Newbie
 

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.

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. :rolleyes:

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

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.