Sometimes DIY sucks (long)

[turbo dave]

Okay, cars up on jacks, got about 50 things to do to it this winter, so I picked a couple easy little projects to get done this week, during the evenings. First, a quickie fuel filter/fuel accumulator swap. Got '101 Projects', got the parts, piece of cake. But, the setup in the car isn't stock. No problem, I can get the parts in anyway. Fuel accumulator on, then I find out the connector to the fuel line running to the engine is a different size than my filter. Dead stop. NAPA doesn't have a connector that size, neither does the Schucks nearby, finally I find a hydaulic connector supply company, they have a part that should fit, but has a different connector style, so they can't guarantee its leakproof.

Okay, then we'll work on the next thing. How about just adding the steering bushing fix to my sloppy steering wheel? But, my car is a '73, the bushing doesn't work. Well, some people on this BB have just made up a bushing to fit. So, I measured the gap, about 0.025", find a piece of 0.020" sheet brass that I fit into shape, giving a nice little gap for grease. Steering wheel won't go on.

Alright, then, how about a truly simple project, just to get back on a winning track? The PO left out the rod that actuates the turn signal return, so I get a nice M3 screw, fits great, check the function when I slide the wheel back on. Damn, spacing is too wide (old aftermarket steering wheel). Okay, drill out a hole in the right spot, fit a metal tube in, bond in place, back to the fit check. Tubes too big, it just contacts the turn signal hardware. Fine, crimp it down a bit, it fits great, looks like it'll work well. Except it got knocked out when I was struggling to get the wheel with the makeshift bushing on.

Sorry for the rant, just somedays you wish you could just be a checkwriter...

[dickster]

time to sit back and have a beer........sipping beer while admiring car. should bring back some optimism.

the dickster

[Leland Pate]

Dave, man...we've ALL been there!!!

I can sympathize... just go inside... have a beer... cool down... you'll get it to work.
It must be a planet alignment issue... some days we just "WEREN'T" meant to work on our cars.

[rlane]

I had the same thing occur with my fuel filter. Turns out there are several different fuel filters ...check your old one..get that number and , if it was like my problem, your issue is gone. (I did the same thing..had a hydraulics guy going crazy looking for an adapter!!!)
I was told that even though the catalogs list ONE fuel filter for my 78 SC there are 2, perhaps 3 that were fitted at different times!

[joehahn]

dave, search archives and look for the thread regarding "boneheaded moves" or something like that. It is hysterical and I know I personally contributed to it 2x (when aliens stole my #6 spark plug..there could be no other explanation, and when my nifty home made shift rod seal removal tool broke and split my lip..teeth through lip!).

I am actually laughing out loud at these frustrating events and in a few days/weeks you'll laugh at yours too!

Joe 68 L

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Then there's the time I had to enlist my wife's aid to fish the antenna mast out from behind the door after I dropped it in there (she's got small hands).

Took 2 hours.

[roGERK]

Arghhhhhhhhh!

Dave - what a nightmare!

I HATE previous owners - they are the biggest pain about owning and maintaining old cars. Every job on my old '73T that has turned into a trip to hell has always featured bodged up jobs or "improvements" made by previous owners.

Just promise me if you ever sell your car that you tell the buyer about that fuel connection!

Caretake,

- roGER

[widebody911]

You can't win 'em all! Last night I got my new shift Momo Anatomico (that sounds *so* dirty!) shift knob from PP (which showed up 15 minutes after I called PP to ask where it was), and thought I'd do a 'test fit' first before I installed the set screws. I found the appropriate sized rubber spacer sleeve, put it on, great! Ok, let's take it off to put the set screws in so I don't drop them into the carpeting and loose 'em. They need to rename those rubber spacers 'condoms' - 'cause you can only use 'em once, and once you have it on and put it in the shift knob, you're screwed! I had to install the shift knob without it because I tore it the first time - I hope that's 'safe'! Going for an encore, I decided to adjust the shift linkage to make it easier to reach the 'front' gears while I'm strapped in. I'm 6'2", and with the seat set back to make my legs comfy, it's difficult to shift into 3rd and 5th, and a little less of a PITA to get into first. I loosened the coupler, scooched the shifter back a tad, tightened it up again - perfect! I can reach much easier now. Until I go to work today, and get on the freeway - uh, where's 5th? Seems I moved it back just far enough that I can barely catch the gate on the shift housing for 5th/reverse, and to get 5th, I have to do it with a level of precision that would make a brain surgeon green with envy.

[Efrain68912]

S--t happens.

I once dropped one of my sparkplugs under the engine tin of the 912. Took 45 minutes with a magnet to get it out.

Then there was the time that I reinstalled the top of the oil filter with its new gasket. Of course, I pinched the gasket just enough to cause a major oil leak. About 3/4 of a quart dumped itself onto the engine I had just detailed.



Practice makes perfect, though. I can now pull the engine in an hour, do a clutch job myself, work on brakes, and do lots of other jobs myself that I couldn't do a year ago.

[epbrown]

It's rare that I enjoy working on my cars. It's one of those deals in life where the sole gratification is delayed. When it's done, the problems are solved, and I realize how much I've saved (the labor alone at a shop would finance a couple more fixes) - that's when I'm happy.

Emanuel

[turbo dave]

Thanks for all the support, guys. It's nice to know that my 'mechanically challenged' nature, while being worse than average, isn't completely hopeless. It's actually been pretty fun taking the car apart for the first time, for tons of little projects and detail work. I've also already dropped a tool behind the door, spent about 30 minutes digging that out. Beer definitely helps!

[john walker's workshop]

hell, i've had WEEKS like that. it almost becomes humorous.

[Jcon]

You want some real fun...try a simple project like backdating the oil temp gauge except do it late at night and reverse the wires. The warmth you feel is not from a job well done, but from the fire behind the dash you just started...ask me how I know.


Jeff C
81 SC

[VenezianBlau 87]

I never realized how incredibly large my hands and fingers are until I performed the oil temp upgrade last month. The new temp sending unit finally caught the threads and took to tightening; after 45 minutes of positioning, dropping, fishing out, cleaning, and repeat.

It was still great fun.

Fortunately, no fire...so far
---------------------
Bob Sauerteig
'87 Coupe

[tight as a bull's ass]

Here's another one: Jammed bearing that took a few days to remove! Point: The simplest tasks can turn into nightmares!
(but thank god for this board for help and moral support)

[ovilla]

Once had a friend help me jump start my 914 (a VERY simple task). Problem: We were using old non-color coded jumper cables (that he must have inherited from someone) and somehow after carefully triple-checking which cable went where I still put them on backwards. Went to get a beer. Came back like 2 minutes later and white smoke was blowing out of the engine compartment. Had to buy a new voltage regulator, an alternator, and a new battery. Oh well, at least I have a better charging system now and a new Optima battery. BTW, I did buy a new set of red and black jumper cables and now I always disconnect the battery before I jump it.
Another time, I was so proud that I had just completed my first ever valve adjustment on my 914 when I ended up breaking an exhaust stud (at the base - nothing to grab on to) when putting the exhaust back on. Oh yeah, this happened on Thursday night (just 2 days before the Annual Tweeks Porsche show). Begged the Porsche dealer to get me in on Friday. Drove it there (scared to death that I would get pulled over for being way too loud). Finally, I had all of the exhaust studs replaced on that one side while it was in the shop.

[RoninLB]

Installed new alarm system last month. Wired it into auto door locks. Check everything, AOK, then put it back together, alarm brain under plastic header in trunk, PIA. Next day siren doesn't work. Remove every thing, 6 hours later found blown brain. Got new brain, every thing AOK. Install under plastic header, PIA. Next day door locks don't work. Opened up every thing again. 6 hours later can't find what's wrong, let me out of here before I get broken and share my disability. Next day another 6 hrs. checking every thing AGAIN , removed door panels, check lock wires, still door locks don't work. I'm not leaving, read alarm install instructions AGAIN. Check door lock sol/relays AGAIN. More hours clocked. What is going on?? I'm going crazy, I'm angry, fist are clenched, looking for some thing to punch. 30 deg. in my garage but I'm sweating. Don't do it, you'll be sorry. Turn around from this _ ucker and stare at wall, deep breathing, slow down heart rate, lite a smoke, better but still spaced out/antsy. Figetting I open and close door, look around to put tools away, grab interior manual lock to expel tension [door window open]. OOHH Extasy, waves of calm encompases me, I'm floating away on a cloud. The dam lock motor/gearing is seized. 2 years old, 3,000 miles, Porsche dealer purchased. Time to leave garage. 6 hrs. next day to close every thing up. Anyway, better me than you.

[Bobboloo]

Joe, I've got one for you. Had just gotten my 72' Coupe. Decided to change the oil. Went off without a hitch. Leaned over to look under the car to make sure there was no leaks. Well no oil leak but what's this red stuff dripping all over the place and it's dripping in my eyes. I reach up and touch my head and it's guuuushing blood. I run in grab a wad of paper towels and soak them full. So now I'm driving to the ER with trying to hold a shirt to my head to control the bleeding. Luckily the hospital is only a few blocks. 8 staples for $400. Anyway what happened was when I leaned over my head bumped the end of the exhaust pipe on the Bursch muffler that the PO had installed. When they fabricated the muffler they didn't file the end of the pipe after they used a pipe cutter on it and the end was razor sharp. Now I have the priveledge of having to explain what that cresent moon scar on my forehead is.

Bobby

[Leland Pate]

One time I got my hand stuck between two pipes on a the header on my dads BMW '02. For the life of me, i couldn't get my hand free... I was in a serious jam! About 20 minutes of standing there screaming for help and finally one of our neighbors heard me ranting and came to see what was up... I had him grab a can of grease off the shelf and smear it all over my wrist/hand... then I was finally able to get free. Mr.Z asked me "how in gods green earth did you manage that?" "I was trying to loosen the nut from underneith..." with tears in my eyes...
Man that sucked...

[tobluforu]

Some may remember my thread about 4 months ago. I bent my right rear control arm by smacking a curve to hard. Raised car, dropped engine unhooked all the goodies. Recieved used control arm, installed new bushings(monoballs)-they just don't slip in; new half shafts, brakes and wheel bearings. Bolted engine and all the goodies back up. Went to bolt the last thing-Shock, and low and behold it was the the wrong control arm from an earlier year. Had to do the whole thing over again. Yee haa.
At least now I can do it in my sleep.