Paul,
I'm in Saratoga. There is a group of us that have accumulated the tools needed to do a tear down and build up. I did a top end rebuild on my 89 3.2. There is so much to learn on this forum and of course start with Waynes book to help you get oriented. I used Ted to do the head work and EBS for most parts. I also went to Jerry Woods (Rich) for p's and c's referb. My mechanic is Don Wise, he is a very nice guy and helps me in all sorts of situations when we don't have the tools or need advice.
Let me know if you want some help.
-Henry C.

Thanks Henry. I just bout Wayne's book, I think it's great, I'm excitied to do some of the work myself when needed. The excitement is building, I start my new job tomorrow and in 1 month I go permanent, once that happens the wifey has given me the go ahead to buy the car. Iv'e been looking at auto trader and yahoo everday but I don't see the right car yet.

There's a car in Socal that is exactly what I'm looking for but I think it's a bit on the high side for that car.

I'm looking for an 87-89 911 Couple with "Turbo Look".

Henry, let me know when another Porsche event happens in the area, I'd like to come pay a visit.

Thanks,

Paul

Make freinds with the technicians at your local porsche place (avoid their boss) then ask them if they can help you in their own time.

You'll find a lot of them are happy too, and have their own tools and their own cars they like to work on, who knows they may even be part of the forum.

Dont be afraid to try every job yourself.
You'll find enough support on this forum to take you through pretty much any job and if anything gets too much for you you can at least go armed and informed to your chosen expert and get them to help you out without selling you the hat & t-shirt..

Enjoy

Ditto!

-Wayne

Maybe you don't understand.
When you use the term "perfectionist" you are refering to a character defect that, IMHO does not fit. You then go on to suggest that the charactrer defect effects the advise he offers.
It is fair ground to question a mans opinion but not his personallity. That only leads to hurt feelings and I would hate to see Henry ignore this board because of this kind of nonsense.

Oh gee whiz poor Henry..like he dont insult anyone at times...If you want to take perfectionism out of context other then what it was meant to be go ahead..if you read the whole thing it was applied to craftsmanship, thats it......let Henry come to his own aid, he is a big boy

Paul,

Welcome to the Forum. SmileWavy You will find a lot of help here.

Forgetting the above banter, there are many skilled posters here. Some are well known and others are “stealth.” :cool:

I agree, ask intelligent questions and you will find the entire wealth of Porsche knowledge at your disposal.

Again, WELCOME. :)

Best,
Grady

Just be careful in the advice you read. If it differs from the advice given by other folks try to figure out why. Seperate the "advice" from the "marketing" and you will be just fine. Always remember there is more than one way to do most things (cantrary to what some think).

As a side note, I have a pretty good sense of humor and miss a lot of the humor that others see in some posts..... :)

CHeers

Whats this place coming to ?? Ya got to walk around on tip toes if you disagree with some one here ??
This is a Borg of thought. I dont push MY way as the Only way...Nither should anyone else. There are lots of "ways ". Most of us have just a garage to work out of and thats where my advice comes from. Some times more like mcguyver if you will...with only 12 post behind you mabe sit tight and get a grip on personalities here.
welcome to the board and become who you will.

Well I don't pussy foot around when it comes to technical discussion. I'm always up for a good reasoned argument. That is how things get resolved politely.

Fortunately the uninformed don't usually post here.

When I express my opinion I say so up front. I'm not shy about expressing my opinion, I just don't do so at someone else's expense.

The fact that this is such a "laid back", honest and informative forum is why I post here. Thank you Wayne, modorators and everyone else.

Best,
Grady

Arrrgh matie, nothing wrong with a argument or discussion...just there is more then one way to hammer in a nail........I for one dont like being told "this " is the only way

No need to defend myself.
I post here to help and get some heat for what I say.
I can take heat and even the silly threats of physical violence.

Here's what's odd, someone comes on and promotes civil discourse and take's heat for it.

What is this board coming to?

"Be nice Johnny. no! I don't want to."
http://www.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/cry.gif
Will all the 4 year olds please stand up.

I second Henry's advice with buying the $400 stuck motor and commence the disassembly. It really educated me and I refer back to that experience all the time.
I still have it in my basement and scavange off of it all the time!!
Great people too.
Nabil

You certainly do NOT need $7k worth of tools, not even if you buy all snap-on tools. All you need is a good 3/8 wratchet with a handful of sockets, eg 10mm thru 19mm and a set of combination wrenches of the same size. Only buy what you need, not complete sets. Add a few special items and a torque wrench and you are good to go. My guess is that if you stick to snap-on you can get by for $700, much less for craftsman. A few special tools and you are at $1500 max.

As to used porsche engines, the going price for a "core" engine of the year you are looking at is about $350, no more. You will need to spend $2500 or more to refurbish it, plus machine work of about $1000. Or you could buy a redone one for about $5K plus core.

Note, the $350 for core engines is what the pros pay. Its more difficult for the amateurs to get that price, but its possible. THe main problem is access to the market for used engines. Pros have it, amateurs have to work at it. As an amateur you may end up paying $700. Plus you are taking the chance that major parts are no good, like cranks. THe pros have a couple of used cranks just laying around, you do not. Just the way it works. a good used crank is twice the price of a complete core engine.

Bottom line, you have to be in the business and have a small volume of engines to make out. Otherwise you need luck, lots of it.

Snowman, it seems we bump heads again. I do enjoy our encounters.
Well I'm confused again.
First: Where do you get a decent set of tools for $700 not to mention, floor jack, jack stands, engine stand, vise, bench, compressor and so on for $1500? I asume you believe these items are necessary. Inquiring minds want to know.

Next is it "$350 no more" or "$700". Your schizophrenic self seems to quote both prices.
Furthermore : He is looking for an 87-89 3.2. Where do you buy a quality reconditioned 3.2 for $5K

Last : The point of taking a cheap core apart is not to put it back together (necessarily) but to disassemble an engine with no pressure to reassemble it.

That experience is priceless.

You don't need a compressor or a "real" engine stand to do the job. A costco floor jack is about $80, jack stands another $80. A decent engine stand is $90, and with reasonable care will not hurt the porsche engine for a one time rebuild.

The core engine, $350 is what I can get one for, $700 is what anyone can get one for at Pomona with a little effort. If you look long and hard nuff you to can get the $350 core. SO yes its one or the other, depending on the buyers skills.



A quality rebuild depends on where you go and what condition your engine is in. $5k is probably the bottom end but possible. Whats your bottom end? Whats Metric Mechanics? I know, but they have to do good work SOME of the time, don't they?

And finally, I probably do have over $30k in tools, but I am a dedicated car nut and have invested for a period of over 40 years in tools. I have built almost every engine out there a couple of times or more. If I were a car pro I would be up in the 1 million bracket. But my local community college provides much more than that for a mere $125 per semester. My local community college was run by a hot rodder. He furnished the college with every single machine ever built for doing hot rod engines. He purchased everything shown in the Engine Blueprinting Book, by Van whatever. Boring, Honing, decking, balancing, valve machines, rod machines. Not to mention the latest Hunter alignment equipment and AC equipment, scales, dynos, and well just everything. Seriously check this option out where ever you live. Even the pros could benefit from this resource. I am a pro in EE and I had over $250K in just software for Microwave stuff. But that was what paid the bills.

I only have about 20K in tools. But then again I sublet head and case machining out. For what I pay for that I can't justify doing it myself. The local dealer and the high end private shops around here agree, they use the same machinist I do... :) I also LEND my tools out to others who need something special that I have here. But then again I have a well paying career and only do this for the fun.

I am here to learn and help where ever I can. I don't post here to make a buck. That is why I lend stuff out. Folks here have treated me like family and I try to treat others the same. Guys like Grady and Chris Bennet and Ralph (and many others) who do the same. I just try to add my little bit (really little bit) of help when and where I can.

I think the majority of posters are like me. They have built one or two or ten motors and have *some* experience and try to tell others about what they have learned. That is what makes this forum great. Well, that and the many different opinions you can see about all different sorts of ways to do things. I, for one, don't read to many posts that say "this is how I do it, and that is the only way to do it"..........

Happy learning! :)


Cheers

If we have the attitude "I have done so much with so little for so long I am now qualified to anything with nothing " This might help ya get around the 30 or 130000 dollar tool syndrome...as you do not need all and every special tool that Porsche says you do. like Snowman and catca says you can invent ways of getting around it. For example a 5 gal plastic bucket will work well for assy the eng. halves for togather. ) Esp if you are only going to do this once, a eng stand would be a wast of $$ . If you are in my area I will gladly lend ya anything "special" that you might need.
We are all here to learn....no one knows it all

FWIW, I rebuilt my engine in a confined, 2-car (net 1-car garage) and couldn't afford the floor space. I assembled the engine on a work bench. The engine sat on a ball bearing turntable which was sandwiched between sheets of 3/4" plywood. Access to any part of the engine (top/bottom) was no problem all the way up to long block status.

As far as tools go, start off with a basic set of decent metric hand tools, floor jack, torque wrench, etc. then add to the tool pile as the need arises. An air compressor and solvent tank are nice to have, but not absolutely necessary.

For special tools:
Cam nut socket
Cam holder
Take-apart ring compressor
Micrometers/vernier caliper
Dial indicator
Factory manual or equivalent

Wayne's Engine Rebuilding Book should spell these out as well.

Sherwood

thats what we need around here is a cando attitude not a cannot tude.
And looks like someone in ca has volunteered to lend you a couple of things already ?