Rebuilding a 962 motor

[VZ935]

Doc..I will check on my ti rod bolts...I decided not to reuse the factory rods and went with some Pauter rods instead...was going to use the ti rods for Christmas tree ornaments next Dec

Dieter actually did have paperwork on my motor. I have Alwin's new email address and and I have Eric's cell phone number so if you would like that contact information.

Here is a picture of Dieter back at the 1986 Daytona 24 ..he goes way back !

[helidoc]

Interesting photo VZ 935. Who is the other guy? I had asked Neil about the Pauter rods but he had some concerns about the strength of the rod design, right or wrong. He pointed out the shape of the shaft part of the rod on one he had at his shop as being not as strong as other manufacturers. As you know it may well be theoretical and the proof is obtained in the field. I wish you luck in your results. Well I am still patiently waiting for the machining to finish up. I was in Costa Mesa the last week in January but unfortunately Neil had some other obligations to get out of the way and there weren't any parts ready to pick up. He apparently found some Ti rod bolts and bearings so when they arrive in a couple of days he can rebuild the rods. I have attached some pictures of the touching up of the valve seats, the line boring of the main bearings to .010 over since he wasn't able to just hone the case and polishing the crank. I imagine it will be another month or so before I can get things back and start assembly. I have been thinking of going through the tranny but will wait until after the engine is done. I guess the delay is just as well since I have had to catch up on some other projects. More to follow so stay tuned.................

[Mr Beau]

Regarding the rods, the 'ideal' shape if you want to maximize strength for a given weight is an 'I beam'. You want as much material as possible away from the center as this increases stiffness to avoid buckling.

While Pauter's rods seem to be pretty popular, they don't make much sense from an engineering standpoint. The vast majority of rods out there are I-beam shape for a reason. Look at everything from 20k RPM gokart engines to F1.

[sand_man]

I'm in the same boat, Doc!!!! Anxiously (yet patiently) awaiting my parts! I think Neil is about 90% complete, yet it's that infamous 10% that's always difficult to close!

[higztar]

Great post Doc, I have a friend re-building a 962 now
setting valve lash was a bit troublesome, If you can obtain a shim assortment or have Neil set them for you it might save some time
Also I understand that things get real tight with ring compression during assembly, a second set of hands are a must
I will post a few pics next week

[helidoc]

Thanks for your interest higztar and any pictures will be welcome. I am having Neil do the lash with the heads off because sometimes they will just take a little off the valve stem rather than a different shim and I don't have a valve grinding machine to do that accurately. I understand the problem with the compression rings and installation. There is not much clearance since all pistons on one side have to be installed at the same time (unlike a 911 where the cylinders are installed separately). People have used things like zip ties to do it. I bought 3 of the ring compressors and may modify one or 2 of them to give me the clearance I need.

[Porschephd]

Doc,
Use the compression bands like we use on the 996TT. Similar procedure in that there is little room to work and they have to go on as a bank. Given that the center cylinder on a 996TT can be pressed in and the 962/956 can not you can slide them in with the bands.

I say this only because I have done so with the 996TT . It is a bear to line them up and hit it all at once, but this may be the easiest way for you.

If I can help let me know.

[Rod Schneider]

I wanted to bring this back to the top. Any progress info???

[VZ935]

Originally posted by VZ935
[B]
Here is a picture of Dieter back at the 1986 Daytona 24 ..he goes way back !

Doc..just got back on with this thread..the person in the photo with Dieter is Kikos Fonseca of Latino Racing..Kikos is from Costa Rica and had both a factory 934 and a tube frame 934..Jim Torres sold the factory car a few years ago but still ownes Kikos' tube frame car... I am a Carillo rod guy myself but Dick Elverude has used both with no problem....any progress on the rebuild?

[helidoc]

Thanks for the continued interest. Neil tells me that the only thing we are waiting for now are the piston rings from Germany and that all the machining is done. My son was in the LA area last week and picked up the block and crankshaft but the other parts are still at Neil's shop. I hope to get started up again in about 4 to 6 weeks and will keep you folks posted with more verbage and pictures soon.

[Mr9146]

As the son of a Porsche mechanic and a Porsche mechanic myself I have been around these cars for my entire life.

The beauty part is that they never cease to amaze me.

Thank you for starting this thread and for sharing this process with all of us.

So few of us have or have had the opportunity to own/work on such a rare automobile that we can only live vicariously through you.

Again, thanks and good luck with the final result.

[Will911T]

bump for a KILLER thread. Looking forward to any more updates.

[olstyn]

I've been watching this forever, and I check back every now and then to see if there are any updates, but there's been nothing for months? Any new news?

[helidoc]

I have all the parts back from the machine shop but need to inventory them, check all the measurments and see what parts and supplies I need to order. This time of year I am busy with other efforts but will probably get back to work on it in September or October. I would have liked to have it together by now but it took so long to get everything back that other things have come up. Stay tuned........

[sand_man]

We miss you, Doc!!!! Not sure about your parts, but Neil did an amazing job on mine!

[mattr_914]

Originally posted by Carrera3.5L
Believe me, it is nowhere near as glamorous as it may appear but it was fun for a few years when you're young, single and stupid.

Hah, couldnt have said it better myself.

Dont ya love it?

edit: I love the picture of Dieter. I'll have to show it to him next time I see him.

[helidoc]

Well folks I am sorry to say that this will probably be my last post and hate to have kept any of you hanging. Last week out of the blue, someone called, asked me what I was doing with the car, asked me what I would take for the car in pieces and ended up with an offer (offers) that I couldn't pass up. The car was hauled off this weekend before I got a chance to think twice about it. Apparently the interest in vintage 962 race cars is on the upswing amongst those with the egos and pocket books large enough to feed them to cause their values to rise significantly in the past several months. Having driven my Formula Mazda into the wall at Searspoint twice in one weekend, I have decided to give up wheel to wheel racing and will move on to other hobbies. I do miss the challenges that faced me with the putting the engine back together, especially setting the timing, but atleast I won't have to worry about bending a valve or some other horrific event at the first start up. Thanks for all your help and input and hopefully you all enjoyed the little that I had to share. Hopefully the check will clear. Asta la vista.............

helidoc

[CBRacerX]

best of luck with your next adventures!

[ChrisBennet]

Thanks helidoc!
-Chris

[Carrera3.5L]

So Helidoc,

Is Neil going to finish the motor now or is the new owner going to give it a whirl?

Good luck and thanks for sharing at least part of your project, it brought back some nice memories for me...

Ralph