Help me! Spark plugs, filters, transmission, Nothing is going my way tonight!
 

Man, I'm just having one of those nights. It's been getting dark here by about 5PM. Of course the bulbs burned out yesterday in the garage so I'm working by a crappy shop light. I can't change the bulbs because the car is up in the air and in the way.

My wife and I are poor folks and probably have no business driving a 911, let alone thrashing one around a track, and here I am trying to replace a transmission myself to at least save some labor bucks. We've only had this car a few months (I had no previous Porsche experience prior, and this is clearly my wife's car) Already managed to bust the transmission (it was a time bomb, I soon came to find out). Picked up a rebuilt tranny last night from the mechanic at the local dealer. looked pretty good, but it was after dark and I didn't look it over too closely, after all this guy came very highly recommended to me. Started re-assembling tonight and well, see pics below:
http://home.comcast.net/~sporqster/bent1.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~sporqster/bent2.JPG
The bell housing has apprently been dropped (I didn't do it!) or came from a bad wreck or something - because it is MESSED UP. (it interferes with the flywheel - and if you look closely, you can see toothmarks on the inside of the bellhousing where the flywheel rubbed the bellhousing before...)

So I leave a nasty (not too nasty, I want him to fix it for me after all) message for the guy that sold it to me and move on.

While the motor is sitting on the garage floor, I changed the o-ring on the thermostat (what a PITA that was), and attempted to change the spark plugs... but I can't seem to get the socket on the aftmost (nearest the front of the engine, furthest from the transmission) plugs. Is there a trick to these?!? The tunnel to the spark plug is apparently not straight. Help?!?

Well, forget it, I'll figure that out later, or maybe just change 4 of them. I did pick up this fuel filter at Advance auto.... oh yeah, but the fittings don't fit DOH....

Maybe it's time for bed.:(

Time for bed.....

Take the night off and come back in a day or two. Make sure you slide that transaxle on perfetly level, any angle, and you will not be able to get it on, it will sit there and fight you.

I know- this is what made it even more frustrating to discover that the bellhousing was too bent to get around the flywheel anyway!

The sparkplug should not be a problem. You're just tired.

The tranny: Looks like someone notched it for a 3.2 installation, but that's no big deal. The bent bellhousing is a problem. It does look like some impact has bent it. I would be afraid to bend it back as the aluminum may fracture. I would take that thng back to the wrench. If your timeline allows, you might have the wrench use the other tranny and make one good tranny out of the two you have. The wrench should not have let that thing out of his sight if it was bent like that.

You can take your chances and massage the bellhousing into useable shape, but I wouldn't do it unless the wrench agreed in writing to make things right if it fractures (now or later). Have him bend it with the same garantee.

But Souk.... the plugs go in on an "angle"....and they're the same angle for both sides of the engine....

meaning?....one bank has the plugs angled "forward"...and the other bank will lean them "backward"....

If you don't understand this "going-in" on this project...it will seem to fight you....

no ??

Wil :)

I thought I was going to put a gun to my head the first time I changed the plugs.:o

But then, I went to bed. :) The next day I got it done, and the second time around it was a breeze.

I think the problem is many people approach the job assuming it will be as easy as it is on most other cars, which it is definitely not.

There is a special tool that makes the job easier, or you can put a universal joint between the extension and the socket which worked for me.

Patience is a virtue.

Others here can help you with the tranny. I will need thier help this winter for the same project. By the time I get to it, you can help me, too!

Damn.. if you were any closer, I'd be willing to help. My ex used to live in Savannaha.

The key for spark plug changes is the Porsche Spark Plug tool with a rubber grip inside the socket to grab a hold of it. I've seen a few copies that do have a swivel as well.

With the engine sitting on the floor it should be a snap replacing the spark plugs.

Go ahead and do the valve adjust as well.

Alex

I use a normal plug socket with a 4-5 inch extension TAPED together, otherwise my socket sticks to the plug and disconnects from the extension. Very frustrating.

Also, I had the tip of the plug fall off and since its Aluminum, magnets don't work. I ended up using some tubing (sand blasting) duct taped to my vacuum cleaner and sucked it out. Worked like a charm, but took be about 30min of juggling a mirror, tool(s) and light before I came up with the idea.

Not sure this helps, but just to let you know that you're not alone!! Also learned that It's probably going to cost me a few grand to get my new (to me) car fixed...bent tub!

Sometimes it sucks, but you have to admit, these things are fun to drive!

Good luck!

Brad

LOL, getting the plugs out was the easy part, getting them back in the first time was the hard part. :(
Once you figure out the angle it will be easy assuming you have the right tool for the job. An inspection mirror and flashlight is also your friend when it comes to things like this.
Then all you have to worry about it getting the firing order back correctly ;)