Check your Porsche Parts

[Rob_in_TO]

I just thought I would share my engine building screw-up with everyone here in case it can help anyone else. I tore down my engine with the help of Wayne's book and it was invaluable. I was excited to start on the path to re-assembly.

When I took my crank to the machinist I had him remove the distributor gear as it was damaged and I don't have a puller. The crank checked out fine so once home I installed the newly purchased gear (seen below) from Porsche.

I knew that there were 2 different directions which that gear rotated based on fitment (SCs are the opposite direction to mine) so I was careful to verify the part number stamped on the gear was the one I needed. I didn't the check the rotation of the gear assuming that since Porsche had the number stamped right on the part itself it couldn't possibly be wrong....big mistake!!

The engine was basically all sealed up and the mistake wasn't discovered until the distributer was fitted (or not fitted). Anyways the engine had to be torn down and re-assembled.

I talked to the local Porsche dealer and they basically laid the blame at my feet as I didn't inspect the part properly and that sometimes wrong parts are shipped - I told them I did inspect the part as the part number is stamped directly into it and this isn't a case of a simple mis-shipment of a part - they stamped/manufactured it incorrectly.

Maybe I'm totally in left field but I would think Porsche should be a lot more concerned about this than they have been. Anyways, lesson learned.

Regards,
Rob

[2jmotorsports]

What engine is yours? I remember reading about the SC orientation difference before ordering my new gear but now Im going to double check again before it goes into the case!

[snbush67]

This is incredible, I wonder how many of those they've sold. Hopefully you're the only one whose gone through this and they take those off the shelf.



Couldn't you have just changed your gear on your distributor to avoid having to tear down and rebuild?

[Rob_in_TO]

@2j...its a 2.2E...I'm pretty sure that only the 3.0 motors use that different gear.

@snbush...the initial thought was to change the rotation of the distributor but I guess that cant be done for those distributors. Another option was to use a machined 3.0 distributor but in the end it wasn't that much cheaper and I was trying to maintain originality for the engine...tearing it down was really the only option.

It was a bad mistake by Porsche that, other than the dealer refund, they took zero responsibility for.

[Jase77]

Rob,

That's really bad luck, sorry to hear that. I am waiting on my engine parts to come back from the machine shop and in the meantime I have been rebuilding my distributor. I was just trying to remember which way my one rotates when I saw your post. I'm guessing that a lot of these parts are made by suppliers under license by Porsche and this may explain the inconsistent quality issues? I've sent back a few parts that were packed and engraved with Porsche part numbers because of bad quality, but these all came from a 'specialist' supplier.

Just to clarify, The SC distributor gear rotates anti-clockwise and the 2.7's and earlier rotate clockwise? Or is it the other way around? (I do not have any info with me in the office)

I hope you get it all back together again asap.

[DRACO A5OG]

OP, so sorry to read your troubles, Yes, always best to check old with new.

Even the color of the Oil return tubes, yes I have OCD. I fuched up two of my tubes and order just two and wouldn't you know it they were not yellow but silver toned. Doh! Pelican's pics were yellow but actual ones were silver. No biggy but it delayed my 3.4 build a bit.

[Rob_in_TO]

@Jase...from memory, I believe the pre 3.0L engines are clockwise and 3.0L are CCW.

[Tippy]

I'm the last person who would want to sue, but I feel in this case with a lot of wasted gaskets and time, it's a worthy cause easily proven.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

This makes Porsche selling sharty relays (even the ones advertised as "OEM", but are still made in China", and the supposedly, German made, Writen ones as well), CV boots, etc., seem like small potatoes by comparison. And the thing that really chaps my azz about their weak azz quality control is the fact that Porsche still charges nonsense, ridiculously high prices for garbage.

[KTL]

I've always thought the mention of where the logo is placed on the drive gear was a crappy way of identifying the gear placement on the crank. This picture is taken from the '84-'87 911 Tech Spec book and you can see they make mention of the emblem facing out toward the pulley.



I guess if we take a picture of our crank, we can check the orientation of the gear on the crank by making sure the teeth angle in the same direction.

Also note that the specs say the 930 distributor turns left/CCW and the Carrera distributor turns right/CW. The 3.0L SC engine also has a CCW distributor.

[Flat6pac]

I think the 901 part number should have been a clue
901 is original pre 70 and any part that hasn't changed since 2.0
911 prefix started in 1970 for the larger displacement
930 prefix represents the 1976 3.0 and the 1978 and later through the Carrera castings changing to 964 prefix in the lead up to C2.
Bruce

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Flat6pac

I think the 901 part number should have been a clue
901 is original pre 70 and any part that hasn't changed since 2.0
911 prefix started in 1970 for the larger displacement
930 prefix represents the 1976 3.0 and the 1978 and later through the Carrera castings changing to 964 prefix in the lead up to C2.
Bruce

I think reading the full post should have been your first clue.
2.2E engine, a 901 prefix would be correct.

That sucks, you always have to check parts, I got a brand new #8 bearing with an ID so out of spec you could have drove a truck through it.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Originally Posted by Mark Henry

I got a brand new #8 bearing with an ID so out of spec you could have drove a truck through it.

Was that a Rausch & Speigel one?

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Steve@Rennsport

Was that a Rausch & Speigel one?

I believe it was, it was something like .5mm over standard.

I ended up DFL coating the old #8 and it's what I do with all old, but within spec #8's now.
I rarely see wear, the ones that get tossed are more often a damage issue.

[DRACO A5OG]

^^^ Hewh! Glad I got the OEM one Why are we still buying the R&S products? I mean even on the reviews someone commented even the dowel pin is too deep. WTD?

[0396]

Originally Posted by DRACO A5OG

^^^ Hewh! Glad I got the OEM one Why are we still buying the R&S products? I mean even on the reviews someone commented even the dowel pin is too deep. WTD?

Why do folks still buy R&S products?

My thoughts 1) they don't spend enough time doing their research 2 ) when they order parts, they " focus " on price vs quality. Don't they say, you get what you pay for?

[Tippy]

I been on here since early 2008 and never heard of this R&S company nor quality issues.