My New Money Pit

[Bannon]

I'd like a Cayman too.   Great looking cars, with the engine in the right place too.   

[Eggbert]

Yes, I bought a car. Last vehicle I bought was my truck back in 1999. It was also the only new vehicle I ever bought. I really enjoy my Cobra, but I've been wanting a hardtop sportscar for some time. I finally found one and bought it; a 2006 Cayman S.

Yes, I knew the risks of IMS bearing failure and bore-scoring for those years, but I bought it anyway. It looks like new and had obviously been well taken care of and stored inside.

Symptoms indicated a leaky fuel injector, so I replaced all 6. What a nightmare. No room and far too many things needed to be disconnected to get at the fuel injectors. It ran better and I was pleased. Little did I realize the ECU was remapping the fuel injection based on new feedback in the system. Kept getting better and better. Runs like a top and all kinds of power.

Then I noticed the oil level was dropping too quickly. Checked with my borescope and sure enough, number 6 cylinder was scored.

To be honest, although disappointed, I'm also relieved to not have that hanging over my head, i.e. will today be the day the engine self destructs? I'll rebuild the engine myself and with new Lokasil cylinder liners and one of the many IMS bearing kits, I'll have a better engine than new!

Very expensive to rebuild these engines, even doing it yourself, but the first big expense isn't even directly related to the car.

Yes, I finally broke down and bought a 4 post lift. Not set up yet, it resides in my garage waiting while I get ruthless and throw some of the junk out (t make more room).

First job with the new lift is to change the oil in the Cobra, the Cayman will go on and I can start taking the engine out (which comes out through the bottom of the car).

Drain plug for the Cobra is at the bottom front of the pan, so if I jack the front end up, ,a lot of oil shifts to the back of the pan and I can't get it all out. With the lift this won' be a problem.

Clutch and pedal adjustments will be a lot easier too.

I'm also getting too old to be crawling around a cold concrete floor in an unheated garage.  Well, there is heat, but by the time I get a good fire in the woodstove, it's time to end work for the day! There is an electric space heater, but it only warms the air, so the floor is still cold, cold, cold!

So lots of things on the go for the near future!