Newbie Introduction and Tool Questions

[Sobastrace]

Hi All,
I have been using this site for a few years as a research tool, and you have all helped me many times in the past.

I have finally joined as I have decided to take over all the basic maintenance and repairs on my 911 and my X5.

First, I understand proper protocol calls for me posting a photograph of my ride.
She is a 1984 911 that has been in the family since 1986. The suspension was setup by Black Forest in San Diego when my uncle had her.

She is at 210,000 miles and has never been opened up. She still pulls beautifully even if she seeps a little oil. The trans has gotten a bit touchy, so I am pretty careful on the 1 - 2 shift and 2 - 1 down shifts.

Second, I recently ordered a large supply of maintenance parts, as well as the 101 projects book, and a Bentley manual for each car from our host to prepare for jumping in with both feet (eat's into my beer budget, but the cars will appreciate it).

That brings me to my third topic which is tools. I have done a bunch of searches, but I have not found any in depth post's on what tools I need to have. I have a decent set of tools, but I have a nightmare of a time reaching all the fasteners on this car. I am hoping the Bentley manual will show me some tricks on how to get to things in this engine compartment.

I have started making a list and I am thinking I should have:
1) Jack pad inserts
2) flat pads for my jack stands
3) a lower jack, as I need to put a few of my cars on wood blocks to get my floor jack under them
4) some ball end hex wrenches in different lengths
5) some 1/4" swivel sockets (good assortment)
6) 1/4" and 3/8" extensions beyond my current mix
7) stubby, offset stubby, offset and extra long combo wrenches
8) valve gap tool (as I heard it is almost impossible to get a regular set in place)
9) a better telescoping mirror
10) a set of forceps

Did I miss anything major?

I think my first project is an oil change and replacing the shifter bushings.
Followed by:
-Tightening the intake nuts
- new cap, rotor, wires, plugs, fuel filter.
- valve adjustment, as it has been a few years (about 6000 miles)
-Sending out the speedo to have the Odometer fixed, as it just stopped one day
-Figuring out if the tachometer stopped working because of a sender issue or a gauge issue (it is not a ground issue and the up shift light continues to work (I know it is a different sender, but it does receive data from the DME as well)
-Re-cleaning the ICV again,
-Figuring out how to test the CHT and O2 sensor and chasing some vacuum leaks. I cannot even reach many of the clips I need to open to pull the hoses out to inspect.

I would guess in the next year I will need front brakes (pads at 7mm now) and front and rear shocks as they are showing wear.
I also will need to look as the front wheel bearings as it has been a while since they have been repacked.

Last thing is possibly to do the fuel lines, as it has been over 15 years since they were last done. The look decent from the rear of the engine, but I cannot get to them to really check. I have searched and seen many have been able to do this with the engine in the car, but I really do not see how people can reach in and make that happen.

I look forward to this learning experience, as well as getting to know some of you who I have been following on this site for years.

[Oh Haha]

Wow! Nice first post!

It looks like Venetian Blue, maybe?

[Sobastrace]

The paint code on the pass fender is Schieferblaumetallic - Slate Blue Metallic- Paint code L661 / X6

She looks different in every photo I take, based on position of the sun, or if there are clouds in the sky. She lives a very sheltered life in the Palm Springs area.

-Spence

[RWebb]

hemostat, rather than forceps

search on 'tools' for many threads - in part, it depends on what you will be doing

ball end hex wrenches are nice - more in the way of a convenience than required

[Rot 911]

Get Wayne's book 101 Projects for your 911. He lists basic tools and then the tools you would need for each project. That should cover things nicely for you. You will find maintenance on the 911 much simpler than on the X5!

[Sobastrace]

Thanks Kurt, I ordered Wayne's book and the Bentley today, along with $1,000 of supplies for the first few projects. This is the first modern car I have worked on other than brakes/suspension/electrical. I look forward to getting to know the intricacies of the 911.

[irobertson]

Hi there and welcome to the disease.
Nice looking blue car you have there.
These cars are mechanically very straight forward, and I'm sure you will become more intimate with it as you delve deeper into wrenching on it. You have bought two very good books.

cheers

[Sobastrace]

I have to admit, that after going through the file and looking at the costs of the last 10 years, and realizing my mechanics rate has increased almost every year, and the last of the really good 911 mechanics was no longer working in the shop, was the motivation to start doing this myself.

I always just wanted this to be headache free, so it was easy to have others do the work, especially as it seems impossible to get to everything in the engine compartment.

Now that I am driving my MG more, I figure it is okay if the 911 is down for a week or so as I learn how to wrench on it.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Sobastrace

Thanks Kurt, I ordered Wayne's book and the Bentley today, along with $1,000 of supplies for the first few projects. This is the first modern car I have worked on other than brakes/suspension/electrical. I look forward to getting to know the intricacies of the 911.

Wow you think a 1984 car is modern. They are easy cars to work on for most things.

[Sobastrace]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Wow you think a 1984 car is modern. They are easy cars to work on for most things.

well, I guess compared to all my projects over the last 30 years, 1984 is really modern. After working on the BMW X5 over the last 6 months, I decided, I might as well start doing the 911.

[A horse with no name]

'Hi...Very nice to hear that the car has been a one owner 'family' - Nice!

The cars are in general not hard to work on especially with such a great board as this.

I noticed that in your list of things to do an air filter was missing. I know that you only forgot to include it your list, but of all things, changing it will be your 1st test of patience. As any air filter replacement it is a simple job- The problem lies in reconnecting the right rear bottom clasp on the air-box.

You touched on the subject by saying that quote: "cannot even reach many of the clips I need to open to pull the hoses out to inspect."

If you have arms and hands the size of a 6 yr. old you will have no problem with it - Being that is not so, I find that it is easier to change it with the oil filter off.

With the oil filter on I end up with a long wrench - or whatever - in my left hand which is over the back of the motor- firewall area - with my right hand around the right rear side-back of the air-box, holding the clip in place, so as to close clasp by pushing on it with the long wrench - or.

You will see what I am trying to explain when you are doing it. If there is a simpler way, hopefully for the both of us, a fellow Pelican will jump in and help us both out. Have fun...Nice car!

Cheers

[Sobastrace]

miglenda,
Thanks for the note on the air cleaner. Living in a desert, I have gotten really good at changing the air filter. I did not list that because I replaced the current one a few months ago after driving through a wind storm. I always keep a spare in the garage. (I should keep a spare windshield.....sand is unforgiving.)

[MT930]

Stunning Car !

Your on the right track with tools and projects.

[A horse with no name]

Maybe you can help me then - What was the easiest way that you found to snap this clasp back on? Often I have been tempted to just leave the thing off, but my inner self-talk makes me keep going -grrr- until I get it -knowing before hand that I'm going to lose some skin again...

Cheers!

[timmy2]

Welcome aboard, nice car. Do lots of reading and learn how to do an advanced search.
Here's a good thread on tools and quality.
Q:Snap-on & other high quality hand tools...

Here's what I'd add to your list.

Get yourself 3 quality torque wrenches, small inch pound, medium and large foot pound sized.
Don't get them from Harbor freight. Good quality, calibrated torque wrenches will save you many headaches down the road.

Have fun and ask lots of questions if you can't find the answers

[Sobastrace]

Originally Posted by miglenda

Maybe you can help me then - What was the easiest way that you found to snap this clasp back on? Often I have been tempted to just leave the thing off, but my inner self-talk makes me keep going -grrr- until I get it -knowing before hand that I'm going to lose some skin again...

Cheers!

The first time I tried reaching around with different tools. After a few tries, I found that if push the clip in place with a mirror and a long tool from the right side (I use an old expanding antenna).

I then reach over the top left of the air box with my left arm and I can just touch the clip to snap it tight. Be careful or you scratch the heck out of your left forearm.

[Sobastrace]

Originally Posted by timmy2

Get yourself 3 quality torque wrenches, small inch pound, medium and large foot pound sized.
Don't get them from Harbor freight. Good quality, calibrated torque wrenches will save you many headaches down the road.

Timmy, I have a nice medium that was last calibrated about 5 years ago and a very nice medium and Large torque wrenchs from MAC tools that were calibrated 2 years ago.

I do not have a inch pound torque wrench that is good. I will add that to my next MAC tools order.

[timmy2]

Sounds good, Wasn't sure what your tool set consisted of. Or your skillset and knowledge level.
A picture of the tool box in the garage usually says it all...

[strikee]

Beer fridge

[Sobastrace]

Strikee, great idea. A beer Fridge is something that is missing in my garage.

It is such a pain the walk through the whole house to get an Old Speckled Hen from the kitchen fridge. If I had more room that would move to the top of my list. Maybe I should get rid of some more junk.