Porsches for dummies

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Here is a really dumb question that Id like to get some help on...as I dive into the DIY Porsche Land.

First of all...my background: Im a smart guy with mechanical thought processes and can figure things out pretty quickly.

I know (and have performed) the basics about cars, basic maintanance....but as I dive into really wanting to do some fairly complex work on my car... while resources that I have such as both of Wayne's books (101 Projects and Engines), the Anderson Porsche Handbook, etc... I find that I really do not have the experience to know what many of these car parts do.

Im analytical, and like to know the exact functions of these things when I am working on them. When I hear about "camshafts, pistons and cylinders, crank and rods, ball joints, torsion bars, sway bars....etc etc." I often can not picture those things in my mind and also do not know what the exact functions of these parts are.

Can anyone recommend any good resources on the web or otherwise that explain these things without being too basic?

Please dont laugh at my newbie question Im sure theres some topic out there that I know a lot about that you dont...

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

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RoninLB · 05-15-2003, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonic dB

I often can not picture those things in my mind and also do not know what the exact functions of these parts are.

OK... so lets say you read a 911 book that is specific to a 911.. so it's kinda like teaching a dog to lift his paw.. but the big picture on cams, carbs, ignition, etc. puts the 911 specific info into prespective. which I think is what your looking for.. so maybe an eyeball into your local speed shop's book section.. the Peterson, HP, etc has $12-$20 soft covered cams specific, electrical specific, etc. books.. this will help with the big picture.. it'll be a cheap education for a broad understanding.. then later you refine your reading.. enjoy..................Ron

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by RoninLB
OK... so lets say you read a 911 book that is specific to a 911.. so it's kinda like teaching a dog to lift his paw..

I don't know what kind of dog you have, but when I had my english sheep dog he learn how to lift his back paw all by himself. He figure that if he didn't want to pee on himself he needed to lift the paw before peeing.

Zeke · 05-15-2003, 08:12 PM

Sonic, if you're serious, get a Briggs and Straton lawn mower engine and take it apart. First, you will discover what tools are handy, second, you will see the piston, valves and crankshaft. Next, find an old air cooled VW engine and mess with it. Read a book or two and try to put something back together (not always acomplished by the well intended).

Also learn to do maintenance procedures on cars like changing oil. You will know soon whether you want to continue in your pursuit. Now, I started all this stuff with bicycles at age 9 and go karts at age 14. I built my first car from the frame up at age 19. But, I had no mentor or family support, so it can be a self taught enterprise. That's how I did it, go for it.

emcon5 · emcon5's Garage

All will be revealed, but be prepared to waste a few hours:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/channel.htm?ch=auto&sub=sub-under-the-hood

Tom

kstylianos · 05-15-2003, 08:23 PM

Not to be sarcastic, but the best resource is sitting in your garage. The real understanding comes from picking a project (start small), researching it and ultimately digging in. When you start to tinker w/ a system to either make an improvement, fix, etc., you learn first hand what impact that tinkering had. If you are handy with a wrench and analytical, thats all it really takes. These cars are not that complicated....unless you have CIS

Randy Webb · 05-15-2003, 08:40 PM

read a book called Design and Tunig of the Sports Car Engine. It is either by Phil Smith or there is a different one I'm thinking of by him (in this latter case read both of them).

Also read Colin Campbell's books. That will get you started.

Rob McKibbon · 05-15-2003, 09:51 PM

I'd go for Zeke's suggestions.

I've done alot of work on previous cars owned. Auto shop and lack of money to hire a wrench when younger.

I found that I really don't enjoy it. The F word is used alot and I don't have the patience to fiddle around. If you don't have the patience and skill to rebuild your lawnmower engine, it's probably not for you, although from your post, you sound like the kind of guy who will do very well at it!

Good Luck

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

OK...this thread has elements of comedy and people talking down to me.

I KNOW how to change the oil thank you... I basically have done a LOT of actual work on cars over the years....

I just want to know what everything DOES and how it interacts oK? Im sorry I asked....

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

emecon 5, Randy, Rob... you guys did give me good answers...thanks for the link emecon5 thats pretty much what Im looking for and will help.

Sorry for my attitude. I was hoping for some useful answers and instead got a bevy of smart-asses up at the top of the thread.

Sorry you P-car (ruf) snobs, I dont have your air of expertise...but maybe someday i will be able to at least see your level up there high on your thrones.

Victor · 05-15-2003, 10:24 PM

I learnt on a small block chev. Easy to work on and cheap to repair when it blows up because I neglected to put loctite on the screws at the bottom of the 4BBL carby sitting on a single plane manifold.....

have fun.

Superman · 05-15-2003, 10:39 PM

Don't be offended by our smart-asses.

Milu · 05-15-2003, 11:09 PM

I wouldn't recommend them as a guide for maintenance but the Haynes Manuals for the 911 would answer your questions.

Bentley is much better but more expensive.

Eric Mckenna · 05-16-2003, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rob McKibbon
I'd go for Zeke's suggestions.

I found that I really don't enjoy it. The F word is used alot
Good Luck

AHAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!
Rob, You sound alot like me with this line whaaah! hahahahaaha!
Ah yes the good ole "F" word it sure does help things go a bit more smooth don't ya think..at least for me it does.. hahah

Eric McKenna

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Sonic dB

Sorry for my attitude. I was hoping for some useful answers and instead got a bevy of smart-asses up at the top of the thread.

Sorry you P-car (ruf) snobs, I dont have your air of expertise...but maybe someday i will be able to at least see your level up there high on your thrones.

Have you check out the books that I listed? All the books that I listed are valid. Maybe you're offended because it was written for people like women who doesn't have any ideas as to how a car operates.

They wouldn't be able to tell a rotor in a dizzy from a rotor for a brake system. Try reading some of these books before commenting about smart ass replies. Everyone has to start somewhere. You ask for some help and I offered some help.

greenmonster · 05-16-2003, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by emcon5
All will be revealed, but be prepared to waste a few hours:

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/channel.htm?ch=auto&sub=sub-under-the-hood

howstuffworks.com is great !!

It's where I send my Mom when she emails me automotive questions

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

Sonic dB, take it from someone who has come a very long way in two yrs.: get involved in your local PCA tech sessions. Nothing too involved there, but then you'll meet people who do all sorts of projects. I never really got to see a 911 engine torn down until kstylianos pulled his 3.0. I met him when he showed up to help out with my engine swap at Marcesq's house. I met Marc at a PCA tech session and he offered to host my G50 clutch job in his garage. During that project I met Targaman and he helped me do my door stay reinforcement job. At my first PCA tech session I met David Riley and Green912 who are THE MacDaddies of local Porsche DIYdom. I've seen it all now and am just itching to pull the engine on the 993 I'm buying next weekend. Our Potomac PCA chapter is just the best bunch of friendly, knowledgeable and helpful folks. I'm sure you have such resources in your area too.

Dan Owens · 05-16-2003, 07:22 AM

Sonic,

Get used to smart ass reply's here cause you'll have a million of them. You'll also get a good dose of people that respond that have no useful info, they just want to have written something in response. I think that's a flaw in some Porsche owners as they just like to talk and it doesn't matter whether it's on topic or not. For the most part though you'll get answers to your questions as the group is very helpful. Let the flaming begin.

Dan O
84' 3.2 Targa

Scott Clarke · Scott Clarke's Garage

Sonic-
After you have some basic information available, get a copy of Paul Frere's "Porsche 911 Story." It is far and away the best explaination of the development of the 911, and does not assume a huge amount of technical expertise on the part of the reader.
-Scott