine (well, checked it) after 1500 miles, and it was said not to have changed.

Hi,

If you're unsure about what was done last, its probably best to replace the water pump at the same time. Don't forget to replace the thermostat too. I think you've already mentioned rollers and idlers too at the same time (or get them inspected). I'd set aside about £1k for it all TBH. These things always come to more than you reckon on.

Its a shame really that the maintenance of these cars always outways their worth. I'm facing a similar scenario right now. I've had a pissy little oil leak for a while. Took it up to Malton yesterday who promptly got the car up on the ramp and whipped off the drip tray (I know it's an undertray but mine seems good at collecting lost fluid).

Anyway, I suspected the leak was front end and sure enough my suspicions were correct. So, all the belts have to come off for a front seal kit to be fitted. They also mentioned doing the oil cooler seals as well (seeing as they're in the same area at the same time). The seal kits aren't massively expensive. What always bumps it up is the labour. They reckon about 6 hours from start to finish.

It's an expensive business this classic ownership. By the time I get the bill, I think that little pot of money I set aside for getting my wings sorted is going to be vastly if not totally reduced. Hey ho, rough with the smooth and all that (or in my case, no smooth just scabby wheel arches!!! ) But it's worth it because we do love 'em. She still looked fantastic as she was driven up to the ramp, looking well phat from behind.

Ben

Best thing is to DIY Ben, that always saves the most amount of cash and is even more satisfying when you have done the job yourself!
Alasdair

Hi Alasdair,

Everyone has their limitations and I know mine. I know how it all works in theory but wouldn't know where to start practically. Unfortunately, I don't have the correct tools to do the job nor the space to work on the car properly. I work full time plus have 2 young children (aged 4 years and 7 months) and a demanding wife. I just don't really have the time either to get involved in these things hence why I entrust my car to a specilaist. Sure it costs but they know what they're doing. Specialists Cars Of Malton I have come to respect because they tell it how it is - the truth.
My 944 is my daily driver so its not like I can pull it apart and work on it a few nights a week until its fixed. I have done quite a few smaller jobs myself, small electrical jobs and the like on the car. Maximum respect to all of you '44 owners that have the knowledge and can maintain your cars. What I would give to have just a fraction of your mechanical abilities.

Ben

Yeah,I m the same Ben,I could quite easily cock it up and incur an even bigger bill to sort it all out.Also the onset of arthritis doesnt make it any easier!I can still do an oil change and things of that nature but anything technical or something that needs a ramp its off to the garage !!

Iv got a simmler leak, tht was missed when the belts were changed. It's not tht heavy but thts were its coming from. If left will it shorten the life of the belts? Or dose it miss them? I was told belts would have 2 come off 2 get at d the area. Figured r do it next belt change.

Pulling cars to bits in frost is not my idea of fun. I have a friend whos a fine & very fast mechanic. Watching him do a clutch in 2 hours that says 8 in the book is quite an experience. I could never match that level of skill. He does it all the time & has the right tools for the job. It's a lot easier with ramps & a warm garage to work in. And if something else is broken he can leave it & phone up for the bits & work on another car until they come. Worth every penny of £60 an hour. It's the parts that are the biggest bill for mine. Loads of them.

Amen to that J.J. Just partly through refurbing my S2 cooling system (new rad, cooling hoses, and another heater matrix sourced. Fingers crossed it will keep it's cool alot better (it didn't overheat but it has got a bit close to 100 degrees a number of times for my comfort (although EMC did say the rad was corroded (well the front of the fins ain't too hot)).

I've managed to drive around for 4 months with this pissy oil leak and not had to top the oil up in that time. I was concerned that if the oil got onto the belts and contaminated them, it would reduce they're life, and possibly require them to be replaced also. I thought it better to get the leak seen to before anything goes seriously wrong. Little leaks have a habit of becoming big leaks.

Ben

Little leaks have a habit of becoming big leaks. Thats the story of my cambox. Had to skim the top of the head. then while its off you do everything else as it makes sense. Before you know it you've spent 2K Well you wouldn't want to take the head off & not gas flow it would you £600 to rebuild it. Another £400 to do it right. I'm a hopeless case.

are you sure its an oil leak ? power steering can leak in that area, maybe worth checking PAS fluid level

Definitely an oil leak. Took the car up to Malton last Saturday. They got the car up on the ramp and whipped off the undertray. Even to my untrained eye, I could tell that was a front end oil leak as I suspected. Front end seal kit requires fitting + belts have got to come off etc etc for them to do it. Unfortunately, the timing belt has been contaminated with oil so that also requires replacement. They also mentioned WTAI (while they're at it) they were going to replace the seals in the oil cooler as well. I'm collecting the car tomorrow so hopefully it'll be leak free now. More expense

Ben

Chaps - this may come too late for some of you, but my S2 is currently getting a new head gasket, belts, rollers and water pump plus front seals. I got the water pump from the States off Ebay Motors, for under £120 DELIVERED! In under two days from ordering! I was staggered with that. I also got Promax's belt and roller kit for about £210, but there's a set available from the States for about half that from the same people who do the water pump, and manufacturered by Continental so should be robust. That's easily £400 to 500 saved on just two components and there's more that could be saved with a bit more searching.

Cheers,

Craig