My first engine drop!

PrimeMvr · PrimeMvr's Garage

Ok, it's the SC not the 930, but I don't post on the 911 board much, so I thought I'd share here. Last spring my wife said the magic words "If you're going to continue this 'car thing', we need a new house with a bigger garage." Awww, darn

Seven months later, and she has her dream kitchen and I have a sweet man cave. This project wouldn't have been possible in the old cramped garage for sure.

Prep work took about 10 hours, but I really took my time, documenting, photographing and labeling everything I disconnected in the order it came off. I did the drop alone. For any other first-timers out there, this was really much easier than I thought it would be. Take your time and it will pay off.

Almost...

And she's out...

This should be fun. Massive cleanup and sealing needed. Valve guides for sure. I think the rings are in good shape as it doesn't smoke at all after a few minutes, but we'll see. No mods as I have no intention of turning this into a hot rod, that's what the Turbo is for. The body will get a paint job and the interior needs some help.

Had to do it...

Better throw in a shot of the 930 since this is the turbo forum

Just had to share, I won't muddy up the turbo forum with anymore lame SC stuff

Steve

bleachii · 12-01-2011, 10:09 PM

One day I want to be like you! I'm still fixing a few leaks from early Feb and you have pulled out an engine and taking pictures of your head in the engine bay, by yourself.

Pretty sure most everyone will appreciate a photo of a 911 getting surgery next to a 930 is someones home garage. Very cool!

What sort of lift are you using to raise the 911?

mark houghton · 12-02-2011, 04:42 AM

Steve, what did you use as a lift for the car. I can kinda see it in the pictures. For me, that was the most difficult part of an engine drop....getting the car lifted high enough, and stable enough.

PrimeMvr · PrimeMvr's Garage

It's a snap-on scissor lift. It only goes to 34", but I only have 9' ceilings so that's good enough. With the bumper off there was plenty of clearance, even with the ATV jack under the engine. The SC just clears the lift when it's down, but the 930 isn't even close, so i built some 5" ramps to drive up on.

I notice now that the one pic from the side makes it look tilted backward, but that's just the camera angle. The rockers are perfectly level.

My challenge now is how to get the engine up on the stand. I didn't think that through all the way when I bought my T stand. The middle support won't go under the jack. I'm going to try and modify the ramps with a more gradual slope and roll the jack up onto them. If that doesn't work I'll have to break down and go get a U stand instead. Many have said they are more stable anyway.

Here's a better pic of the lift

bleachii · 12-02-2011, 05:54 AM

Similar to this Steve?

Snap-on Equipment 1-800-225-5786

PrimeMvr · PrimeMvr's Garage

That looks to be exactly the same but I'm not 100% sure on the model number.

mark houghton · 12-02-2011, 11:11 AM

Man, that's a nice lift. I must have one. You should have seen the shananegans I went through to get all 4 wheels up in the air (especially the rear ones) high enough to drop my motor with an ATV lift (which doubles as my Harley lift). It worked, but unstable and dangerous as all hell.

There's a thread on this topic if anyone cares to search for it, a couple-three years ago I think. Scissor lift is the way to go ultimately.

x98boardwell · x98boardwell's Garage

Congrats... it always feels so good to a gear head when we can see the entire motor out and ready for "while your in there's" to start flying.

HelmetHead · HelmetHead's Garage

Great Job! Nothing better than doing it yourself imho.

Not to hijack this thread, but I wanted to share photo of my scissor lift. This is a Bendpak MD6-XP...I have 8' ceilings.

PrimeMvr · PrimeMvr's Garage

I was originally looking at a 2-post lift, but after laying it out, it seemed like it would always be in the way.

Then I settled on this one Automotive Scissor Lift

I asked a friend who has a shop about it and he said he wanted to sell his snap-on because it hadn't been used since he installed an in-ground single post. Since he was willing to deliver it right to the spot it now sits and I wouldn't have to wait for shipping, I went for it.

I ended up giving him $1600, more than the new one was from HF, but it's in solid shape and a bit more compact. I like it.

im4duke · 12-02-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrimeMvr

My challenge now is how to get the engine up on the stand. I didn't think that through all the way when I bought my T stand. The middle support won't go under the jack. I'm going to try and modify the ramps with a more gradual slope and roll the jack up onto them. If that doesn't work I'll have to break down and go get a U stand instead. Many have said they are more stable anyway.

I bolted the stand adapter to the engine, called my neighbor, and we lifted it into the stand. Took all of 10 seconds.