John Walker Saves The Day - Again!

[Jandrews]

Hello all,

Last night I was putting my motor back in my '70 Coupe that has a '73 RS Spec MFI motor and a '71 transmission. I had a couple of buddies over to help with the heavy work and we were just at the point of installing the clutch and mating the transmission back up to the motor.

Well, as many of you know, the '71 transmission is a little different. It requires manually working the clutch release fork onto the throwout bearing with the trans and engine already bolted up. We tried and tried and just couldn't get the fork past the front lip on the throwout bearing. There wasn't enough fork travel to get engaged behind the tabs on the throwout bearing.

As we stood over the mess and pondered the situation while sipping on a few Pale Ale's, I thought out loud, I'm going to call John Walker. I remembered a post where he disagreed with the factory's recommendation to use screws and spacers to release the tension on the pressure plate springs. He had said you can just pull the fork back and engage it, but this wasn't working.

I punched up John and he answered the phone immediately. It was 7:15 here in the Midwest, so about 5:15 local time for John. I described my situation and without hesitation his first question to me was, "Did you machine your flywheel"? Well, yes I had. John proceeds to tell me that "this is a common problem as now the entire clutch mechanism is "closer" to the engine and the release fork in the transmission can no longer "reach" the throwout bearing". He says to "put a washer behind the pivot pin and spring on the release fork to adjust for the thinner machined flywheel and everything will line-up just fine".

I promptly thanked John and we got back to work. Ten minutes later we were wheeling the complete assemble into place in the engine bay. Another John Walker rescue story.

I am sure many of you feel the same way I do about John. There are very few people in this world who can provide competent assistance for money, and far fewer who will do it for free! John Walker is an invaluable resource to the 911 community, and restores faith that there are still some good-hearted, well-intentioned, generous people out there who are willing to help fellow enthusiasts pursue their passion!

Thanks again, John!


John

[Rick Lee]

Been there, done that. JW has saved my day before and I wish he'd franchise out to the East Coast, so I could send him my business.

[Superman]

I was reflecting just last night on John's "niche." There are a couple of other P-shops here in town that are reputable, but John's shop is different. Those other shops work on lots of different kinds of Porsches, and they have several mechanics. John works only on 911s and no one else works there. Further, the other shops like to specialize in building race cars, while John focuses on getting these cars running the way they were designed.

So the net effect is that John Walker, the man, has about the same amount of experience dealing with ACTUAL routine needs of Porsche 911s as someone who has been driving and maintaining one for about five thousand years. I'm not joking.

And one more thing that endears me to John. He does not favor complex or expensive solutions. His approach to these cars is decidedly low-tech. Yes, he has some very expensive tools and equipment and yes, he understands the finer details of tight Porsche factory specs. But running problems are rarely complicated, and sometimes a strategically placed washer works as well as having the mating surface of a bellhousing machined twenty thousanths.

He is precisely the kind of mechanic I have always admired and listened to, and the kind of contact I hoped to find when I bought my car. His number is programmed into my cell phone. I could continue with more examples and accolades, but perhaps another time. John is also humble.

[Doug Zielke]

In this era of "technicians", it's wonderful to know a guy like JW.

[jrdavid68]

Send him some cash or a sample of his favorite beverage.

[RallyJon]

That's a great idea: a PayPal link in his sig that says, "Did I just save you hours of frustration? Click here to PayPal me whatever you think my advice is worth."

[JK-81SC]

I'm not sending him a beer, but I am crating up my 915 tranny to have him rebuild it. It's worth a few bucks for shipping to have it done right. His prices are competitive with other shops like Vertex, plus we all know what good work he does.

Jeff
'81SC

[RANDY P]

The frame says it all :

rjp

[mwbaum]

Plus hes a Jerry Garcia fan....how can you go wrong?

[motion]

That's it... I'm moving to Seattle.

[Jim Richards]

Quote by Richard LeSchander
Been there, done that. JW has saved my day before and I wish he'd franchise out to the East Coast, so I could send him my business.

John, you should seriously consider this...do you have any idea how much work Richard generates for the local shops?

[Rick Lee]

Wrong Jim. Rephrase: "Do you have any idea how much free labor Richard gets out of the rest of us NoVA locals?"

[juanbenae]

maybe we could all chip in get him a tour bus, a fully equiped tour bus for a roadshow repair shop. that was the seattleites are not the only ones to get his services.

if my sister was not married i would offer her up to john, she could be his shop secretary and the like.

[MotoSook]

LOL..k911sc, John, I have three unmarried sisters yet...only catch is you have to move to Chicago

[Jdub]

John likes Moose Drool beer. Send him a rack.

John

[Rick Lee]

My sister is in OR and next time I hear she's going to Seattle I may have to have her drop off a care package for John.

[jrdavid68]

Not surprising that we haven't heard from JW on this thread, I get the feeling he is a modest fellow.

Maybe JW has a favorite charity that we could donate to in his name when he helps us out.

[john walker's workshop]

just send me your sisters.

[arcsine]

Be careful what you ask for John.

[jrdavid68]

JW, I don't have a sister, but I do have a brother. Here's an early picture - let me know what you think.