to drop or not?

[RazorRacer]

I should be getting a windfall of $5K in 2 weeks. My 78SC needs a new clutch and I want to do it myself, but I don't have all of the equipment and I am afraid that I will screw it up. Has anyone else been in my shoes and if they had it to do over again, what would you have done? I need to have the car back up and running by the end of August (but will dearly miss it not running) and I have another car to drive in the meantime. I will be using my garage to do the work.

The other option is to pay $1,500 and have it done in a couple of days.

[buttjoint]

Do it yourself. Buy the atv jack at cosco and go to it.

[89911]

I've pulled two engines and reinstalled them over the last 6 months. Doing the clutch is about the easiest thing in the process. Its all labor in getting the engine out, tranny apart and reistalling. The actual clutch job itself may take an hour or so and all you need is the new parts and a clutch alignment tool. These are on G50's and I think 915 are easier.

[RoninLB]

the 1st time will be tedious.. if you have the patience is the real question.

[yelcab1]

Go for it. You feel much better about the car when you are done.

[afterburn 549]

I would spend the $$ on tools and do it myself......if you have questions ask here..take you time and label all wiring and hoses you un hook. This is important as you can spend as much time tring to work a bug out as the whole job took!
Get a floor jack.

[SpeedracerIndy]

Do it yourself. It's not that hard. If you have a book (101 projects for your 911) just follow each step and drop the engine very slowly while watching for things still attached. I dropped my engine and tranny in about 6 hours recently (first time) with a furniture dolly, and cheapo sears hydraulic jack and two jack stands. These are tools that every car fanatic should have anyway. It’s a pretty satisfying job, and I know the next time I do it I’ll be able to do it in about 2 hours or less. The only thing that will keep your car out of commission for more than a week or so is if you start finding things to do to the engine while it’s out. If you have any trouble, the people on this board will walk you through it.

You don't truly own a car until you take it apart and put it back together (successfully)!

[Randy Webb]

I think the question is whether you can do it yourself (safely) or whether you need helpers (if for nothing else to call 911).

[rcecale]

Originally posted by CDiercks
You don't truly own a car until you take it apart and put it back together (successfully)!

What everybody is saying here is right on the money. DO IT YOURSELF!!!!! You'll love it! And once you catch the "disease" you'll start looking for things to do.


p.s. Hey CD! How did your tranny rebuild turn out? Haven't heard from you?

Randy

[Emission]

I've found, over the past two years of Porsche ownership, that nothing is really complicated when it comes to DIY. Most projects just require patience and time. Some (rare) require special tools.

Two years ago, I changed oil. These days (after Porsche ownership), I replace clutch cables, rebuild calipers and wastegates, drop engines, replace hoses and lines... all with the help of the members on Pelican!

[SpeedracerIndy]

Originally posted by rcecale
p.s. Hey CD! How did your tranny rebuild turn out? Haven't heard from you?

Randy

Well, I got the parts last Thursday, stayed up until about 2am Friday putting it back together because I couldn't wait, and now I'm waiting for more parts. I broke my alternator taking it out of the housing so it's getting rebuilt, and am waiting on a resurfacing of the flywheel. The waiting is killing me!!!!!!!!! Luckly my father has an 88 Targa that he's been letting me drive once in a while to get my fix. I got caught sitting in the garage last night admiring my work and shifting the gears in the tranny! You're right, it is a disease!

[rcecale]

Originally posted by CDiercks
I got caught sitting in the garage last night admiring my work and shifting the gears in the tranny! You're right, it is a disease!

My wife had the nerve to laugh at me! Bless her heart...I still love her, even though she doesn't understand...

Randy

[sushinav]

How does the COSTCO ATV jack work on this project?

[78-911SC]

Do it yourself. I just did mine a couple of weeks ago and it wasn't has bad as I thought.
Wayne's book is a must. Take your time and label....PJ

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Randy Webb
I think the question is whether you can do it yourself (safely) or whether you need helpers (if for nothing else to call 911).

That's very confidence inspiring.

I've NEVER had any help removing or replacing a motor. Lord knows that's been a few.

There's a couple of tools you might not have. Something to hold the flywheel, and like he said, a 3 dollar pilot tool.

[Randy Webb]

Well, I'm not trying to insprie confidence until it's certain that it is safe.

And he surely does not have your level of experience, Zeke.

People need to think thru things before they start. A helper is really helpful...

There is also a book on how to do carpentry (like house rnovation level, not finish stuff) by working alone. I don't recall the title but it is vey useful not only for that but for car work as well.

[Rick Lee]

I did my G50 update as a complete know-nothing. Lots of Pelicanheads showed up to help. Get that Costco jack. It's basically a motorcycle jack. We customized a pallet to mate to it and then take the engine down. That thing has seen many engine drops over the last two years. Even if you treat yourself to all the tools you need, add in parts and you'll still save a lot over going to a pro. And it's true - you don't own your car until you've R&R'ed the engine. The other way you own your car is once you've put 50% of the purchase price back into it with mods and repairs.

[ZAMIRZ]

Do it yourself. I've done it once and will do it again soon, best piece of advice I can give you is to make sure and get a healthy helping hand who isn't afraid to get dirty with you under there and to take your time. First time I did it, it took about 5 hours and most of that was just checking, re-checking and then re-checking again that nothing was going to be in the way once we undid the mounts. Also, consider hitting all the bolts with some liquid wrench starting a few days before just to make things go smoother, we yelled a lot of cuss words and profanity at one point in the drop because some bolts just did not want to come loose.

[svandamme]

it's scary the first time, but rewarding
the second time, i did a drop, trailing arm swap , brake line replacement and engine back in the car, in little over 2 hours

two big jacks on the torsion bars
and one of these with wooden plank and blocks for the engine

[rickeolis]

Costco jack -CHECK- (Incredible time saver)
Wayne's 101 projects book -CHECK-
2 free days -CHECK-

Now you're on your way! Quick rundown:

1) Remove lower rear quarter panels on your SC, then bumper (2 nuts on shock ends towards front of car); Remove positive battery cable on battery and at starter
2) Drain oils from engine and oil tank (After jacking car up and putting on good stands, as high as you can basically); Then the 2 oil lines from engine to oil tank; now gas lines.
3) As per 101 book, unplug wiring harnesses; very easy job
4) Unbolt CV joints, (not so easy, but straight forward), then undo clutch cable
5) Separate tranny linkage joint inside car, just in front of rear seats
6) Undo 4 motor\tranny mount bolts (With Costco jack in place)
7) Pull tranny and motor forward a bit, allowing shift rod of tranny to come through hole in body, then down to the ground. (Watch as it lowers slowly for forgotton items to undo)
8) Separate motor\tranny after removing starter (Refer to book, undo clutch pivot rod to allow throw-out bearing to freely slide off as these separate, this too is very easy)
9) Unbolt clutch and get pilot bearing out (Will be easier with flywheel off, and since you're in there maybe replace rear motor seal)
10) Reverse the above steps and you'll be back on the road in no time- (Use red LOCTITE, and be assured of torque values on reassembly)

If you have A\C, remove the compressor from the mounts, but don't mess with the lines, just support it in the engine bay securely before lowering engine.
Also, I do subscribe to the "Cleanliness is next to Godliness" theory during the whole process.