Motor goes where, now?

"It's a "Porch-uh"" (ikazuchi)
11/25/2013 at 17:02 • Filed to: 944, Porsche

Way back in October 2012, I lost a rod bearing (#2 is always the first to go on a 944) at Chuckwalla Raceway. I was having that engine rebuilt, when the opportunity came up to buy one already built, for what I was going to spend rebuilding mine. With two young children, and wanting to do a lot of the work myself, it wasn't until February of this year that I got the motor in and ready for a NASA event at Cal (Auto Club) Speedway.

Due to a fuel filter/pump issue, that motor made it three easy laps before the lean condition melted a couple pistons and blew out the head gasket, which let all the combustion pressure into the water jacket, which blew out the side of the radiator and ruined a full weekend of fun.

Hooray race cars.

So after sourcing a used short block, I stripped it down, machined what needed to be refreshed, and spent the last eight months rebuilding the motor myself because I didn't want to spend another $2500 for somebody else to do it. Finally, the time has come to put the new motor back in this gaping hole:

Oh those poor rotors have been sitting for nine months now.

Luckily, I have Tim Comeau, our local 944 guru, and the use of his lift to make the job a lot easier. The prop shaft on the 944 sticks way out so getting the motor in (or out) from the top is a huge pain in the ass. Bolting the subframe crossmember to the motor and dropping the car on to it is the way to go. Especially with the radiator out (oh yeah, I need to get a new one).

After getting the car down, we pick the motor up from the top with the engine hoist and wiggle it on to the prop shaft.

Then it's the four subframe bolts, four bolts on the prop shaft housing, steering and a-arm hook ups, and some wiring. Intake manifold and most of the wiring is done, but I need my injectors back from the shop (cleaning and flow testing to make sure they weren't the culprit) and a new radiator to finish the job.

Next NASA event is again in February at Chuckwalla. Hope everything is sorted by then!

Stopped for coffee on my way out. Parked as non-ass-hat-y as possible, which is tough when your trailer would stick halfway out of the spot if you pulled in straight. I don't think this is that bad, since I'd take up just as many spots in my M5.

DISCUSSION (5)

It's a "Porch-uh" > It's a "Porch-uh"
11/25/2013 at 13:56

Kinja sent me to an error page right after I submitted. Just crapped my pants a bit when I thought I lost the entire post.

KINJA!

xx45xx > It's a "Porch-uh"
11/25/2013 at 14:29

murica says half your motors missing! :)

xx45xx > It's a "Porch-uh"
11/25/2013 at 14:29

murica says half your motors missing! :)

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > It's a "Porch-uh"
11/25/2013 at 17:06

The fucker will do that sometimes... I got the habit of copying my entire post before hitting submit, and the pasting it back if it fails, which usually leads to annyoing double posts. No matter what we do, with Kinja, we always lose :p

zadtheinhaler > It's a "Porch-uh"
11/25/2013 at 19:50

Nice rig! I hope you get more than three laps in the next time you race- good luck!