Tom, you're not supposed to listen to me. That's scary. But I'd agree anyway...the more of the car you've unbolted, the more it is yours. Imagine...some guys have taken them down to the tub.

Here's one of my favorites: Experience is a harsh teacher. The test comes first, and then the lesson.

Bandicot, I am the biggest cheapskate on The Board. Or at least I can compete for top honors. No one can use wire and tape like I can. Two days ago I soldered the heating element on my side view mirror. I think it will work. I've been pursuing a research project all my life to see how cheaply one can "motor." I guess I have the wrong car for that now, but I think I can understand a goal of thriftiness.

Bandicot
I am across the pond in the city that wants to have five 260' phalic symbols installed (Bellevue). Depending on the year that you get I have most all the tools needed to work on these things. And all the manuals up to the 993 models.
I can show you how to do the basic stuff to get ya started, plus homework....reading material etc.

Da PorcupineSmileWavy

As soon as I bought mine, I drove all the way up north to attend Bruce Anderson's tune up class. It's a one-day class covered most basic maintanance for only 911 (from pre-73 to 964-5 years ago). I think it's money well spent for a novice like me and really want get intimate with their 911, but would be even better if I had better 911 experience. BA and Jerry Woods are really nice people. Don't forget to bring your 911 Handbook for BA to sign. I did forget.

Andy
'87 Carrera

i always took things apart even when they weren't broke, it interested me and thats how i learnt.

buy the workshop manuals - haynes is nice and simple.

read them - just for the hell of it and get familar with the car.

i assume you're a mechanically minded, practical type - if you're not stick to real simple stuff.

i'm not being funny - i've got a mate (happens to be american!;) ) who can barely use a screw driver. know your limits.

but you'll get all the support you need and more from this great place!

have fun, good luck.

I think that everyone just about covered it, but a couple of things I believe need emphisis:

1) Buy the "Factory" shop manuals. They are not always perfect, but they do have a lot of information on stuff that never is even mentioned in the Bentley and Chilton's type books. They can often be found on Ebay for something less then the brand new price. One nice thing is that they have complete, color wiring diagrams for each generation of car. BTW: After you get the manuals, zerox the 2 pages with the engine drop procedure and put the copies into plastic sleeves at the front of the manual. This way you won't get a lot of gunk all over them later as you take the engine out, put it in, take it out, put it in, ...

2) Get the the Bentley/Chilton's type books too (They're not that expensive) because they often describe things in simplier terms then the translated German logic trail. German grammer can be strange some time!

3) It only seems to have been mentioned once so far, But Bruce Anderson's bible (Porsche 911 Performance Handbook) is invaluable for history, theory of operation and swappability.

3) If you car has MFI, download and print off the MFI information off of Pelican's web site. It is the most complete information on this subject anywhere.

4) Get the biggest breaker bar that you can find. You will need it at some point.

5) Buy a couple of 2x4's and cut them into 12-18 inch pieces. I've found them very valuable for stacking flat under the engine so that it won't fall off of a jack after dropping the engine. I also use them to shim up the bottle jack and jack stands when removing the engine. I don't know about anyone else, but I've found that most jacks and jack stands don't have the range to jack up a 911 high enough to pull the motor under the rear panel.

6) Safety - Safety - Safety. Eye protection and (as appropriate) ear protection.

I don't know why you're getting this high volume of advice, but it's all pretty good stuff. I am posting to 'second' a thought I saw above. Do find a good parts/repair shop to deal with. Not necessarily a Porsche shop. VW shops guys who know what they are doing can be invaluable. I lean heavily on a guy her named Mark Zehner at Northest Foreign Auto Parts and Repair. The guy is a saint and a wizard. And he understands my thrift strategy. Extremely helpful. He knows where to take machine work. He knows where to take alignment jobs. He knows what VW parts fit Porsches just fine (injector o-rings, for example).

This thread has really turned into that perfect primer. Thanks everyone for the input.

Mark_skul, I'm looking for a car in the SC years, with special attention to 78 and 79. While a Carrera would be nice, my budget would probably get me a nicer SC than a Carrera. I dream of a 78/79 911SC coupe in Grand Prix white; sunroof is optional but desired. . .

Porcupine, thanks for the generous offer. I'm confident that it won't be refused. The refreshments, of course, will be on me.

I love the suggestion to xerox the engine drop procedures from the manual. No doubt, this suggestion was taken from the other manual, entitled, "Been there, done that."

Best to all.