First Time Engine drop - How much Time
 

...I want to drop my 3 liter and go over all the CIS "stuff ". I also would like to clean it up and clean up the engine bay.

Anyway, If I'm armed with my Bentley, 101 projects and a good jack etc. How long should it take me to drop the engine?


Oh and do I really need to drop $400 bucks for an engine stand and yolk?

Jeff C

Jcon, get ready for some un-friggen believable numbers. last time this topic came up, there was some serious chest beating going on. there are some great wrenches lurking around here. me, never done it. i expect it to take me a weekend.

The first time I think it took me awhile to do but the second time it only took me about 2 hours or so. But I also dropped the engine and transmission as one, it seemed to be alot easier to do the first time than to seperate the two.


I didn't use the official engine stand the first time I pulled my engine and striped it down to a longblock. I left the two assemblies mated together and proped them up on blocks. It worked well but was a pain to get at the exhaust.

You should allow a weekend. A day to carefully disconnect everything required then sleep & drop the engine the next morning. You don't need an engine stand unless you're breaking the motor open- wooden blocks should be fine as all the Continuous Injection Schlock is on the top & east to access w/ the engine out .

Jeff,

Take all day Saturday to do it with a friend or significant other. Rest Saturday night. Then look at taking apart the CIS and everything after that. Give yourself an entire day to put it back in on the following weekend. Don't rush!! Review my errors on putting the motor back. I would always recommend taking the transmission and motor out as one unit.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=120806&highlight=Throw+ out+bearing

Hey, no one has started a while your in there list. Here are some in-expensive things:

the O-ring at the thermostat pressure switch
the O-ring at the motor oil cooler
check intake hoses if puffy replace them
the oil pressure switch
the seal at the oil breather
time to check your Clutch
replace the O-ring at the motor oil cooler
replace plugs
check intake hoses if puffy replace them
Check all fuel hoses for integrity

First time - I'd count on a day.

Although it will probably take less (if you are talking about just getting the engine and trans out of the car). When it comes down to it, there just isn't any part of it that takes a really long time. As you'll see, there isn't really that much tethering a 911 engine and trans assembly to the chassis. It would be interesting for someone to count how many bolts and disconnections have to be made - it's less than you might imagine.

Once everything is disconnected, 4 mounting bolts and it drops right down.

But, still, give yourself a day. If you start in the morning, it'll be out by dinner.

The first time, with a big jack and a couple very nice PP members tutoring me, it took around 4 hours.

Second and third times, by myself with a lifting table from Harbor Tool, it took 2.5 hours.

It is GREAT to have someone show you the ropes the first time.


If you're just removing the CIS, you don't need a stand or yoke. But they really help if you're going to do anything beyond that. Valve adjusts are unbelievably easy when the engine is on a stand.

Supposedly it takes the techs in Weissach approximately 30 minutes to drop the engine/trans. I've done it once, took me approx. 5 hours with a half hour break in the middle working alone for 80% of it. The hardest part for me was disconnecting the CV joints, had to hit them with a whole lot of liquid wrench before they'd budge.

EDIT: I used 101 Projects and a how-to article in "911 & Porsche World" magazine.

My first time took a day. Now it can be out in a couple of hours. Definately remove trans. and engine as one unit - much easier and less chance of damaging things. Just be very careful not to bend the shift rod.

You will need something to drop the engine onto. I use a furniture dolly I picked up at Home Depot for $20. You can do all of your work on that. I rest the engine on the exchangers. If you want to clean the engine while its out, and rotate to access the bottom, a cheap engine stand from Pep Boys will work fine, just make sure the studs fit the stand. Mine were too long, so I used some spacers.

Excellent advice. This is exactly what I did the first time. The second time, I had everything disconnected and ready to remove in about 3 hours. All that was left was the 4 mounting bolts.

Tom

On one project, where I replaced the flywheel seal, I had to take the engine out twice again over the course of a few days to replace defective seals that I had just installed.

I left the trans in place (so I didn't have to mess with the CV joints again), and got very quick at dropping the engine out. Of course that is with the benefit of having all of the nuts and bolts freshly installed, but still, I think I could probably come close to the "Weissach 30 minutes" for taking the engine out. With a lift, I'd guarantee it! (or your pizza is free!)

Thanks Guys

O.K. this is doable. Now if I can just keep myself to vacuum lines and the like I'll be fine.

On that note. What are the must do projects while the engine is out?




Jeff C

It can get quite expensive once you open that can of worms.

Powdercoating the sheetmetal, engine mount bar, trans mount, etc. seems like a must. Probably around $125-$150 or so, but once it's done you never have to do it again. Plus, it's easy - drop off the dirty old stuff, pick up the sparkling, brand new stuff.

You'll have a ton of hardware. You can get it all stripped and recad plated for around $150. A very nice touch!

Then of course all the seals, hoses, etc.

I ended up doing just about everything that could be done. I've never had the stomach to add up the receipts for all the powdercoating, cad plating, paints, supplies, stickers, hoses, lines, etc. etc. etc. Although I've seen budget 911 engine rebuilds done here for less! It ended up costing a lot more than I expected.

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One thing that is very handy to have is some digital pictures. If you look at something and think " I need to remember that", take a picture. When you start removing componants off the engine and go to replace it and want to know if the hose went this way or through here or whatever the picture will help. Once you do it one time, it will all make sense and you won't need the pics. It's fun stuff! Hey, if sex is better than a Porsche, why do we spend so much time with our cars?