Newbie

[thunderzy]

Hello everyone this is my first post on this excellent site and I wanted to ask a few questions. The question I have is; how can I teach myself to rebuild a 911 engine? Which year and model would be the best start on? I have been reading up on Porsche for the past six years. I have just purchased the book sold on this site for rebuilding engines. After I have completed the book I will purchase an engine to work on. My advantages include a decent wealth of knowledge on 911s, a 1500 sq ft work space, and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. My disadvantages include absolutely no mechanical experience, no tools, little time, and a small budget. Some would say that common sense would restrict me from doing what I want. But I'm a fanatic, I threw common sense out the window years ago.
Anything you guys can come up with will be greatly appreciated.

[ChrisBennet]

If you have the patience to STOP and ask and do research whenever you have a question, I think you stand a good chance of success. The "absolutely no mechanical experience" is going to hurt you. "Experience" is just a nice way of saying "accumulated remorse". We've all broken stuff, stripped threads, blown up stuff, etc to get to the point where we have a clue.
I had very little help learning this stuff so I made quite a few mistakes, some of them pretty horrible.

Waynes book and this list have made it a lot easier than it was when I started.

I wouldn't start with anything earlier than a 3.0L ('78 911SC). A 3.2L is the easiest motor to rebuild IMO.

Make no mistake, Porsche motors are very expensive to rebuild. Just having the heads done on a 3.0 that needs new valves (not uncommon) runs $1000. My brother plays with Chevy's and he tells/teases me that for about what I pay just for the gaskets for a 911 motor rebuild he can get a rebuild kit including new pistons for a Chevy V8.

If I was you, I would get a 911 with a motor already in it. When you are done building the motor you will have something to run it in. Otherwise I think you would have a hard time selling the motor. If you're idea is to get a roller to put the motor in afterwards, it is generally cheaper to buy a complete car and sell the drivetrain from what I can see.

We're here to help. Good luck.
-Chris

[hcoles]

I suggest cutting your teeth to build mechanical skills on another type of engine...the bragging rights are not worth the cost and risks. IMHO.