Donate your body to science

Rondinone · 08-12-2003, 09:20 AM

Not your body, but your Porsche's.

I have an unusual request. I happen to be a materials scientist with experience working with surfaces and composite materials. I also have a '79sc with alusil cylinders that will need to be rebuilt this winter. I'm familiar with the arguments about reringing alusil. I can't help but to think that the cylinders could be properly reringed if there was a way to re-etch the cylinder wall as was originally done at the factory. That would expose fresh silicon particles that would quickly wear down the rings and help them seat.

I also happen to have access to all the equipment necessary to look into this. What I don't have is an old alusil cylinder that I could break up and experiment with. Because of the geometry of an electron microscope and some of the other ancillary equipment, only little pieces of the cylinder wall can be examined. So this is what I need: an old cylinder that cannot ever be used again, so that I can break it into little pieces, examine the worn surface, then run some etching experiments and hopefully develop a process to re-etch the cylinders on my own car this winter.

I will be happy to share what I learn with the board. I will also pay shipping to the lucky donor. But please understand, you will not get the cylinder back. I am going to shatter it into little pieces. Thanks,

Adam

91C2wrencher · 91C2wrencher's Garage

Great!, just what this board needs, another mad scientist!

Tim Walsh · Tim Walsh's Garage

I have some old T cylinders that have most of the fins ripped off from a car accident that you can use. They're Iron cylinders though so I don't think they'll work for your your purposes

HarryD · 08-12-2003, 12:30 PM

Hi,

If it was me, I would make a tour of the local garages that rebuild 911's and ask if they have one for you. If they don't, leave them a card and ask for a call when they do a rebuild.

hugo454 · 08-12-2003, 03:54 PM

I'll send you one that I was using as a pencil holder.

pwd72s · 08-12-2003, 07:07 PM

DONATE??? You said DONATE??? Muhahahahah...

Dantilla · 08-13-2003, 07:06 AM

I've got a bunch of them. If you don't find any locally, let me know.

Why do I have a bunch of them? No, I'm not hard on engines, I just went to the auction where most of Paul Wier's inventory was disposed of. Got some nice pistons and cylinders, and a bunch of lousy ones.

Superman · 08-13-2003, 08:21 AM

FWIW, and you probably did a Search and learned this, but I successfully re-ringed Alusils that were 182K miles in age. I believe the aluminum-friendly-but-otherwise-aggressive parts washer at JW's Workshop was an important key. The business surface after cleaning was a dull grey that was neither smooth nor rough. It was kind of smooth, but with a flat finish and texture.

Rondinone · 08-14-2003, 06:12 PM

Dantilla,

Thanks for the offer. I'll check around here in Knoxville first.

Superman,

I've seen all your threads. I'm pretty sure that I'm in a similar boat. The engine needs a new top end and the compression is fine, but it would kill me not to do the whole thing. I'm willing to risk the money to try to reuse the alusils. If not, 3.2 Mahles here I come.

Randy Webb · 08-14-2003, 08:42 PM

BTW, is there a Dummies' Guide to Material Science?

Bill Douglas · 08-14-2003, 08:55 PM

A few of the Carrera guys might donate the whole car, but you won't get a thing off the SCWDP HUHHHAAAAAAAAAAA