Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Reconditioned calipers to cure the plate lift are around £150 per corner. You can repair them yourself, but the screws holding the plates tend to round off and you need heat to get them out, which then means you need new seals too and you may as well have the bodies powder coated while you are on. The steering shaft with the universal joints on costs around £80 from you local friendly OPC.

There is no mention of cam chain or cam condition in the information you have posted, have these been replaced?

Looks like it needs more than £500 worth of repairs just in the items that know the prices of. Having said that you could do them over a period of time as Hartech have indicated that these are things which are not urgent.
I have a list of items from them which I am gradually working through on my 968, including plate lift.

ExAudiSi,

The comments on the cam stuff as follows:

Cam Chain, tensioner upper slipper, inlet cam shaft, exhaust cam shaft, allsay checked, visually inspected and appears Okay (not removed from car for full measurement and assessment).

I understand the comments about dropping to the Lux and the S but I do want an S2 so I may have to save for a little longer. I like this one I have all the records for as it was serviced at a main dealer until 100000 miles and Hartec after than (and I Colt has offered to give it a knowledgable look over!) Also the price may just be low enough to keep me in budget and give £500 or £600 for repairs - especially if they dont need doing now!

Regards

Chris

The fact that a car has had it's annual services isn't a guarantee that there are no outstanding works.

If belts haven't been changed in 4 years then they will need doing £300+.

You really need a £1500 fighting fund after you've made your purchase to comfortably cover what might crop up.

I receive many a phonecall from people who have bought a good car, but the maintenace has left them with a car they can't drive or afford to fix.

Sean, Thanks for the reply, I was more under the impression that belts was a mileage related rather than age related issue, the current ones were done 4 years ago (10000 miles!) so i thought they would be fine but you have educated me, another job to add costs for!

I perfectly understand what you say about a fighting fund, the car is a second car so if it does need major work on it at any point, it can sit in the warm garage for a few months whilst I make the wife do more overtime to pay for the repairs!! (oh I hope she doesnt read that one!!)

Chris,

It may be worth giving Hartech a call about the car to see if they can give you any more info.
Belts definitely should be changed at 4 years if the car hasn't done the mileage. Not worth the risk as belt failure can almost certainly equal ruined engine!

Simon, I have jsut done as you said but via email, i have taken all the points on the last inspection report and asked for an approximate cost to do everytihng that needs doing including belts. Not too sure about chains though, how often should they be changed, is it a really big job, is it likely the cams will need replacing at 140000 miles?

Chris,
It's not that the cam itself wears, its the chain sprockets. I have just had one cam replaced on my 968 for this reason (97,000 miles). I'm not sure on the replacement interval on the chain, but running a worn chain will accelerate the wear on the cam sprockets. Replacement is probably not too big of a job if the belts are being changed at the same time as they need to be removed anyway.
Hope this helps.

porsche don't give a life on the chain but should be changed at same time as belts

I'd not even turn the key in a car with belts over 4 years old. Not only do they age, but in a low-mileage or laid-up car they are more likely to have suffered contamination from leaking seals. Ask me how I know....

I would suggest three years/30K miles to err on the safe side, what's a few hundred quid spent over three years rather than four compared to a new engine?

Point taken,

I have done a little more research, it is a littlelike some of the questions asked with MG's (which i am a bit more familair with, 1965 roadster, no electronics!) where everyone has opinion but never any agreement, I tend to adapt Pauls theory then, do it more often.

Anyway, I have a little update, I have found a different one which seems to be exactly what I am looking for, had a mate check it out and am having a 300 mile trip on Wednesday with a view to buying it if it is exactly as the owner has described it. Watch this space!

Chris I have say that the problems you have are just the same as I had when looking for a '44. You are wrong to rule out the Lux. The best lux will beat a tired S2 in every department. Because they are older & Porsche made a lot more. There are more fully rebuilt examples out there that have had all the money spent on them. The S2 was the best model when it was new. There not new any more!!! Unless you can wait for a good one from an owners club member. Or you can find 5K you will have a long wait. It's a sad fact that most '44s now need a rebuild & the cost of doing it right effectively rights off the car. Only a committed enthusiast will spend more than the car is worth.
(What am I doing here when I should be at Gaydon. My mum came out of respite care last week & is struggling a bit after 9 weeks of being looked after. Am Completely knacked & have a sinus infection to go with it. The only good thing this week was burning off a fucus ST170 on the A65 on the way over to Kendal! Up to 60 he had a slight edge. But no torque. I was all over his boot lid coming out of the corners. Who says the Lux is a slow car?????? I absolutely love it )

Edit: Whats your excuse????

JJ,

I am having a tip to look at the last S2 in my price range which does seem to fit the bill. If it is no good I will probably put the job on hold and save a few more pennies!

There is a Lux in the paper in Aberdeen so I will take your advice and tr go and see it tomorrow.

Up your budget, buy BigDaves and save yourself ££££££ in the long run.

i goto agree with JJ! saz's lux seems to have loads of torque despite its tired 2.5 lump but it pulls strong and hard still

Cheers pauly.
And hes SO right......