to 911 or not to 911 DIY question

[porker111]

i am considering an 88' carrera because prices have come down a bit and these cars seem very well made. My biggest concern with 911's is how the engine is effectively shoved way up in its arse. The negative handling associated with this does not bother me as i have driven one and do not have a problem with it. The problem i have with the rear engine is DIY work. I have plenty of automotive experience but not so much with rear engine cars. I do not like the idea of needing a hired shop to drop the engine and tranny for services that would be routine on a normal car.

Does anyone out there actually work on their own 911 in a home garage? do you need a full lift to drop the engine or can it be done with a floorjack or two? how often do you need to drop the engine (clutch jobs top end rebuilds, and even little things like spark plugs, or fixing a cracked header, or gaskets? some jobs seem damn near impossible with the small rear hatch and that "old washing machine" in the way

these cars drive wonderfully but in cars that i own i pride myself on being able to do all (except a/c servicing and certain electrics) of the work myself. is there room for people like me in the 911 world or should i run back to front engines

[Zeke]

Regardless of the replies you get here, you should get a couple of books on the 911. One, written by our host, is a good snapshot of many things you can do w/o a major hassle. Another good read is the 911 Porsche Performance Handbook by Bruce Anderson, also sold by Pelican. It's not just what the title implies, but a good overview.

[tonythetarga]

ditto what Milt says. You may have also hit the DIY motherlode for 911's. This site is very active with DIYers and a lot of collective experience and innovation being shared here. You'd be amazed what a set of jack stands and a couple floor jacks can do in a normal garage.

As far as driving these cars go, the BEST way to learn is to experience the car on the track with an instructor that can help you learn the best way to drive the car. Thinking you know these cars and trying stuff out on the street is the fast lane to the dismantler.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

[RWebb]

was that a troll post?

most here work on their own cars

the only powerunit easier to drop is in a VW Bug (Charles Manson used to R&R those in the middle of the desert)

the DIY problems are
1. access is hard - e.g. cylinders are flat out to the sides
2. some things are poorly designed

[RWebb]

PS - drop the motor every 80,000 miles - or less if you F with the clutch
- not for plug changes

[burgermeister]

What Milt said. Read this board for a while too.

The engine bay seems cramped, but many things are easier than they look. If you have patience & time, it can be a fairly pleasant car to work on.

[GH85Carrera]

If you read through this site you will see many posts from owners that work on these cars. You will be amazed at what non-professional mechanics do to the cars they own. There is probably nothing you can think of that has not been done many dozens times buy many dozens of owners. Virtually any project you can think of has been done before.

[Aurel]

Once you get used to dropping the engine out of the car in 2 hours, you realize that the way it is set up in the rear is actually very convenient for DYI work. Some here drop it just for cleaning.

Aurel

[teamfee3]

OK, the engine is dropped and I am doing the following;
1. New Sachs power clutch
2. new stock flywheel (existing one gouged, can't lighten because of DME sensor)
3. Sport motor / tranny mounts
4. Thermostat & Pressure sender O-ring
5. Oil cooler seals
6. Crankcase top breather cover gasket
7. Oil pressure switch
8. Flywheel pilot bearing
9. Alternator replaced (what started it all)
10. Fan (silver) and housing (black) painted

It's and '86 Carrera with 78K on it. Anyother must do's while it's out?
1. Detailing?
2. Shifter stuff?

[coollx]

What Milt and others have said.

18 months ago I asked virtually the same questions you asked for the same reasons. Since that time I not only bought my first 911 but have done all my own maintenance and small repairs and things that needed fixing.

At this moment, I just completed my first engine/trans drop by myself in my basement and have my transmission on the workbench in a 100 pieces. With the help of the generous and knowledgeable members of this board I'm looking to eliminate some shifting problems I have.

Welcome to the forum.

[Wickd89]

I am sure my Porsche is more reliable than my Audi.
But that might not be saying much.

Just kidding, the car feels so solid, and was so well taken care of by the previous owner, I hope it gives me years of pleasure. I do believe that you need to drive it, and drive it hard. I would always be scared of garage queens.......

[RWebb]

there are a bunch of threads on cleaning etc. of engine comp. while the motor is out.

don't forget the TO bearing, etc.

consider rebuild of alt. & starter

[vreference]

For what it's worth, I personally don't think the 911 engine is as easy to remove as everyone else seems to. Granted, you don't need a Hoist and there's no coolant to contend with, I guess maybe that's what people are fired up about. I can pull an engine out of a '66 Mustang in less than 40 minutes. Personally, I'd rather pull an engine than drop it.

I always think it's funny when people say "It's only four bolts" to remove a 911 engine. You may as well say "it's only one bolt" -- Just start counting at the last step rather than the fourth-to-last step if you are going to pick an arbitrary point in the process.

I'm not trying to be inflammatory, just relating my opinion.

[livi]

Welcome!

I was a complete DIY ignorant when I got my 911, so I started out with the rear engine location. I find that the regular service and maintenance is very doable. Its kind of cramped back there, but it works. Of course I am not referring to jobs that need engine out. Thats not my division.

[berettafan]

DIYability is one of the reasons i chose a 911 when buying a toy car. Very doable and Pelican is the biggest facilitator of this (or the people here i should say).

I do ALL my own work (except maybe when i need an alignment this spring) and do not have a lift or pit, etc. Have given consideration to a mid-rise scissors lift but haven't pulled the trigger yet.

[boyt911sc]

Originally Posted by porker111

i am considering an 88' carrera because prices have come down a bit and these cars seem very well made. My biggest concern with 911's is how the engine is effectively shoved way up in its arse. The negative handling associated with this does not bother me as i have driven one and do not have a problem with it. The problem i have with the rear engine is DIY work. I have plenty of automotive experience but not so much with rear engine cars. I do not like the idea of needing a hired shop to drop the engine and tranny for services that would be routine on a normal car.

Does anyone out there actually work on their own 911 in a home garage? do you need a full lift to drop the engine or can it be done with a floorjack or two? how often do you need to drop the engine (clutch jobs top end rebuilds, and even little things like spark plugs, or fixing a cracked header, or gaskets? some jobs seem damn near impossible with the small rear hatch and that "old washing machine" in the way

these cars drive wonderfully but in cars that i own i pride myself on being able to do all (except a/c servicing and certain electrics) of the work myself. is there room for people like me in the 911 world or should i run back to front engines

Porker,

Most of us have been in similar predicament in the past. Read and gather some information to give you a better knowledge about the car. But inspite of all these reading materials and many hours browsing the Internet, I would suggest that you find someone you could call or talk for question. Much better if this buddy could come and visit you. The more buddies the better.

If you're the type of guy who likes tinkering car/s, then 911 is for you. Just ask questions (there's no such thing as dumb question) only stupid answers!!!! Wish you luck.

Tony

[tsiegwart]

I love working on the car almost as much as I love driving it.

I'm a hack mechanic at best, but the 3.2 carrera is "farm tractor" simple. It's really just a pleasure to take apart and put back together. I work on it in my own garage for sure and I've got nothing fancy.

As everyone has noted above, you can't find a more knowledgable and supportive user community.

[MOMO3.2]

Quote from Porker 111:

Does anyone out there actually work on their own 911 in a home garage?

Are you JOKING! As Randy stated, MOST active members on the 911 Technical Forum "actually" work on their own car. This is what defines the Pelican Parts Community IMO. Without this BBS, it would be simply silly for me to own and daily drive my 1987 Carrera.

So, YES, most people actually work on their own 911's here.

Mike

[porker111]

i worked in a garage for a couple years and have seen 911's in and out though they were never there to see me they were another guys job. anyway we had all these snooty guys in and out all the time for routine stuff like clutch jobs or gasket replacement, valve adjustment, aftermarket exhaust. i guess i just assumed that doing these jobs required dropping the engine because thats how i've seen it done, and that dropping the engine required a shop with a lift. this obviously did not bother these guys forking out big bucks but it does now bother me as a prospective owner. working on them always just seemed like it would be a pita for even a competent "weekend mechanic" at home. thanks for the input.. you guys are saying that the car is easy to work on and engine is easy to drop, but what kinds of things can you do without dropping the engine? i.e. headers?

[GH85Carrera]

You can spend many weekends working on a 911 and never go near the engine compartment. My wife often pouts about being a "garage widow" since I can usually find something to tinker on in the garage. A 1988 Carrera is a 20 year old car. There are lots of things that need to be looked at.

Read this tread. It might scare you when you see the list of items that need to be checked out. Some are 15 minutes to finish, some are all weekend projects. Some are major projects. I have several things to get done. That is a fun part of the hobby for me, but I am a bit strange according to my wife

Long term & Commonly Neglected Maintenance

Please post some pictures of your 911 if you buy it!