Topic: Matts 911 safari.

[johngenx]

Anyone following the recent engine woes of Matt Farah's 911 Safari?  Okay, I can only take Matt in small doses, but it's been interesting to me to see what's going on in the world of air cooled 911s not just in terms of car rices, but service and repairs too.

The first thing that didn't surprise me was the $20K cost of a top-end rebuild. Engine service costs of the various air cooled models has been steadily increasing for a long time, and today that hasn't changed. Not super expensive like some of the Pasta Rockets, but for an old car with a pretty simple engine design, they ain't cheap.

The shop he's having it done at is great, and they do a great job of going through the process, too bad Matt interrupts and talks over all the time. Send Matt home and just let the crew film the tech.

What really suprised me was the idea that the bottom end of the engine is amazing in that it can "reach 150K miles."  WTF?  That's not amazing. That's not even 300K-kms. A 3.2L bottom end should be good for much more than that!!  Those old engines have huge tolerance thanks to being air cooled, but they're well made and the bottom ends can last a long time with care. Maybe since they're changing hands as guys try to make some dough on them, neglect is happening. 

Overall though, I love the Safari concept and I'll out up with Matt to check it out.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

What really suprised me was the idea that the bottom end of the engine is amazing in that it can "reach 150K miles."  WTF?  That's not amazing. That's not even 300K-kms. A 3.2L bottom end should be good for much more than that!!  Those old engines have huge tolerance thanks to being air cooled, but they're well made and the bottom ends can last a long time with care. Maybe since they're changing hands as guys try to make some dough on them, neglect is happening. 

I think 150k kms is good for a 3.2L from the 80's that has a relatively high specific output.  They were getting 230hp out of a 3.2L, a specific output of 72hp/L in the 80's. 

By comparison, Toyota was getting 100hp out of a 4.0L I6 in the Landcruiser, a meager 25hp/L.
Ford was getting 140hp out of its 2.9L, or 48hp/L.


Anyway, his 911 Safari is a cool car. 
 

[Railton]

The first thing that didn't surprise me was the $20K cost of a top-end rebuild. Engine service costs of the various air cooled models has been steadily increasing for a long time, and today that hasn't changed. Not super expensive like some of the Pasta Rockets, but for an old car with a pretty simple engine design, they ain't cheap.

You think that's bad - Continental 520 rebuilds are obscene.
Railton

[johngenx]

Oh, I can imagine. Aircraft anything is expensive. A friend of mine was a private pilot and even though he was really well off finally gave up on owning his own plane thanks to the costs.

His last one was a Cessna 210 which he loved because it was pressurized so he could really get places, but even the Cessna which isn't exotic or "high cost" drained his bank account like no tomorrow.

[Railton]

^^ Yup. Not for the faint of heart.
520 cu (8.5 ltr) , Dual Magneto, mechanical fuel injection,
Railton

[rrocket]

Anyone following the recent engine woes of Matt Farah's 911 Safari?  Okay, I can only take Matt in small doses, but it's been interesting to me to see what's going on in the world of air cooled 911s not just in terms of car rices, but service and repairs too.

The first thing that didn't surprise me was the $20K cost of a top-end rebuild. Engine service costs of the various air cooled models has been steadily increasing for a long time, and today that hasn't changed. Not super expensive like some of the Pasta Rockets, but for an old car with a pretty simple engine design, they ain't cheap.

The shop he's having it done at is great, and they do a great job of going through the process, too bad Matt interrupts and talks over all the time. Send Matt home and just let the crew film the tech.

What really suprised me was the idea that the bottom end of the engine is amazing in that it can "reach 150K miles."  WTF?  That's not amazing. That's not even 300K-kms. A 3.2L bottom end should be good for much more than that!!  Those old engines have huge tolerance thanks to being air cooled, but they're well made and the bottom ends can last a long time with care. Maybe since they're changing hands as guys try to make some dough on them, neglect is happening. 

Overall though, I love the Safari concept and I'll out up with Matt to check it out.

The bottom end on my 911 had over 400k.

And during that time had one top end rebuild and one "open, inspect and re-seal".

That's it. BTW, a top end rebuild can be done $7500-$10k.

[johngenx]

You can’t spend $10K for a top end rebuild at a boutique shop in California! [emoji23]

Yeah, a well cared for 3.2L bottom end should be good for 400K. Setting an expectation of only 250K to me sounds like pre selling a super expensive complete rebuild.

Which I bet is $50K at these designer shops.

[rrocket]

You can’t spend $10K for a top end rebuild at a boutique shop in California! [emoji23]

Yeah, a well cared for 3.2L bottom end should be good for 400K. Setting an expectation of only 250K to me sounds like pre selling a super expensive complete rebuild.

Which I bet is $50K at these designer shops.

Not sure why you need to go to a boutique shop, but whatever......

[johngenx]

Matt go to anything other than a boutique shop?  That wouldn't make for good Youtubing!!!

Okay, I bash in Matt maybe a little too much. He did build a Fox Mustang after all, right?  But, Matt comes from money and sometimes this peeks through more than a little when it comes to things like this Safari 911.

[rrocket]

Okay, I bash in Matt maybe a little too much.

Not enough bashing IMO..