[Waylander]

DIY, is the only way a pauper like me can own a Porsche


Complete front belts, pump, seals for less than $300

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[ds968]

You can find pumps in the UK ( and / or from the continental EU ) that cheaply ? I haven't checked into what rebuilt ( OEM ) water pumps cost around here for at least ten years , but I was under the impression they were over $ 500 . And brand new ones from Porsche dealers ( which could be NLA by now ? ) were near $ 1 K at that time , IIRC. But I remember there were quite a few aftermarket ones available at inexpensive prices . Not sure I'd put one of those in and risk a repeat of that big job . The part itself will be covered by the warranty but not the labor which is 80 % + of the cost . BTW, there were some threads or posts here suggesting there have been a couple of NEW water pumps that leaked soon after being installed and that the risk of a rebuilt pump failing is not necessarily greater than the chance of a new one failing . Seems a bit illogical, but I suppose anything is possible .

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[Ernie]

True, but for those of us that lack the particular, skills, tools and facility, it's a tough pill to swallow every 4 years. At the very least $1000. Granted one could say you should budget $250/year and it's not so bad, but that's in addition to any other costs to care for a 25 year old car. This is the exact reason I was hoping the racing belt would be a more durable option

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[ds968]

Let's hope the racing belt is indeed a more durable option, not just from a financial point of view but also from a peace of mind point of view .

Mine was delivered this past week, so I'll have my mechanic install the belts at some point in the near future , whenever he finds the time .

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[Waylander]

The pump was made in Italy and cost $80, it has done 9000 miles and no leaks or noises


Exchange pumps from Porsche are rebuilt ones at $800


It's the labour charges that kill,


Porsche GB charge £225 per hour so that's close to $300 an hour


I do lots of work on other 968's over here for other owners most of it for free

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[ds968]

Porsche GB charge £225 per hour so that's close to $300 an hour

Wow, I think the going rate here for dealers, and common whether to Porsche or Mercedes or Ferrari or Toyota or Ford, etc. is $ 225 - $ 250 ( the latter was the most expensive rate of which I heard at a Rolls Royce - Bentley -Aston Martin dealer in Beverly Hills ) The GB Porsche service mechanics must have post graduate engineering degrees to justify that price .. ;-) :-) .


Really surprised by a $ 80 water pump performing with that longevity , but it's probably only because it's made in Italy as opposed to China, or Kazakhstan or some other place where they find the cheapest materials and lack of proper quality control to build those things ..

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[Waylander]

There is a company here based in a place called wolverhampton, in the Midlands


Wheeler dealers have used them and so have a few other car shows


EP services

They rebuild your water pump in a few days and provide a full warranty against mechanical failure, cost is about $120

They have been in business nearly 50 years so they must know what they are doing



I shop around for parts a lot, I might spend a day or two looking around for the best reviews and prices


It is the only way I can continue to run the cars, all of them, I have 4

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[ds968]

The new Gates belts are in !   Most notably, the high performance "racing"  timing belt . The old belts, last installed nine years and four months ago , but only about 12 K miles or so on them since then.. ( I know, I know...I haven't really driven that car other than short weekend runs on twisty canyon roads :glare:  )  looked and felt barely used and aged; upon very close inspection, including the inverted stress test they did not have a single hairline crack, were still extremely pliable, no wear on the teeth , although ..they were just slightly drier than the brand new belts seemed to be..maybe by about a 25 % factor.  So probably may have been ok for yet another 50% of that time and mileage, but why take that big of a $$ gamble ?!  And maybe the high performance belt will last 100 K miles and 25 years, whichever comes first, but not taking a chance on that either,  I'll  was thinking maybe change it at 75 K  miles or ten  years, whichever comes first, but then realized the balance belt is not the same high performance composite, so I may be forced to change both belts anyway at 45 K mi or five years , no matter what..                    

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[Ernie]

I like your logic, ds. Max is installing mine now. I am going to ask him about the condition of the belts after removal. I wish I had thought about it ahead of time and asked him to save the old ones. I would have liked to see them. Oh well, at least another 4-5 years without a cortisol rush, every time I start the engine and drive it!

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[ds968]

Too bad the balance belt requires re-tensioning after 2 K miles or so , total PITA to have everything opened up again ! Then of course checking it periodically every other year or whanot just to make sure it hasn't stretched any more, but at least on those subsequent rechecks you can just open the top cover easily enough and pry it open sufficiently to test the belt's tension . If it's fine than no need to do anything else. BTW , my old balance belt was on extremely tight so it had not streched at all after the initial adjustment, 10 K miles before .

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[jsheiry]

Keep this part number handy  944-106-921-AX  Porsche factory rebuilt pump kit, comes with bolts, gasket etc...  Trust that Porsche factory uses good rebuilder.  About $ 175 at Sonnen last time I checked.  They have a core charge for your old on about $50-60

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[Waylander]

Currently $275 auto Atlanta


I can get new Magneti Marrelli pump over here for £78

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[Ernie]

Ugh! Max didn't see the package with the racing belt in it (on the passenger seat), so I ended up with a conventional belt. Son of a b!!!! So now I have the racing belt and rock auto won't take it back (over 30 days), so any suggestions on "preserving" until next belt change? Maybe vacuum seal it ???

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[ds968]

Maybe someone else on the forum is due for a belt change and might buy it from you ? Otherwise , I would also think vacuum seal is probably the best way to preserve it . Remember that Gates asserts their REGULAR belts have a minimum shelf life ( and that's in a box , not sealed by anything ..) of six years and still perfectly safe after all that time be installed for 60 K mi use. Their racing belts may have a much longer shelf life , just based on what they claim ( 3 X strength and longevity ) of this new belt to be, I think if sealed and not exposed to air, it'll be good to go even if discovered by extraterrestrials a few hundred thousand yeas from now in a 968 time capsule ;-) :-) .

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