Finally.....success!!!
 

After two years, five months and four days.... she's running! Here is the video of the cam break-in. As it turns out, the timing was way out from static to dynamic. I ended up having to re-index the distributor by one tooth, and then make several index marks on the flywheel with soapstone (it's a 914, you can't see the pulley) to figure out which way I needed to go it was off so far. When I finally got the timing light to hit the mark at 10 deg. BTDC, she fired right up! All the initial signs were good, oil pressure was at 20psi, and I could see the oil rapidly reentering the front tank. No leaks (Thanks Wayne!) and no major malfunctions. Here is a video of the Weber music as it was made.


<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HelewSaF6ak?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HelewSaF6ak?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Although I still have a long way to go to get her on the road again, I feel like I'm over the hump. So with that said.....

I wish to express my sincerest and most heartfelt appreciation to the following people:

Jamie Novak: You, sir...are the king! Without Jamie's constant support and willingness to loan tools, load up his welder, calculate my compression ratio, loan me parts to try out and fit, and generally listen to my ranting for almost three years, this project DEFINITELY would have stalled out long ago without your selfless willingness to help another lost soul out. I now understand the debt you feel to Warren. Good Karma on you and your family for years to come! We'll be on the road soon.....SmileWavy

Craig Garrett (G2 Racing): Craig went the extra mile to make sure that my machine work on the 2.7 case was nothing less than spectacular. His service beyond the sale is top-notch. He went waaaay above and beyond what I paid him for (dirt cheap, too!) and I highly recommend him for any machine work, especially heads. Thanks Craig!

The list from here on is long and deep: Steve at Rennsport for his willingness to share experience and advice without a penny earned to keep his doors open--good Karma to you, too! Dick Shift, you too... Mark W., thanks for the inspiration and encouragement. Redbeard gets props for doing the gearbox rebuild clinic and using my tranny as the model. I'm certain that I'm still leaving out a long list of people who are very deserving of my thanks, but I'll make it public when I remember.

Now to sort out about two dozen little details (including what I think is a bad alternator, weber tuning, etc.)

At last...... Weber Music.

--Jaybird :)

Congratulations - it must be a wonderful feeling that I hope to enjoy as well sometime soon (my 911 been apart a bit longer than your 914).

If you need any jets, emulsion tubes or a flow meter for tuning your Webers, let me know. I don't recall exactly what I have at the moment, but I know I ended up with some extras after tuning mine.

Frank

There is nothing like the phone call noting the verbal elation when the car is running and the owner is beaming with pride.

Congratulations Jay! you earned this one.

Now get some seats in that car so we can break the motor in properly. :) FM1826 is begging for some high-rpm runs.

Jaybird,
Nice work, one of the best posts I've read. Definitely one for my archive. Beyond waynes book was there any other significant books you worked with.

Ed,
Wayne's book was the basis for my rebuild. I believe I consulted Bruce Anderson's book some, but everything I needed was found in Wayne's book, and here on the board. It's a hair-raising proposition to have your first motor build be done "by the book" without a tutor watching over your shoulder. So far, so good with mine. I'm working out tons of little gremlins, but overall the motor appears to be pretty sound, and makes tons of power. I have maybe 150-200 miles on it so far, but I've progressed to the point that I can take it out and just drive it without feeling like I have to watch the gauges constantly and listen for every little hiccup it makes. I'll be in much better shape after I get my first dyno runs done, which will hopefully be over the winter. Every time I drive it, the grin factor from hearing the motor I built singing down the road is almost overwhelming. I'm already starting to dream about my next motor build.

Congratulations as well!
10 deg. BTDC is a bit much for an air cooled engine. Keep an eye on the temp. And an open ear for the sounds of preingition.

Great Write Up!
 

Jay, you're an inspiration! I've been without a Porsche for 20 years and am looking now while I wait for my kids to finish college and free some cash! I've built vintage 2 stroke mx bike motors, so it's tempting to find a project and do an engine rebuild like you did. Not sure I have the patience to go through 2 year rebuild tho! Great job and enjoy!!

Tom Viers
Cape Girardeau, MO

Jaybird,
Congrats and I can share that overwhelming feeling with you. I got my engine running again on Monday after only 8 months and cannot describe the feeling of hearing her run in at 2000rpm. When the wife and kids came out to the garage on hearing the engine I am not sure if the small tear in my eye was from pride or the break in smoke she was making. However again hearty congrats it is great to have something you built by yourself run...

Here's a clip for all of you who helped and advised on the rebuild. A thousand and one thanks to all of you! SmileWavy

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U_APZLA7Lm0?hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U_APZLA7Lm0?hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Nice. Well Done. Congrats!

Great job. I loved your camera persons comments at the end of the video LOL!

Ow your wife told you.....