Ppi Myself

[fly944]

I am going to look at a 83 911 Coupe tomorrow and would like to PPI it myself. I would be doing a compression test and checking lower studs. If for some reason he wont let me perform this is there any other way to check the studs? What would you do?

[johncarlos2003]

If he won't let you do a full ppi (yourself or otherwise) then bounce and go look around for another car.

[safe]

Oh, I thought you had a doctors appointment

Seriously, if he wont let you do it, walk away...

[randywebb]

Only DIY if you are experienced with mechanical AND body issues on 911s of that vintage. For me, I do a pre-PPI then get somebody else to do the real one.

[tsuter]

I let "looky loos" do whatever they want......

Even sometimes actually drive...

After a sizable cash deposit!!!!


And as far as checking the studs...are you planning on replacing his gaskets or just torqueing things back up....seat of the pants...??

[JeremyD]

Never PPI yourself in front of the kids - that's the only advice I can give you.

[Don Plumley]

As a seller, I expect that the buyer does a fairly detailed look over as part of the process. Then, if I accept an offer to buy contingent on a professional PPI, that's not a problem.

Before I have accepted this offer, I would be hestiant to let an potential buyer, unless they were a Porsche mechanic and at their shop, drop my valve covers to check head studs.

Are you proposing peforming this PPI at the seller's residence? You are bringing all the tools and equipment? Are you changing his oil for him then?

[Wayne 962]

Originally posted by johncarlos2003
If he won't let you do a full ppi (yourself or otherwise) then bounce and go look around for another car.

I don't let any Joe off of the street tear apart the cars that I'm selling. If they want a PPI, they need to take it to someone that I've heard of and trust with my own car. What happens if you cross-thread a spark plug hole, or break something on the car?

Now, I suspect that I'm a little different - a seller would probably let me take the car back to my shop to have a closer look at it under a microscope, but I've got a couple of books written to show the seller that I actually know what I'm doing.

-Wayne

[javadog]

I'd look the car over and if it passes that inspection, have a PPI done at a shop. I doubt most sellers would want a propective buyer, whose mechanical skills are unknown to the seller, to tinker with their cars. They usually don't balk at a reputable shop doing the work.

JR

[tsuter]

Ohhhhma!!!! Wayne!!! Too much. LOL

Three days later I heard this horrible hissing and couldn't seem to hold compression. Found out he'd cross threaded 1 and 4 and didn't say squat...just cranked em down....said nice car but no thanks and drove away.....

OMG!!!!!

[Southbay356]

I am with Wayne on this ,

same goes with someone who thinks he is going to take a screwdriver or an ice pick to my car to check for rust,

I will find another buyer.......

[Wil Ferch]

yeah...although the right idea... the first coupla post responses don't hold up well under the harsh light of reality...imagine having the tables turned. Someone you don't know is coming over to your house to check the car you're selling, and proceeds to scrunch under the car and take it apart ????....ahhh..... I don't think so ! I have no idea what kind of "mechanic" we got here......

Wil

[Eagledriver]

I've done all my PPI's myself. Usually the owner will watch and help. I would only do a PPI on a car I'm going to buy. If you agree to buy it based on your PPI the owner will probably let you. If you are just looking then there is no point in doing a compression test or checking the studs.

The last 2 cars I bought I didn't do a compression test on. I just disconnect the ignition and crank the engine for 10 seconds listening for a "flat" cylinder. You'd be suprised how much you can learn from that. You can also tell from turning the engine by hand. You can even hear where the air is hissing out.

-Andy

[yasir]

I will gladly let any shop do the PPi on my car but no thanks to the the guy off the street