New Math: 15 min job = 3 hrs!

[fred cook]

OK, got the new sender (for oil pressure gauge) and a shiny new 24 mm crow foot wrench. No big deal, right? Just pop the crow foot on a 3/8" extension, unscrew the sender, screw in the new sender and done. Well, not quite that simple really. When I could not get enough torque with a 3/8" ratchet, I added a 3/8" to 1/2" drive adapter and a 1/2" ratchet. Still no go. Move up to a 1/2" pullbar..... nope. The sender didn't come loose, but I did break the end off a 3/8" extension! Hmmm, this thing is seriously stuck! I replaced the broken extension with a Craftsman extension (at least if I break this one Sears will replace it). Still no movement of the sending unit, but wait, suddenly the sender will move slightly back and forth, the hollow bolt that holds the sender mounting block to the engine is slightly loose! Give up, take the a/c compressor off the mount and remove the a/c base. Take the oil pressure line for the right chain tensioner off and remove the sender along with the mounting block. I clamped the mounting block in my bench vice and using a 24 mm combination wrench along with a size 12 foot pushing on the workbench finally get the sender off the base! Yea!!!! Success!!! Reassemble the oil line and a/c base, start the engine and check for leaks. Oh well, the a/c belt probably needed adjusting anyway. I just wish that I had purchased an oil temp sender so that I could replace it while there was plenty of working room.

Fred Cook
'80 911SC (the one with the shiny new oil press sender)

[Jim Sims]

Be thankful you didn't break/strip the threads in the case where the hollow bolt engages (it's happened); your 15 minute job could have stretched into 2 months and $3000 as you replaced the case. Using a crowsfoots wrench and trying to remove the sender "in situ" is very unwise. Some get away with it, but they're taking a risk. Taking the block out and mounting it in a vise for the sender removal is much more prudent. Jim

[Schrup]

When ever I take a project on from Waynes 101 book, I double the estimated time.

[fred cook]

I guess the good news is that 1) the job is done, 2) I discovered that pulling the a/c base bracket off is fairly easy and 3) with the new sender, the gauge is registering about 1/2 bar higher pressure across the rpm range. Also, the extra room created by moving the a/c compressor and base should make adjusting the right side intake valves MUCH easier!

Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

[john walker's workshop]

i agree that you're lucky not to have done more serious damage. the A/C pump and upper bracket removal takes 15 minutes. i've see broken engine cases from someone trying to do it the "easy" way.

[atlporsche]

Originally posted by Schrup
When ever I take a project on from Waynes 101 book, I double the estimated time.

LOL!!!!!

sjd

[svandamme]

Originally posted by Schrup
When ever I take a project on from Waynes 101 book, I double the estimated time.

it does get better over time with experience
found out this weekend that you can't remove the rear trailing arm when the tranny is in the car

so this morning i dropped the engine , tranny , did the banana arm swap , mounted back engine and tranny in
2 hours including a little snack break, even upgraded my brake lines while i was down there...must admit that i hadn't hooked up everything on the engine and i the car was on the bridge, prepped for the ordeal on saturday...


spent another 3 hours cursing to get my axles back in
and decided to call it a day with only one axle... i'll continue on wednesday...have to take that axle apart... something's stuck...

[fred cook]

Yep, got lucky this time! At least all it cost me was the price of a crowfoot wrench and a broken 3/8" extension. Pretty cheap lesson when you consider the alternatives! I usually have to own a car for 5-6 years to really become knowledgeable of the best (and sometimes simplest) ways to fix what ails it. Unfortunately, by that time, I get a hankering for something totally different and the learning process starts all over again. Hmmm, I wonder if that E-type jag is still in the barn down the road......


Fred Cook
'80 911SC coupe

[masraum]

Wow, I was totally expecting broken car parts. Lucky for you you initially used a non-Craftsman tool.