Does this actually exist? pizza and beer usually would get it done here in No cal.
 

You hear this phrasing thrown around so casually on this forum.

Rebuilding your suspension but don't know how?
Just offer pizza and beer!

Engine drop? Just offer pizza and beer!

Rebuilding an engine? Just offer pizza and beer!

Who are these people who are more generous with their time than Mother Teresa?
They need to be commended and celebrated.

Or is this just some phantom sort of memory of 20s youth that no longer exists in the real world?

Most adults are too busy to go have some free pizza and beer even with close friends.
Now, they're going to burn an entire weekend at some strangers garage? For $9 ?

This forum has been around for 2 decades.
I'd love to hear some actual examples of people doing this.

Who here has exchanged $5000 to $20,000 worth of automotive work
in exchange for $9 worth of goods, from a total stranger?

I know it's not about the money, obviously,
but who are these guys who have this kind of free time?

I don't have the talent of most here and couldn't do a $20K engine rebuild. But I have happily lent a hand where I could. It's not about the money, its about enjoying the hobby and spending time with like minded people. I have a similar group with my classic boat. we help each other out all the time.

Let me also add Tony (Boyt911sc) essential gave away his priceless knowledge over sever weeks teaching groups of us how to rebuild a 911 engine. Take a look here.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/992839-boyt911sc-intro-engine-building-first-graduating-class.html

Oh yeah and if your pizza and beer only costs $9.00 no wonder nobody comes and helps they must be aweful. :)

Of course it’s not about the monetary gain, just an invitation or request for a favor with the implication that they’ll treat you nicely while you’re helping out.

This goes both ways as the helper may either bring knowledge or hope to gain knowledge by working with others - two heads are better than one!

We all become better people by helping out when we can without getting paid every time. Great way to make new friends too.

Happens on 914world every month. Usually the volunteers bring the beer as well.

as usual shug you are painting with a broad brush. the thread you are likely taking this from is simply a motor install. if that was to take "an entire weekend" or "cost $5,000 to $20,000" it'd be your project.


if an owner has something like suspension rebuild for example to do is eager, has the facilities, tools and is ready to participate I would be happy to go help out. im not going to do the work while dude sits there watching, but experience can be invaluable to somebody prepared to get a lil greasy. provides confidence, a comradery that's not about "$9 of pizza and beers".

the candidate needs to be vetted to some extent. if guy's a basket case and that is apparent in phone conversations I might be more reluctant. sound like anyone we know? you can tell if the prospect is solid by discussing the project. have parts, or at least a comprehensive list? how much they've studied it? tools? I don't mind bringing a thing or two, but id like to drive the 911 so you better have some craftsman tools... are they soaking fasteners? and most important is it a daily driver? I'm likely not to touch if that's the case, it adds an urgency I don't need.

ive had pelicans over for projects to help, provide me guidance, and guys that simply wanted to see what I was doing before they dove into it. ive also visited pelican project parties where ive provided insight and others where I was the student. it does not happen like it did a dozen or years ago as the old school BAP (bay area pelican group) guys were a tight bunch. some of us went racing, some of them had kids, other's sold their cars, but to this day were are still in contact via social media and all to seldom get togethers.


goes around comes around.

It’s something that happens with folks who like to wrench on cars and hang out with like-minded people. We used to call them “install-fests” when I was involved in such things. I’m in my 40s now and don’t get out much but it was a regular part of my life for 20 years. Made some great friends and as recently as 4 years ago a group of people I met that way got together and Built and ran a Chumpcar.

well said sir.


I was just reminiscing some about old time work events and it's making me :D


the one that stands out is the day MichiganMat brought his old targa over to weld his driver's inside seat mount. we both learned that day that you don't weld on the tunnel with the fuel lines in place!!:eek::eek: I welded a 1/2" or so tack and pulled off to observe it before hitting it again. well, it took that long for the 1st bead to soak the tunnel wass to melt the fuel line and the second strike flashed it over us. we pulled back and there was a tiny bit of flame coming out a tunnel hole that Mat quickly extinguished with the bottle we had at hand.


after it calmed down he asked why was I out trying to push the car from the front while he put out the fire? I suggested I did not want his at the time of 2003 or so 74 $5000 targa burning my house down.


took him to the parts store and we spent the rest of the afternoon pulling two fuels lines thru the tunnel. good times....;)

I know it's not about free anything, obviously.
(anyone with a $25k+ weekend toy does not need free pizza for a day's worth of hard labor)
but who are these guys who have this kind of free time?

Most people could offer Chateau Petrus and caviar
and it's highly improbably this can ever actually occur.

I am just curious if this happens even 1% of the number of times its mentioned on this forum.

Even if these guys existed,
What do their wives say about ditching for an entire afternoon, or day, or weekend?
I have never even heard of one person who can or would do this.

I just borrowed a relay to test from a local 911 owner I know,
he drove by, we swapped the relay, bull****ted for a few minutes,
but that was a 15 minute affair. No one is coming by for 10 hours.

Even if they wanted to, who can spend their entire day helping some stranger from the internet?
I simply can not wrap my mind around this.

And how far do they travel? These cars are few and far between. And a tiny fraction reads the forum or knows DIY.
Do people cross state lines while ditching their family obligations to help some poster on the internet?

Is this related to the density of population in some areas?
Are there dozens of 911 owners in your neighborhood?
Maybe it's a city thing? That would make sense.

Either way, my hat goes off to anyone who sinks an entire day to help a random person
while offering thousands of dollars of service for free.

https://image.ibb.co/nmgk5A/TSNXw5-O...r-Ca-TEg-1.png

All the time! You talk to someone who has a special skill or tool and ask them to come over and give you a hand. Hopefully you have a set of skills or tools the person knows might be useful in the future. When you're all done you organize a drive day and laugh about the mishaps when the job was in progress. I've done it for other people and people have done it for me. That's what life is all about when you boil away all the BS.

I don't usually even provide pizza or beer, you do that some other time when everyone is clean and rested.

If you can't identify some car friends that would help out with some job, then find some!

I have met a few Pelicans this way. One came over to help get my Wevo shifter adjusted. I had a growler of beer as a thank you etc...

After doing my suspension I wouldnt hesitate to give someone local a hand. Its not difficult work but there are lots of steps where it might be nice to have someone around. Especially someone that has done it before.

Who are these people you are talking to? I must know 100 different guys in my local area. Friends, activity partners, coworkers, etc. I don't think even one of them works on cars, let alone a 911.

In 4 years of ownership, I've met 3 911 guys who are local. (Crossing state lines is not local) Two do not really work on their cars. The other does basic repairs like me. But neither of us are dropping an engine in this lifetime (or in the current garage space situation) Even if he did, he's not spending 10 hours at my house, while his wife shuttles 4 kids around, So, the expertise is just not out there, and if it was, it's not hanging out at my place all weekend, for free.

Hell, forget free beer, I could offer a free Lambo for someone to come by and drop and engine, and I'd still get crickets. I think the Venn speaks for itself. I think this "free beer" model only works in densely packed cities where dozens of random people, in your town, read the same forums, about your exact car, and have decades of deep knowledge, have serious tools and a lift, and have tons of free time. I suspect this happens 1% of the time it's mention on the forum.

In college I repaired everyones bike for beer. We had no money except for beer. If anyone in San Francisco or nearby environs wants help with their 911, I’ll be willin. Just give me weed, whites and wine. Kidding beer is good.

Last winter I helped a guy I had never met (except here on Pelican) drop the engine in his SC. I went over to his lift equipped garage for a few hours on a Saturday, met his wife and son, drank a couple beer and did what I could to help remove his engine without breaking anything.

I had never pulled an engine previously, but he had. I offered my help to get together with some other like minded P-car people, to learn something and perhaps share some knowledge. Plus, I like to get in there to do and learn stuff. Inquiring minds and all that.

I did the same thing a few years ago when I lived in another city. I try to meet others for coffee or beers that may be on Pelican and are local. When I heard that one was redoing his suspension, I offer a hand.

For me, it's a pay it forward kind of thing. Fellowship and comradeship. Collective knowledge and all that, as well. Same thing if I saw one of ours broken down at the side of the highway, I'd stop and help if I could. Even you, Sugarwood.

Like they say (PCA or somewhere): It's not about the cars, its the people. Or I came for the cars but stayed for the people. Something like that.

This pretty much says it all. You don't move in circles of car guys. Pelican, as both a company and a forum, was founded on guys working on their cars. This board isn't what it used to be. Guys still get together, but how Pelican is used and functions has changed. You're too manicured to really get it. It's not your crowd at the end of if the day.

you shug are incurable.

it's not like any of us were putting off a kidney donation surgery or anything like that to drop by for a few hours. sure, people are busy so if you're looking for help you have to undoubtedly be flexible in your efforts to get it. if you're in the sticks of a rural area good for your quality of life and bummer on 911 help...


your last paragraph in post 13 sums up why you just don't get it. when I visit you your not getting a 30 year trained Porsche tech, but a guy that's done or helped do a number of things to these cars over the last 20 years learning mostly what I know from other lenders of time & knowledge. im not going to suggest I help you rebuild your motor, or suggest you help me with mine. nor am I gunna require you have a lift,,, although if you have a lift I will REALLY wanna be your bro....


now that you mention it there are no longer work party invite posts really. we'd do it on the main page years ago before Dmitry might move it to a regional forum where it gets crickets…. maybe people are busier these days, I know I am, but maybe the attitudes your questions raise are now the norm.


you could ask for help, or question why some of us might wanna help out. that's a clear case of the vinegar v. honey deal...



if this thread were you looking for help to drop a motor on the Saturday after thanksgiving while your wife was out id not visit cause im tired of the stupid questions already...

although I am free that sat AM should someone need to drop a motor with in say,,,,,,,, 73 miles of me..

Toby, let me know when you are ready to install turbo powaaa' and a proper tail on yer 911 (aka - make it a real car); I'll be glad to travel all the way from North TexASS to lend a helping hand (not like that :eek:)!

I’m probably going to regret responding to this post because it smells like troll bait, but I’m feeling froggy so what the hell.

Uwanna has been over to my place too many times to count. When he helped me with my first engine drop I bought him a bottle of Scotch.

He and rattlsnak came over one day to help troubleshoot the notorious fuel pump mystery ground. That was probably an 8-10 hour affair.

I helped Garrett set his CIS properly. Don’t remember his username. He sold his SC last year.

I crossed the state line to visit wareaglescott a few weeks ago. He lives 2 hours away. I was there in 1 hour 40 minutes.

I’ve met up with Pelicans in Washington state, Massachusetts and Germany. We’ve tinkered with cars and drank beer together.

So, yea. It happens. People help you and you return the favor.

I've done exactly this on another car forum, when I was brand new to car DIY. Went and helped a guy who was doing a few things. We met up once or twice after that, when either of us needed a 3rd hand. We still stay in touch 5 years later, trading the occassional for sale ad or Jalopnik ad.

So, I get the concept. I've done it. What I am referring to specifically is people offering pizza to someone doing a MAJOR operation like dropping an engine. (Yes, that is a major operation that few people ever attempt, even here) These guys are unicorns, and it's exponentially harder when you have a very rare car.

LOL, that's perfect. Car fixin' is just not a thing in my parts. It's borderline illegal. Most people I know have never even bought a used car from someone's driveway. Now, add in a oddball air cooled car and you're on your own. I bet in some parts, you can't even find a pro shop within an 1 hour drive to work on your car, let alone some random guy who just comes over for 'nuthin.

How far do Uwanna and rattlsnak live from you?
How far did you travel to help Garrett?

You drove 2 HOURS to help a poster?
God bless your soul, that's dedication to paying it forward.
What sort of help did he need? You deserve a medal.
I don't know anyone who would drive 2 hours to help ME, let alone a stranger.

how good is the pizza?

Now I’m wondering where this place is. So I can avoid it.

I've been to several all day events helping people. I also put in probably, oh 16 full days on weekends over 2 years helping a local guy tear down then rebuild his engine. An hour drive each way, often twice a weekend, at least 10 weekends.


Wasn't Pelican, but my earlier car related forum, I often traveled to California (400 miles) for a long weekend to either hang out, get work done on my car or work on someone else's. I stayed overnight in the houses of 3 or 4 people who had NEVER MET ME BEFORE, only from our internet relationships.

Wow.
You drove an hour to go help some guy?
I don't drive an hour unless it's a major holiday.

400 miles. Holy ****. There are no words.

No, I drove 1 hr and 40 minutes. In fairness, he lives in God’s country so it wasn’t hard to get me to say yes.

Uwanna is 10 minutes from my house.

Garrett was probably 45 minutes away depending on traffic. Rattlsnak is 30 minutes to an hour away. Depends on traffic. Hell everything in Atlanta is an hour away. It’s a geographical oddity.

America. I think it's a general trend I've seen discussed on several car forums over the years. Boomers dealing with HOA regs, etc. I don't dare own an air compressor, in fear of neighbors registering complaints. To work on cars, you now almost need to live in the boonies. Doing an engine drop may require more than one garage spot. People use garage as storage, and real estate is huge money in metro suburbia. Working on a car in public sight is akin to littering. That is the way the country had headed. Plus, remove shop class the last 20 years, and fewer people are serious weekend mechanics. And only a tiny percentage of those have a 911, and willing to drive an hour to your place! LOL.

That's one of the many reasons that I would never live in a HOA neighborhood. Texans love their HOAs for some reason, and at their core, they are nothing short of legalized criminal enterprises meant to provide a sense of power to people that have Pygmy personalities (not to mention that they are money-grabs, as well).

Sorry, you don’t live in America. America is the land of the free.

The irony is that the people who will complain if you have an air compressor will happily pay a guy to wear a backpack leaf blower once a week. Because that’s different.

Some people still believe dinosaurs weren’t real and the earth is flat. As a general rule, I try to not let stupid people dictate how I live my life.

I also lent him several hundred dollars in special equipment (tools, jigs, etc), that I had bought when *I* rebuilt my engine. The thought of that must just make a vein pop in your forehead...

He did give me beer and pizza some of those days. Other days, nothing.

If I simply shake hands with someone who has rebuilt an engine (who is not a professional mechanic, that is), I will consider that a bucket list item. I will probably lasso a unicorn before that happens.

Where I live there aren't that many guys around who have or work on 911s. In fact seeing one is rare. I did go to a Pelican engine drop (by the way I'm not a great mechanic but I don't consider an engine drop/install a major operation on a 911) almost an hour away once maybe five years ago and enjoyed it a lot. There were probably a dozen guys there & some brought refreshments and some brought snacks. I did help a guy who lived down the street from me pull and install the engine in his wife's Z car once. She had run it without oil. The payback I got for that was my wisdom teeth pulled. He as a dentist.

When I lived in Las Vegas (probably around 2007), I had a Pelican volunteer (that didn't even like me...different politics) to drive to my house in NC (at least an hour from his house)..to investigate and board up a house of mine that was broken into.

I couldn't find a local guy to fix it and the city threatened to condemn the property, but he (Pelican) made all needed repairs (acting as a general contractor), and straightened it out for me. It was a massive project that took months. He did a great job and the house came out great. I am very much in his debt.

Ha ha - love it! :D

I miss being able to read your stuff in PARF, FintIsStoned, and our occasional barb slinging over there. :)

Nail hit squarely.

If anyone doesn't get the invite and can't work out how to do an invite that gets results, it's not really your crowd.

I've been on drive days where there is that one guy who is awkward and spoils the vibe. Who doesn't know how to be chill. It's a bit like the poker game if you can't work out who is the patsy...

^^ LOL, no.
There is no invite.

The point is there is zero 911 DIY culture in my area.
Which is why I find the whole premise to be fantastical.
**** pizza. "Engine drop. Free Lambo" and you'll still get crickets.

Mayne this will help.
https://image.ibb.co/nmgk5A/TSNXw5-O...r-Ca-TEg-1.png

I’ve had people 1/2 hour to an hour away come by and have me tweak their CIS or other minor stuff and I’ve driven the same distances to do it at their place. (Great expresso at one place) :)
All guys I’ve met at cars&coffee or via this forum. Great excuse to jump in my car and go for a nice drive and then spend some time BS’ing about our cars.
My wife if 29 years always says go and have fun.
I call people on this forum that are total strangers looking for help. Some of them have posted in this thread.
It is all about the community and comradery we share.

Join your local PCA or just go to some local car events, you’ll find someone that isn’t averse to lending a helping hand.

You have a rare skill and people drive to your house for a free service?
Well, that's different than what I am talking about.

Nah, I've gone to local PCA. Trek, DE, etc.
At PCA, air cooled cars are a dying minority, and DIY is very rare.
Most people drive brand new cars, and can't change a fan belt.
I am usually the most experienced wrench I encounter.

Car shows are not my thing.
Been to one, been to 'em all.
Even went to Limerock historics this year.
Barely lasted an hour before I wanted to leave.

Lol, throwing a gunson gas tester in the exhaust pipe and turning a hex key to adjust the mixture is not a rare skill. Takes 20 minutes, and that is mostly just waiting for the meter to calibrate.
I’ve never thought about it as a “free service”, I had them do it so they learn how. I have learned everything I know from others, and I know what goes around comes around. Not addicted to the almighty buck, sometimes the reward is in sharing. Heck, this place wouldn’t exist if people wouldn’t share their knowledge.

It must be different at Portland C&C than your area, as it is mostly old cars and lots of air cooled. Lots of DIY guys. Maybe it is the lack of the ridiculous CA smog laws here?
Maybe that’s why so many people from CA are moving here! :)