Advise Needed: IMS Chain Paddle Degredation

[ntgbrl]

After finding small chunks of plastic in my oil filter I decided to drop the motor on my '99 C4 (just shy of 150k miles) to replace the 8 chain guides I can access along with replacing the IMS bearing. After getting into the motor with a borescope I found large chunks are missing from the IMS chain tensioner paddle. To my knowledge there is no easy way to replace that part without disassembling the entire motor.

 

So, now I need advise on which is the best way forward. I figure I have a few options here:

 

1) Buy a salvage motor, inspect it for junk in the oil sump and hope for the best. This allows me to sell my motor with the issue disclosed and allow me to enjoy the car hopefully for several more years.

 

2) Buy The Knowledge Gruppe engine assembly video/book and rebuild the engine myself. I'll probably find a whole bunch of worn out parts along the way and this will end up being a long process.

 

3) Buy a new short block. Getting a partially new engine gets rid of some wear items and makes reassembly quicker and easier for me.

 

4) Have a local Porsche shop "rebuild" the engine replacing just worn stuff along the way.

 

5) Have LN Engineering do a full rebuild.

 

6) Cut my losses and sell the car as a project.

 

 

These cars are in a strange part of their life, they aren't worth much so major engine work like this is basically what the car in good working condition is worth, that makes this decision difficult. My car is high mileage and has its fare share of dings and wear, but is in good mechanical shape excluding the engine (in the last year Ive replaced all the wheel bearings, cv boots, front diff seals, shift cables, fuel sender, oil pressure sender, AOS, clutch, coolant tank, 8 chain guides, IMS bearing, probably more that I'm forgetting).

 

What do you all think?

[6cb6]

Many, many years ago I had several 356's, they had dings, wear and service issues. Over time, I sold off both of my 356's, and later on the 912 and 914 for the some of the reasons you mention...they weren't worth much and prices reflected the damage done by the tin worms. At the time dealers were the only source of parts and some were no longer available such as floor pans, rocker panels, jack points, battery boxes, and other chassis parts. Many of us obsessed over the same issues of value and in many cases people scapped the bodies while the motors and trans were sold off. Fast forward, those same Porsches have reached nose bleed prices even for mere rusted hulks. 

 

I purchased a 2000 996 cab that came my way a few years ago when prices were similar to used Toyotas. This time the bodies of these Porsches remain solid while the motor is questionable. During the last few years we have seen a lot of new products and services from Raby, LN Engineering, Hartech, Skip with his UAOS and many others who have spent time and money that not only repair but improve these motors. As such, I am going to enjoy repairing and playing with it as the values seem to be holding and in some cases increase, and therefore I would choose either two, three, four and five and avoid one and six.