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High miles. To keep and invest money and time or is it time to part ways?

2.3K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  TKDX00  
#1 · (Edited)
Approaching 230k miles on the original engine. The list of the bad as follows

Shocks
Motor Mounts
Torque converter (Transmission shifts out of OD erratically when operating under temperature) add trans gasket and filter to the list.
Pings like hell, like marbles jumping around in the engine I imagine the exhaust side of the head is coated in a thick layer of Carbon or valve springs are damaged both require (Rebuilt heads)
Tie Rods
Rod Bearings (after 230k im assuming this will need to be addressed) +Oil pan gasket to the list
Rear Main Seal is leaking.

Ive priced used and new engines 1600 - 2200 not counting installation $800

I think i can do alot of this but another part of me is second guessing putting alot of time, effort and money. Everything has alot of miles on it.

Anyone going through the same thing and any advice would help.
This vehicle is a DD and once my project car is up and running i think i can tackle alot of this work if i dont have to depend on driving it every day.


Or i can just run it till it dies. I bought it for 4k and 140k on the clock so it really owes me nothing.
 
#2 ·
Drive it until the 944 is ready... then evaluate your options. It doesn't seem worthwhile to put that much money into the truck unless you have some serious sentimental connection to it. I've seen new engines in old cars bring a lot of other problems to the surface, unless you rehab the whole driveline.

Porsches can be VERY reliable if you take care of them.
I had air-cooled 911s as DD for many years.
 
#3 ·
Run it til it dies. Putting in so much wrench time doesnt make much sense since at that high of mileage and the year of the car the wear and tear will just get worse and other things will go bad, break, need replacing, etc. 75K-100K miles less and id say go for it. even with a new engine it wont be worth it at this point. my friend tried that with his 87 Chevy Blazer about 10 years ago, and he ended up screwed once the new engine was in. everything else went wrong and it turned into more of a money pit then he could even imagine.
 
#8 ·
Thanks guys. Sadly i get attached to all my vehicles. Kicking the 944 into high gear and getting that done in the next month. I do love wrenching just not when im forced to have it done at a certain time (its a learning process)

Called around I can get both the heads rebuilt for 250+ parts. Had them do some porsche stuff and they do really good work.



The beautiful part about the Xterra is that i dont need anything but liability insurance, The taxes a year on the vehicle are cheap. Ive replaced every part of the cooling system and Brakes have been completely redone; rebuilt caliper, Brembo blanks, EBC pads, + wheel bearings and seals. Lots of quality new parts on the car which is one of the reasons i dont want to get rid of it.

The devil i know is better than the one i dont.
 
#9 ·
The beautiful part about the Xterra is that i dont need anything but liability insurance, The taxes a year on the vehicle are cheap. Ive replaced every part of the cooling system and Brakes have been completely redone; rebuilt caliper, Brembo blanks, EBC pads, + wheel bearings and seals. Lots of quality new parts on the car which is one of the reasons i dont want to get rid of it.
Hmmm...Sounds like an "X" owner to me...lol :udaman: