Common mistakes when rebuilding?
 

I have been reading waynes book on rebuilding and just wondering if anyone can offer some more advice on common mistakes/problems.

Listening to the little voice in the back of your head that tell you... "While you are in there" :D:):D

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ lots spent when you do.

Change wrist pin clips and order a few extra ones. . They might bend when installing , make sure they are well seated

I've only done one but FWIW. I worried about snugging up nuts and forgetting to torque to spec.

Improper sealing leading to leaks

Be sure to install the cylinder dividers before installing the heads.
Bruce

Indeed...I bought myself a red paint-pen (not a sharpie), and marked each nut relative to the surface it was seated against, to show any loosening

Putting in the flywheel side crankshaft seal with the crankshaft. I think it is better to put it in later when the case halves are together

Losing a circlip in the engine, forgetting the cylinder gaskets in your nervousness about installing the Pistons to the rods, not using RSR rocker seals, not seating the oil pump seals properly when mating the case halves, not setting cam timing properly, not aligning the cam sprockets properly, forgetting assembly lube, not using the proper tools for locking down the cams. That pretty much sums up my mistakes!

Not having a second set of eyes and hands...

Putting the case back together by myself and in the process an oil pump sealing ring got loose while trying to shuffle the case in place. It was sitting on the floor staring at me saying "Hey Dumb *****, you forgot me!" after torquing everything down...

Not saving enough money and having the process now take 16 months and counting for a full rebuild. Things always come up and takes the funding away...

Not having a clear mission. Essentially Why am I doing this, cause your job will double, triple etc.

Buy or borrow every tool Wayne recommends and I fully promote Stromski tools.

Bag, Tag and take LOTS of photo's Your memory will fade as the months go by..


Cheers and good luck

X aboutta dozen!!!

Cheers
JB

Hands down the worst that happened to me. Used the wrong sealer (Yamabond 5) on the case and chain towers. Leaked after 100 miles.

That one had to sting a bit

Don't hesitate to seek advise......
 

Jhogan,

Even how good and prepared you think you are, there would a time that you would be in state of confusion specially if this is your first engine rebuild. Practice makes perfect and I have done over a dozen 911 engines and counting. And I still seek advises from to time from guys I considered knowledgeable and experienced than myself. My other advise to you is to take your time and double check your work. It is not how quick you did the job but how well you did it. Using the right tools and equipment make a lot of difference in doing a better job.

Have a couple of mentors (advisers) to discuss some of your questions during the rebuild. No books or manual could substitute from hands on experience. Enjoy the experience of rebuilding your engine and it would be very memorable. Wish you success.

Tony

Hands-down the best advice yet....never be in a rush to get something done "this evening".... if in doubt, surf.

I'm very fortunate to have had Chris Carroll guiding me along the way, couldn't have wished for a better mentor.

Read the book a few times (I actually enjoyed it, sad as that may sound). At the end of the day, it's an engine...just with a more-detailed-than-most set of assembly procedures. You'll be fine.

Aluminum washers
 

When you get your gasket set use a magnet to sort aluminum washers from steel. I accidentally installed a steel one on the block side of the pressure sending unit and it leaked like a sieve.

Great info guys! Really appreciate it. I also heard from a local mechanic that putting silicone on the engine seals is also not the best idea?

Read all the rebuilding threads, read Wayne's book, read the Bentley, read the service manual and watch the You Tube video's. Once done read it all again. After all the preparation it will feel familiar when you get into it.
Before beginning take lots of pictures at every conceivable angle including under the car.
Buy two boxes of Ziploc bags, a couple sharpies, and 8 clear plastic totes to keep everything organized as it comes apart. Write on the bag were the parts came from, keep intake separate from exhaust, and each cylinder group together.
Assemble in the opposite order.

When labeling and picture taking pay particular attention to the wiring harness connection points and vacuum lines and such. Lots of posts asking where does this tube go.