After overheading the motor a few months ago, I had continued to feel a lack of power but things were still rolling so I kept on. That is until I set out one day, heading north from LA to Mammoth, on a very mellow grade I couldn't even hit 30mph. That was the final straw, I pulled over called a tow truck and made our way back home.
I did some compression tests and was surpsised to find that the numbers were all close to spec. I ran the test a few times before I let the engine cool down and ran it again. With a cool motor I found a different story. Compression fall way down.
From what I've gathered this can happen because as the motor heads up cracks can be masked by the expansion.
I called up Thomas at Quality German Auto which is where my brother purchased the motor to see if he had any insight. He confirmed that the a rebuild was needed.
With that confirmed, I started the process of pulling the motor. A harbor freight engine hoist and some ropes did the trick. I had already pulled the head which made things a little more difficult since that is where the lift points are but some ropse and straps around the case worked perfectly.
It is a tight fit out of the top but without a high lift to get the motor out the bottom, it was my only option. Slow and steady and some gentle wiggling, it made it through.
As soon as I got it out I called the shop I had arranged to do the rebuild, only to learn they were no longer available to do it. Not sure what happened there but needless to say, I was a bit frustrated.
It would be about 15 months before I finally found someone else to do the rebuild. And so began the journey into the world of body work while I waited.