How long does it take you to drop engine?
 

I've only had my 911 since May and I already got this thing whipped ;) (this is tongue and cheek, obviously not really this cocky)

My second engine drop in about the same number of months. First time PO's fault, this time because I tried to reuse his parts...learned the "being a cheap a$$" mistake.

Anyway, the good news....got her on the floor with no missed wires, oil spills or rushed hassle in just two hours. This wouldn't impress me alone, but it was in my attached garage with no air tools, nor helper. Let's hear your stories! I'm sure others are faster, but at this speed it really takes the agony out of the task.

It's so nice to be able to drop the engine that fast isn't it?
I did it in about the same time for my clutch job just recently. The new parts came in the mail today, so it looks like this weekend I'll have it all back together again.

Good luck!SmileWavy

I found my wrench zen a few months ago and went from running engine to drivetrain on a dolly sitting next to the car in 1 hr, 45 mins. Conditions: hand tools only, two jackstands for rear of car, one jack, two furniture dollies.

Unfortunately, more and more practice means I am getting faster at it....

I saw an old Pcar mech using a lift of course and all hand tools, no air tools, drop the engine and trans out in about 20 minutes. he looked like he was going slow too, knew every little thing to do before he let it out.

Me, hahahaha, havent tried yet.

Re: How long does it take you to drop engine?
 

Very impresive Luke!

I've only done it once and it took me half the day.

ive dropped her twice. 1st time (in spring) took about 2 hours. never dropped a motor before then.. my dad stood by for moral support (and making sure i didnt mess up!) this was so i could do a top end rebuild.


2nd time (in july) i got it in 1 hour. (this is engine alone, leaving the gear box still in the car). had to drop it a second time to fix an exhaust leak at the headers and replace gaskets and to check ouit a few things before i went to california this year (ie.. torque on heads)

You p-folks are impressive... I always considered this as the amateur‘s job of last resort but worthy of perfecting.

It would be of immense help to others if you could just recite the short list of the preferred sequence (mantra) of disconnects you follow to bring the drive-train down to the ground.



Jascha

101 Projects by Wayne Dempsey!!!!

20 minutes?! That's damn fast. It takes me 20 minutes to get the tools and drop the CV's. (they always need some coaxing and I'm gentle) Of course, it takes me a bit more time than you young guys to pop up out from under the car to fetch a tool.

I'm not racing anyone, either. I take time to try to enjoy what I'm doing and look things over. Sometimes I find myself just lying there and studying the mechanicals, the whole Porsche concept never ceases to amaze and entertain me.

BTW, if any of you good p-folks in the Philadelphia-PA / Princeton-NJ general area are contemplating dropping the drive-train and would allow an observer in your P-theatre please give me a shout...

I am reasonable good with wrenches (list of skill sets)

2. Tested experience with finicky British 2-seaters (not all positive)
2. Formally trained to be a 'rocket engineer' (not practicing. best for all involved)
3. Trained to perform cardiac surgery / artificial heart R&D
4. Have the requisite p-car literature
5. Motivated and willing to be useful or funny (know a fair amount about Belgian/ Czech beer)…

Cheers,
Jascha

I used to be able to drop the engine and transmission in my old 914 in about an hour with handtools and a furntiture dolly...

Are there any good tricks on the CV joints? This seems to be the most annoying part for me. Maybe because my car isn't as clean as some and I actually have grease on the boots. If my Porsche would ever give me a little notice I would take it to the pole barn and use an air ratchet on the CV bolts.

Do you guys tie up the axles? This has occured to me to be the hot ticket in keeping the trans from binding on the removal.

The throw out bearing lip actually sheared off partially and allowed the clip to bend out. Must have been stress left over from earlier improper PO installation. Should have listened to all of you and just put in a new throw out bearing ;)

Years ago, I did the rear main seal in my car in 1 hour 5 min(motor in and out, plus R&R flywheel), but this was at the shop I worked at through college so I had a lift ect..

Luke, I wouldn't use an air ratchet untill I knew they were coming out without a hassle. It's too easy to strip out the inside of the bolt head.

Get under there and clean up the mess first and make sure the sockets on the bolt heads are really clean so you can fully seat the tool to the bottom of the socket. Break torque by hand and then have at it with your air, if you wish.

Last time took less that 2 hours and it was hot so I wasn't in a hurry. Some of that time was spent due to the aftermarket turbo, had to remove some more parts.

Use zipties to keep the CV's from falling down too far
Brace the wheel studs with a wooden dowel to keepthem from turning
use a 3' long extension with a hex socket. when you get it get it in the hex screw, give it a little whack with a mallet to make sure its seated. then break it lose. Go to the next one that's available and do the same (there are usually two that are accessable at a time)
now take your ratchet off and put your cordless drill on. Zips 'em out in a jffy.

Or if you'r brave, and know that the inside of the hex heads are pretty clen, and you know that the fasteners have been out in living memory, then you can just use your 3/8 impact gun and get it over with.

Well, it's about 3 hours of work which can easily be spread across a couple of days (if you play your cards right)...

It's so easy to pause for celebration:

"All the electrical is un-done, time for a beer!"

"Okay, that's it for the fuel lines, beer me..."

"Well, I only stripped out 2 allen-heads on the CV joint... Beer time".

"On the other CV joint, I can always grind the head of the stud off of the 3 now-ruined once-over-tightend allen heads... Cervesa Fria, por favor".

"Okay, let's see... where was I? Hey, this beer's warm. Better get another one..."

So, based on the above not only did it take about 30 hours to lower the motor out of the car, but I have also found that and engine drop can cause somewhat of a headache.

Mike

A guy I used to work with once did a clutch job on an SC back when they were new in 45 minutes.

Of course that was with all the tools laid out and everything ready. It was a dare/bet. I'm sure he didn't replace all the usuals at that time, just a straight clutch job. But that's just amazing!

Well, the last time i did it it only took me about 30 minutes. Of course, I had just finished installing it 15 minutes before, so I had a good memory of what needed to be done. It's amazing how much faster you can do it when you are doing it in anger!

Well....I've had the car for 3 years, so 3 years and counting :D

Wayne C.
83 SC

A bunch of us helped a friend drop his engine in about three hours but most of it was BS.
Putting it back in, I convinced my wife to help out. We started at 10:00 and I told her we would be done by noon. We had it bolted in at 11:55.
She might help again. What a woman! Huh!

Milt,

Thanks for the warning, but I have regular hex drive allen bolts in the axles and no longer the 8mm internal wrench design.

WHY did Porsche go out and use such a delicate fastner when Allens are so common? VW and Porsche are the only ones I've seen use this fastner. I still haven't quite figured out the need or large torks either. There may likely be an answer so that is why I'm asking since I'm neither a wrench nor engineer.

Back some 30+ years ago while I was going to Kent State I worked in a VW repair shop over a summer rebuilding engines. Many were for dune buggies which were very popular then. Two of the former VW trained wrenches got into a little "I can drop an engine faster than you" match and had a side by side competition with two bugs. Now, keep in mind, these engines were not going back in these old beetles and sheet metal for the most part wasn't going to be reused. The cars were lifted via floor jacks and the engines were rather unceremoniously dropped onto awaiting old tires underneath them. The winnah took 5 minutes and 7 seconds. It was a blast to watch......... oh, yeah..... there were a few beers beforehand..... and many more afterwards.

Last time, probably an hour buy everything was loose from just doing it a week earlier plus no frills (AC/Cruise etc..).

I have always taken my time and do it slow by myself. Especially with fuel injected cars because of all the other hoses involved; bagging, tagging, and labeling. The CIS and the DME 911 have both taken about a day to dislodge.

On a simpler carb car, which I have never done, I am fairly sure I can get it out in 2-3 hours, especially if labeling the pieces are not required.

Why do you guys have a dolly with you when you drop the drive train?
I thought dollies were just for little girls to play with!

Does Barbie have a calming influence or something?

It took me about an hour to yank it.

It took me 10 years to reinstall it.

Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

If you forget to install those big washers that sit on top of the rear motor mounts, it only takes one hard lap to drop the engine. Of course, the engine doesn't drop right out ... it hangs on by the transmission mount and half-shafts, and drags along the ground on your otherwise pristine SSI exhaust system while still idling on the three cylinders that the spark plug wires haven't become dislodged from :eek:

Should we ask you how you know that Paul???