engine drop virgin no more

[qikcpa]

See my big cheesy grin.

If I, someone who makes their living pushing a pencil, can do an engine drop, as the board says, anyone can.

Total time for drop was 2 hours reading, 1 hour bumbling, 2 hours turning wrenches.

Only snag I had was the shifter shaft on the front of the trans hanging on the tunnel. I didn’t get the engine back far enough when raising the car to clear the CIS. Didn’t hang too hard so im pretty sure its not bent. I placed a jack under it and lifted it off the tunnel. Because of the way the harbour freight ATV jack is designed it kept hanging (without the long pull rod) on the muffler. Solution: took the muffler off.

Local Porsche shop quoted me $8.25 for the input shaft seal and 12 hours at $85 per for labor. They would however work me a deal and do it for 10 hours.

Cost of additional tools: ATV jack $59, Long frame floor jack $99, 30” 12 ton truck jacks $24 (= $200)
Cost of an afternoon: nothing
Walking into P-mechanics shop, plunking down ten bucks for the seal …well you know.

On a separate note, I know “installation is the reverse of removal” (kinda tired of reading that), anyone got any installation tips/snags versus the drop.

[billwagnon]

that rocks! way to go!

(no advice 'cause I haven't dropped mine yet)

[TerryH]

Originally posted by billwagnon
that rocks! way to go!

(no advice 'cause I haven't dropped mine yet)

Ditto!! congrats!

[JonT]

Nice Job! You've done what us mechanically challenged people can only dream about!

[Jim Smolka]

Congrats....

Now time to adj the valves, fix those oil leaks, clean/detail the motor, replace or remove engine sound pad. Also a good time to rebuild the shifter coupler bushings.

[cyprusx]

Welcome to the club... I, a fellow pencil pusher, popped my cherry this past winter. I also had the same feeling and thinking the same thoughts as you after completing my drop. Anyone can and everyone should rid themselves of the "virgin" status.

I found it to be exactly as the Bently says, reverse of the removal procedure. I missed two things, well, really one but the other cause a headache.

Remember the bung on the firewall? Make sure the wire and plug are up high, preferrably tied down on top so that you don't have it drop between the engine the firewall. It is a ***** to try to push up and you may end up breaking it. I tried, didn't break but had to lower the engine so that I could squeez it through. Next time it is getting tied down.

The "headache" was trying to align the engine cross member to the motor mounts. After struggling we finally were able to align them with leverage. After we got it in I noticed that the hard oil line was the culprit. Both ends were hitting each other preventing us from moving the engine for alignment purposes. So watch for that if you have trouble making small ajustments when mounting.

Other than that, have fun. It goes back in much faster than the drop because I found much less "bumbling" occuring. Just don't rush it.

Also, I recommend pulling the coil wire before starting when it is all together to prime and pressurize the fuel and oil systems. Once you have pressure showing on your gauge you are almost ready. After hooking up the coil wire, look everthing over and make sure you don't have fuel leaking from the connections, etc.

Also since it is out, give it a major tuneup. Replace the plugs, cap, rotor, fuel filter and ajust the vavles. This is SO easy when the engine is out of the car.

Enjoy!

[GB83SC]

Good advice, do all that you can while the motor is out.

Oil presure switch
O ring at thermostat
oil cooler seals
Breather hose seal
Check intake runner hoses if puffy change them.
Change trany fluid.

Nice job on the drop!

[stormcrow]

Nice job, see, it wasn't that hard after all.

Steve

"A Porsche does more then just go fast in a straight line"

[moazam]

Cool work.


But...dude, is that a Lil' Mermaid calendar in the background?

[Fishcop]

Yeah, Aerial is Hot!

[Jim Smolka]

On reinstall, much easier with dude in picture out of the engine bay

[qikcpa]

cyprusx, unfortunately I did all that stuff when I got close to completing the assembly of the car. All are correct, esp. the valve adjust would have been much easier. Wish I hadnt been such a wimp about droping the engine. Saw the list in the 101 book and may do some of that. My heads a little swelled today so I also think to myself why bother. If i get a leak ill just drop the enigne one saturday morning. Only costs 10 quarts of oil.

Fishcop: No one on this board should even know how to spell Aeirel. Princess aurora was mrs May, Belle was mrs April, cant wait till October its a 3-way shot. gift from my 3 year old daughter. My wife insisted it was better than the parts-girls one I got from a client.

Jim, But I like it in there. Ive conquered. This is my house now.

[911SCfanatic]

Great job! I'm getting ready to do my first in about a month or two...can't wait!

[rcecale]

qikcpa,

Isn't it an awesome feeling???? Completed my first drop about 2 months ago...SWEET!!!!!

It's already been said, so I'll just throw in my own concurrance....putting it back in was a lot easier. Just take your time.

Make a note of all the different connectors hanging in the engine bay before you put the engine back into place and check them off as you go along. If you can believe it, it's even a more rewarding feeling when you put her back together and she fires up the first time you turn the key!

Randy