Another "my first engine drop" thread!

[78sc]

Hi all,

Dropped my first 911 engine last night and feeling pretty good!

On the to-do list is:

oil cooler seals
throw out bearing
new clutch disk (maybe?)
oil thermostat seal
oil return tubes
valve adjust
power coat fan and fan surround
general cleaning

Anything else I should take a look at while I'm this far apart? I have Wayne's 101 book and it has been a great help with the project so far. I've taken off the AC (not working) in the process and will not be putting it back on. Same goes for the smog pump.

Sorry for the bad pics.....can't expect much from a cereal box digital camera!

[scottb]

I'm curious...why did you decide to separate the engine and tranny? Don't most people suggest dropping them as a unit?

[ed martin]

This has always been a long standing debate. After having been through the process more than a few times, it is much quicker and easier to just drop the engine. The key to this is understanding how the fork is engaged to the throwout bearing. Disengaging and reengaging is a little tricky and it's much easier to observe and understand once the engine and tranny are on the ground together. So for the first attempt, best to drop them as a unit. Once you learn to disengage the the engine from the tranny, leaving the transmission in place you will save a ton of labor and time. Its a real PITA to disengage the fore wires and cables, to undo the transaxle and to say nothing about the reinstallation. You can read stories of transaxles comming undone if not reinstalled correctly, it's really hard to reinstall the bolts holding the transmission and very easy to crossthread them.

[78sc]

I went back and forth on if I should pull the transmission out with the engine or not. Like Ed mentioned, there are people on both sides of the issue. I did a lot of reading here on Pelican and just decided to take the engine. It really came out smoothly...we'll see how much it takes to get the clutch fork back in my first time! I got an ATV jack which really made the whole thing stable which was good because I was by myself.

[LakeCleElum]

Is that a battery under the left rear tire???? Very novel jack stand.....

[djmcmath]

Congratulations, but you're missing a pic -- we need to see your self-portrait, with you standing in the engine bay! It's kind of a cult-tradition thing, here at Pelican.....

Dan

[sushinav]

Congrats! I think you get extra points for doing it in Alaska in the Winter. Throw up a pic or 2 of that beautiful colored SC in front of a glacier or a mountain or something.

[78sc]

Originally posted by LakeCleElum
Is that a battery under the left rear tire???? Very novel jack stand.....

Hehe, no not a battery. Looks like one though I guess.....it's my wheel ramp with a sticker on the back.

Originally posted by djmcmath
Congratulations, but you're missing a pic -- we need to see your self-portrait, with you standing in the engine bay! It's kind of a cult-tradition thing, here at Pelican.....

Dan

I thought about that, but I'll need to get a helper to take the pic for me.

[LakeCleElum]

Sorry 78sc, it did look like a battery. Looks like you're doing a great job. If you did all that w/o a helper, my hat is off to you....

[78sc]

Originally posted by sushinav
Congrats! I think you get extra points for doing it in Alaska in the Winter. Throw up a pic or 2 of that beautiful colored SC in front of a glacier or a mountain or something.

Well, since someone asked for pics and seeing how this board likes pics so much......here are a few I took. A couple mountain pics, a few of the 911 in the fall last year, and a couple glacier pics (couldn't get the car close enough to be in the shot).

Another question also. How would I tell if the pressure plate on the clutch is worn out/weak and needs to be replaced? Is there a spring test or something that I clutch shop would do?

Enjoy!

Phil

[84CAB]

Anything else I should take a look at while I'm this far apart?

Buy a new camera...

[rcecale]

Originally posted by 78sc
I thought about that, but I'll need to get a helper to take the pic for me.

Player, you're going to lose 25 "cool" points if you don't have that pic posted real soon! Let's find a helper, quick, so we can move on to the Lightning Round!

Seriously, though. Congrats!!!! Nice job. Have to add myself to the list of people impressed you did this during Winter in Alaska. I spent a February in Fairbanks a few years ago and there is no way I'd want to do this in my garage at those temps.!!!

Good on ya! Now quickly...get yourself a few gallons of hot chocolate and thow out for a while!!!

Randy

[KCinBR]

Did you make any mods to the motorcycle jack that you used, or did you use any thing between the jack and engine?

That IS some beautiful country you live in. Around here you cant see the mountains for the trees

[78sc]

Originally posted by KCinBR
Did you make any mods to the motorcycle jack that you used, or did you use any thing between the jack and engine?

That IS some beautiful country you live in. Around here you cant see the mountains for the trees

No mods to the jack, but I did have to use some additional blocking to get up to the engine. I put an old chunk of steel I-beam on top and a then a piece of plywood to mate with the engine. Very stable! Then I lowered the engine in two "stages". Lowered it down halfway and then removed the I-beam from the jack.

Does anyone know about clutch pressure plates though? How would I tell if mine needs to be replaced? It was working ok before I pulled the engine, but if It's near the end of its life, I would get a new one.

Oh.....new camera is on the list, but if I have to choose between a camera or more 911 parts? Hmmmmm....

Thanks,

Phil

[ed martin]

Wow, beautiful country up there!

To my knowledge, if there is any wear or obvious scoring on the pressure plate fingers from the throwout bearing, then you need to replace pressure plate. Also, if you set the pressure plate on a surface and spin it on its throwout bearing, that will give you a good indiction of its condition. When you spin it, it should be very smooth.