How Many Parts Does a 911 Have?
 

When assembling my halfshafts last night, a casual count revealed that they amounted to 114 distinct parts. Bolts, washers, ball, cages, boots, etc. Each of these were cleaned or replaced, and each required inspection and fiddling. So, the thought has been on my mind (3/4 of the way through a semi-restoration) that I'd like to know how many parts the car has. How many pieces must one handle to restore one? I think that washers, ball bearings, individual wire, etc. all should count.

Any guesses?

-Scott

What do we win if we guess correctly?

My (wild) guess is 6000 distinct component parts, providing you're not breaking down ball bearings, electronics, tiny speedo parts, etc.
I can state with certainty my 911 has less parts every time I fix something and put it back together - they multiply, it seems and there's always some washer or bracket or something left over.

might be a way to estimate this from the PET lists - exclude the diagrams, count parts/page * # pages...

then ther is the issue of total parts vs. unique parts -- i.e are 6 CV bolts 6 or one?

I'm interested in total parts. PET might be a good start, but would in some cases list assemblies instead of parts. i.e. an alternator might be one, outsourced part.

My WAG is 100,000.

Definitely more than 114.

I think 100,000 is way too much; half the parts have to be in the engine and tranny, and there's no way they have 25,000 each - maybe more like 1500 each. This is a great thread, somebody ask Grady. I bet he could guess within 10% off the top of his head.

How many pieces make up one timing chain?

My way of thinking, a timing chain is one part. But, a cylinder head is many parts because you can buy the valves, springs, seats, keepers separately. A wheel would be 8 parts - rim, tire, 5 lugs and a valve stem. Hard to break down would be sound deadening - is that one part applied in many places or many different parts?

10^5 order of magnitude

Defcon-
I think your way of thinking about it is valid, but I'm curious (and I don't know why) about individual pieces that were assembled somewhere by someone or something (things that were made and conceived of as a "part." So, some sound deadening is a mat-like piece, while other types are fluid applied substances. It seems like anything applied as a fluid is not a "part."

This thread is as fascinating as it is pointless without a protocol for what is a part vs. what is a part of a part. I'm still waiting for Grady to chime in, he probably has a complete list somewhere. Maybe he's still looking for it. Grady?

Or he is out counting....:)

Two:

A) Money
B) Willingness to spend it

80SC:
2,805 part numbers
6,635 pieces

+/- 5%

Edit:
Disclaimer: Does not include internal transmission parts and pieces; Does include all PET listed items - Non SPC, Non Turbo

Wow, my guess was 6000! Not too bad. How about an 85 Carrera?

now how much $$ if you had to buy all the pieces new? let us assume all of the parts are still available..

down to the very last washer...i cannot even venture a guess.

6634. No fuel accumulator. :D

I remember reading once that a plain-jane Taurus which sold for less than $20,000 would cost almost $200,000 if you broke it down by parts at dealer prices.

6635, Markus - add reliability. ;)