[quote name='Anchorman' date='May 13 2005, 07:41 PM']Need - are you still running the car, or - what steps have you taken?
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No way... she has been parked since early February... and I sure do miss her... <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> It's really funny that you should ask, as I just came in from working on her. I basically have everything done; I would have tried to crank her, but tomorrow, I must fish out an aluminum washer that slid down the return duct and into my oil pan...
It all happened on my way home from Birmingham, AL. She had been purring along wonderfully for nearly two hours, when all of a sudden, the car began running on 3 cylinders and blowing the spark plug cap off of cylinder 1. I was happy to be able to limp home for about 35 miles. Upon inspection, I could see oil in all four spark plug wells, and prepared myself to tackle the job of replacing the spark plug seals.
Due to my being extremely busy during the month of February, I was unable to tackle the job until March. When I removed the valve cover, I was floored by those three missing teeth, and realized immediately that the job had just gone from being a simple gasket, seals, and spark plug replacement to a NIGHTMARE...
<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/ohmy.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
I asked around for advice, and most everyone said that re-sprocketing the camshafts was not a good idea. So, I called Sunset and their price was $683 and $660 for new camshafts. I then was able to find a used set of camshafts that only had 16,000 miles on them for $800.
Just as I was about to buy that set of camshafts, I read a post about Tom Charlesworth in Tulsa and how he had been seeing excellent results with about 40 sets of camshafts that he had rebuilt. I called Tom, and sure enough, he had not had a single problem, and the machinist who does the work for him works for American Airlines. When I asked the cost, I was stunned: $250 for both! I decided that I would give it a shot, for if it is good enough for Tom Charlesworth, who has one of the best names in the business and who is the only American to have been trained at Weissach, it was good enough for me. Tom was great to work with, and the turnaround time was remarkable. When I realized that Tom didn't even make a cent on the deal (I offered...), I was more than pleased by his customer service.
So, I went about the business of replacing the pads and chain, and reinstalling the camshafts. I also replaced my dist. cap and rotor. While tightening my fuel lines last Saturday, I noticed a small crack in the rail. I must have done that when the wrench slipped while removing them. I ordered a used one (instead of having it welded, as I dubbed it too risky). (The price for a new rail at Sunset, by the way, is $187.00.)
So, tonight I installed the "new" fuel rail (wow, my injectors were so difficult to remove that I was afraid I was going to break them!) and tied up some loose ends. I then went and worked on my heavily modified 951 (replaced the dist. cap and rotor) and by the time I was ready to drain the oil pan of the 968, it was 3:00 a.m. I decided to wait until tomorrow for that.
So, tomorrow is the day that I will turn the key... I am a little worried about the fuel rail, to be honest, as I have a bad feeling that the injectors might not have sealed perfectly. There is only one thing to do, though, and that is to cross my fingers, turn the key, and see what happens. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
Greimann,
Thanks for your sympathies. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> You are right, there is no middle ground when it comes to Variocam inspection. Unfortunately, instead of elation, depression was mine. It has been a wonderful learning experience, however, and I have enjoyed it thoroughly. Also, in the future I will be better equipped to do the job, and I will be able to help others (either online or in person). Speaking of Variocam inspection, I plan to do one on my father's 968 soon. Here's to hoping that I will emerge on the side of elation, especially since I may be buying it in a couple of weeks. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />
