Learning to tinker with your porsche

[bandicot]

Hi all,

I'm planning on buying my first Porsche in the next two months and I'd like to learn (slowly, surely) how to do maintenence work on it. I'm cost-conscious, not unlike a lot of you, I suspect. What should I be reading? What classes should I be attending? I've never worked on my car before because everything I've owned has been a late-model something. To all you DIYers, where did you start?

Thanks!

[AirCooledExcellence]

Hi Bandicot,

Six months ago I was just like you, no mechanical experience always owning modern cars that are difficult to maintain.

Since buying my 911, I've tackled 90% of all jobs myself (my latest one being upgrading the tie rods).

This was mainly due to the guys on this board, there's so much info on here, check out the tech articles and BBS archive. Buy Wayne's excellent 101 Projects book, this should get you going nicely (it start's with how to jack up your car!).

I really didn't think I'd ever do my own work (especially on a 911!), but so far I've tackled; Brake Caliper rebuild, Front Rotors, Brake Hoses, Brake Pads, Brake Bleeding, Roll-bar removal & repaint, pop-off valve, turbo tie rods, sway bar bushes.

It's great fun as well !!

Cheers,

Tim.
____________
1983 SC Targa

[Targa77]

Some of the best advice that I can give you is to learn how to use a voltmeter before anything else. You can check voltage, continuity, bad grounds, fuses, etc. Most of the problems that I have had with my car has been electrical. But, the car is 25 yrs-old. Have a good assortment of tools (check Wayne's Book -101 Projects for your Porsche 911) on-hand as well. You will find that these cars are not that hard to work on. I would purchase as much Porsche literature as you can find. Glad to have you aboard.

[jkcrewsn]

I guess I get to be the first to say it.......buy the book 101 Projects for your 911. Written by our own gracious host. Available in the catalog section. Also reading questions others here have, and asking your own is a great way. I am very aware of my limitations, and tend not to do as much work myself that I would like. But when I exceed those limitations, folks here are always kind and willing to help you get through it. There a lots of other great books out there too. And of course the various manuals that are available are a great help too.
Hm, too slow....guess I'm the second one to say it.

[Jim Sims]

Literature to start: 101 projects, Bentley or Haynes manuals for your model (check E-bay for used copies) and technical specification booklet for your year and model. Later: illustrated (exploded parts diagrams) parts catalogs (E-bay again), PCA "Upfixin" series, and factory shop manuals ($$$$).

Tools, buy them as you need them or look ahead and buy them on sale. Most of the Sears Craftsman brand tools are plenty good enough. The specialized Porsche tools can be bought from Pelican or one can sometimes find them used (some only used once!) on E-bay. You will need a good floor jack, four jackstands and a level place to work efficently and safely on a Porsche 911. Again a reasonable quality floor jack and jack stands can be purchased from Sears; get the bigger model as you'll want it when you drop your engine. Oh yes, if you get into this hobby you'll be dropping your engine! You'll also need the medium range 3/8" drive and higher range 1/2" drive torque wrenches right away (oil changes and remounting wheels).

Others will have to comment on classes; I have been fortunate to find a local expert who was willing to mentor me (three years ago I knew nothing about working on Porsches). Join PCA; perhaps you can find someone in your local chapter to guide you.

Then, there is also this board and it's archives.

Good luck, Jim

[bandicot]

Thanks for the responses. 101 Projects is en route from Amazon. It's hard for me to envision a day when I'll drop the engine, but there's a first time for everything. I'm sure I'll start slowly . . .

[pnzr911]

Follow Jims advince and you won't go wrong. As for dropping the engine I have mine out right now. It all began with a Carrera Chain Tensioner upgrade that has snowballed to a complete replacement of all hoses,belts,vacuum lines,rotor, cap, Airbox and CIS Boot as well as general cleaning, detailing and powder coating!!! To do all this I ended up dropping the engine and Ive only had the car two months!! Good luck finding the Porsche you want. I found mine and couldn't be happier (even with the engine out!)

[Moses]

Don't forget mandatory project #1.

Yank out the buzzer relay.

Tools: none
Time: 10 seconds
Cost: Nothing
Not having your brain scrambled by a shrieking nag behind your dashboard every time you open your door: Priceless

[turbo dave]

The biggest thing I can add (same situation, only owned my car for about 10 months, never did much before): give yourself plenty of time to do each project. Each one I've tackled (turbo tie rods, front-end bushings, POR-15 rust treatment, steering shaft bearing, racing seat/harness install, oil pressure sender) has had a few 'unique challenges' along the way: stripped bolts, missing bolts, etc. If you're looking to drive the car in on Monday, you might occasionally get stuck.

[john70t]

Some of the things I think are important for working on your vehicle are (not in order of importance):
1. Have the time, tools, parts and alternate transportation set up beforehand. This takes away that awful "hurry up" feeling in the back of your mind that leads to lost bolts, broken parts, and serious injury to yourself. Saftey ALWAYS is first in line.
2. Be comfortable(clothes, light, etc), work quickly at the dumb stuff but take all the time in the world for the unknown. Test each bolt at a time first: occasionally theres no getting around a problem.
3. Always use quality parts, cheepos show it quickly. I've had radiator bolt holes not line up, water pumps leak, cvs start popping, and adjustable strut parts with dangerous interference.
4. Always use quality tools. Sears are great starters, S&K and Mac make good specialty tools and Snap-on is generally not worth the money(they also sell mid-grade Bluepoint at a 50% markup). Tools are an investment you can use job after job.
5. Do every little job you can and don't be afraid to try or learn about it. The major things have to be taken to a quality shop. Don't accept getting ripped off.
6. Don't fall in love with the car. It's just an asembledge of parts.
Take them apart. Replace. Reassemble. Drive hard. Then fall in love again and again.

[nostatic]

Following up on John's post...

eye protection...eye protection...eye protection. You only have one pair and unfortunately Wayne doesn't stock OEM replacements.

Can't help myself...too many years of teaching chem lab courses. Ever seen a contact lense melt to an eyeball due to organic fumes?

[Jim T]

Originally posted by nostatic
You only have one pair and unfortunately Wayne doesn't stock OEM replacements.

Nostatic's quote of the year!

[bandicot]

When the work looks risky, I'll just dictate instructions to my younger brother.

As for not falling in love with the car, it's hard to imagine that sort of will power. I'm already in love (or at least in lust) with Porsches. Even now, I can envision the process of hiding money from my wife for use on projects for our yet-to-be-purchased German wundercar.

[Superman]

It's not really your car until you've taken it apart and put it back together. The advice above, and elsewhere on this Board is excellent. I'd add only one thing that may be a little unique: Get with your local PCA and/or Pelicanhead friends. The Porsche experience is absorbed, like by osmosis. I for one would be happy to fill in some blanks for you if and when you need it. The day I actually met Tyson, I needed to remove a rear wheel bearing and it was late at night. He drove to my house around midnight (a 1.5 hr drive) with the special tool and performed the bearing replacement. I may not see an opportunity to return the favor to Tyson, but perhaps I can pass his generosity along by helping someone else like that. Keep me in mind.

Finally, I'd say that one of the most important things is to evaluate the purchase very objectively and carefully, including professional inspection with the valve covers removed. Make darned sure it has 24 head stud nuts. And Wayne's book is excellent, an incredible value.

[bandicot]

Funny you should mention PCA. I just finished printing the PCA/PNWR application. Thanks for your offer of assistance. I'm sure I'll need a helping hand at least once on this journey and I will definately keep you in mind. I suspect that we'll cross paths before too long.

[curtisaa]

...#10 socket
...plenty of 10,13, 15 screws
...a "source" to get parts fast
..if you are doing something for the first time, take pics or video.
...taking apart is easy( most the time), putting back together takes patience and time.
..lubricate before reinstalling
...front oil coolers are a ***** to get to and real ***** re-installing.

MOST OF ALL...HAVE FUN. Beats the hell out of "mowin' the lawn"

[emcon5]

Originally posted by Superman
It's not really your car until you've taken it apart and put it back together.

Ok Jim, we all see how it works, you go and rebuild your own engine, and you raise the requirements for ownership. He used to say "you don't truly own your car until you have removed it's engine". Getting all uppity on us now, eh?

I think the most important thing is not to be intimidated by it. It is a fairly complex machine, but and generally pretty easy to work on by the owner, (assuming 89 and older, I don't know about 964 forward). Here are some thoughts in no particular order:

Take your time. Your time cost's you nothing. My local wrench charges about $92 an hour (SF Bay Area prices)
If you rush and F. something up and have to flatbed it to John Walker's Workshop for him to Un-F. it, you would have been better of taking it to him in the first place.

Get every manual you can find, including Bentley, Haynes, 101 which you have coming, Wayne's rebuild book when it is available, Bruce Anderson's handbook, Porsche's Parts and Technical ref book, The spec book for your year, If your car is CIS, at least one book covering the Fuel Injection system.

The old carpenter's adage, "measure twice, cut once" is a good one to keep in the back of your mind, but it should be modified to "read twice, then read two more times, then have at it". Books sometimes have errors. Compare the procedure in all your sources, and search the archives of this forum, Rennlist and do a general web search as well. You never know what you might find out there. When you think you have everything, post here, and either one of the boards experts or someone who just did the exact same job last weekend will chime in with good advice and a few "don't forget to" and "watch out for"s.

Take your time.

Get good tools. Craftsman is pretty good (although I swear the Craftsman tools my dad has had since I was a kid are better quality than the what I have bought in the last 5 years). Home Depot's Husky brand is comparable, and I have also had good luck with (of all places) Kragen auto parts "Crew Line" tools. They are not overly expensive, seem to be well made, and have a lifetime replacement warranty. For buying Craftsman stuff, Christmas and Fathers day are the time, watch those sales ads. Minimum stuff is a full metric socket set, a set of metric wrenches (2 sets is better), metric hex sockets, torque wrenches, plus what Jim Sims said.

Nostatic: Preach it brother. I can't believe how many times I have seen people who should know better not using safety glasses (and hearing protection as well).

Take your time.

My car is 20 years old. Even the best engineered 20 year old machine has parts that wear out, and will require a little more care and TLC than a new Subaru.

With a 911, life begins at 3000 RPM's. Things really get interesting about 4K. Drive it like you stole it.

Tom

[old_skul]

Bandicot, what era are you looking at?

The Early years ('69 - '73) are great ones but are getting long in the tooth. The middle-era ('74 - '77) are prone to engine problems but are workable, and the SC era ('78-'83) are just plain fantastic.

The Carreras ('84 - '89) are a little simpler but getting heavier - they have Motronics ignition - which in my mind is a great compromise for the apprentice mechanic. There's a whole slew of complex things you can not worry about with a Motronics ignition setup, and the creature comforts of the Carreras are pretty nice. Then again, I'm biased.

The 964s, 993s, and 996s are more "modren" machines that start getting rather complex to do your own work on. They're more the rich man's sports car and better left with a professional to work on IMHO.

[howie944]

Some quotes (from whom I don't know) to keep in mind. "A man's gotta know his limitations". Sometimes repairing a repair will cost you lots more than if a pro did the repair in the first place. And my all time favorite "Experience is what you get...right after you need it". Almost all of the things that you could think to do to your 911 have been done by at least one person on this board and they are willing to share their knowledge. Pay close attention to the things that the folks say they have taken their car to a professional to have done (for reasons other than time or inclination). This should give you a good indication of what you can tackle, and the amount of those things will pleasantly surprise you. Good luck and enjoy!

[Bill Douglas]

A good stategy is to get all the books, know the car, and understand what is going on with a certain project. Then decide if you want to do it yourself. If you don't want to do it yourself you are armed with knowledge and you are less likely to get ripped off by your mechanic.