The plot thickens...

[Tim L]

The question is why did all those rockers break on the left side if the motor turned over freely by hand? I can’t think of a cam timing scenario where you can break both the intake and the exhaust rockers unless the timing is slipping and changing (maybe the locking pin wasn’t installed correctly)?? Or it could be a valve clearance problem what was done to the motor? Check the came timing and see if it’s off. If it’s not the same thing is going to happen to the new rockers.

Tim

[porsche_virus]

She LIVES!!! I got the new rockers today and took off work early to put them in. I took a coffee break between each task, which consisted of putting in the rockers, adjusting the valves, putting valve covers back on, putting sheet metal back on, putting left tire back on, left chain housing cover, engine mount, muffler, rear sheet metal, bumper, and finally, spark plugs.

I took a moment of silence before turning the key, after rotating the engine by hand several times of course, with no binding at all. It started right up and purred like a kitten. No vibrations, no popping, no stuttering, just smooth idle and white smoke. I'm guessing after all this mayhem there is fuel in the oil, so am draining it tomorrow and checking/adjusting the valves again after work, and then adding fresh oil.

I just want to thank everyone on this board for helping me out during this trying ordeal. There were many times I was ready to give up and throw in the oil soaked towel, but many of you told me to hang in there and stick it out, and to have patience. Patience is not a virtue I have been able to conquer over the years, but in this instance, it has paid off greatly. I have learned a great deal about Porsches, and could not have done it without patience and Pelican Parts.

Again, thank you all for the insight, criticism, honesty, and flat-out skill that has given my old 911 new life. I seriously could not and would not have attempted any repairs on this car without this board. Kudos to Pelican Parts and it's users. May you all live long and prosper, and try not to raise prices too much

Sincerely,

KC Moore

[poorsha]

There is a GOD in the garage looking after you. May you motor many, many miles.

[gary-o]

Great to see a happy ending and WOW, what a learning curve I've been on ever since I've started following this BB.
Thanks again Wayne for it, I'm sure we are all learning from isolated incidents!
regards,
Gary

[LeRoux Strydom]

Well, was the left cam timing off or what? Did you check the tensioner? I'm still curious to know what exactly went wrong in the first place. Please tell us if you know for sure.

Congrats on getting it running again!

LeRoux

[porsche_virus]

I never touched the left cam. It was timed correctly from the Porsche mechanic. I'm thinking the rockers were cracked or already broken from the very first time I put the engine in and the cams were wrong at that point, but I didn't know any better and tried to start it. Live and learn I guess. SO, apparently there was never anything wrong with the fuel system, spark plugs, ignition system, wiring, plug wires, distributor, etc. Man, what a mess it's been...but a very rewarding one! I've now got a lot of new components on the car that I won't have to worry about I think I've looked at/tested/inspected pretty much everything on this engine, so I'll definately chalk this one up to an experience and gladly lend insight whenever possible on this board. Although I still feel like a mechanical moron when looking back on some of the things I didn't do or overlooked, I did learn a great deal.

[82SC]

congrats...wow must be a great feeling...

now go out there and carve up some twisty back roads...

MJ

[cary]

I'm glad it had a HAPPY ending. Now go have some fun.

[Tim Walsh]

CONGRADS!! now go drive it and have a blast!

[crashr]

Congrats KC. Hope you have a great weekend.

[Jbabic]

how can you time just one cam? I would just check that they are both equal and within tolerence. I know you want to drive....have fun, but double checking may help in the short.long haul.

[dtw]

You've got to be the Most Stoked Person on the Board right now. Congrats.

[Elombard]

Awesome duude awesome!!!

[targa911man]

You have the patience of a saint. I would have had the car compressed into a coffee table. I am writing to the pope to nominate you to be canonized.

[Don Plumley]

I love a happy ending! It's so great to hear a "best-case scenario" work out.

[Jim Sims]

Congratulations! 911 engines are tough but you still might want to do a leak down/compression test set to check for a bent valve or two. Jim