Ultimate Home Made PTools

[Discseven]

Tried this topic a while back and it didn't get any traction. WTF! I know there's lots of great ideas out there... lets fookin share them. Rules are simple: show pics and tell what gizmo does and how. We're talkin Porsche tools. (So as not to be seen as a bragger... I'll post my stuff later.)

[RSBob]

Hey Karl, there already was a thread on this but can’t get Search to function. Maybe that accounts for the lack of response. BTDT

[Trackrash]

Here you go. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/779474-homemade-911-tools.html

BTW, Pelican's search engine is HOPELESS, thank you vBulletin. So you can go to Google and type your search and include the word Pelican. Works much better than the search on this board, unless of course if you know who the thread starter is.

[tirwin]

Karl,

I am working on an engine rebuild cost calculator in Excel. One of the things I was thinking about for some of the Porsche special tools was noting if there is an alternative/workaround available. Some of these tools are one time use (unless you’re someone who is rebuilding a lot of engines) so a good & cheap alternative helps save a little money that can be better spent on other project costs.

Two examples are the chain & rod holders and the cylinder hold down nuts. Both are described in Wayne’s rebuilding book. I’m sure there are other good examples. If anyone has other ideas I’d like to see them posted here.

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by tirwin

Karl,

I am working on an engine rebuild cost calculator in Excel. One of the things I was thinking about for some of the Porsche special tools was noting if there is an alternative/workaround available. Some of these tools are one time use (unless you’re someone who is rebuilding a lot of engines) so a good & cheap alternative helps save a little money that can be better spent on other project costs.

Two examples are the chain & rod holders and the cylinder hold down nuts. Both are described in Wayne’s rebuilding book. I’m sure there are other good examples. If anyone has other ideas I’d like to see them posted here.

For the cylinder hold down nuts you can just use some rubber fuel line...

I recently bought a harbor freight lathe and plan to make hold down tools out of pvc pipe of the right size and just thread the ends...

[boyt911sc]

Tim,

These were used for several engine rebuilds till I switched to something fancy. I am cheap and frugal. And built a lot of special tools for my needs and gradually switched to commercial tools.



But making and building these special tools take time and effort. I grew up making my tools because of necessity and just a second nature to me. If you value your time, you are not saving a lot $$$$ building your special tools unless it is not commercially available. As you get older, you become wiser and experienced. Time is GOLD.

Tony

[tirwin]

Tony, understood. Some people have the skills to fabricate their own tools. Others do not. It is always a choice and whether it makes sense or not is probably a case by case basis. I am always amazed at the ingenuity I see here.

For people who may only do one rebuild, there is also the possibility of recovering some costs by selling some items to others at a reduced price. That effectively makes the cost more like a rental fee. Plus it helps others out.

The cost of the right tool probably more than pays for itself. Even if the DIYer has to invest $1000-1500 in new tools to do the job, they are still way ahead of the game by saving thousands in shop labor.

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Tim,

These were used for several engine rebuilds till I switched to something fancy. I am cheap and frugal. And built a lot of special tools for my needs and gradually switched to commercial tools.



But making and building these special tools take time and effort. I grew up making my tools because of necessity and just a second nature to me. If you value your time, you are not saving a lot $$$$ building your special tools unless it is not commercially available. As you get older, you become wiser and experienced. Time is GOLD.

Tony

Buying the professional tool is always cheaper, if you are intellectually honest...

But then again, paying someone to do your engine rebuild is also cheaper than doing it yourself, if you are intellectually honest

If you make $20 an hour, you save money doing it your self. If you make more, then you are just doing it to enjoy the process...


I love buying tools. Love making stuff myself. Its a challenge, and fun. Making my own tools justifies having the contraptions, like lathes/welders/plasma torches/etc...

And, mathematically, it makes total financial sense. As long as I value my time at 0$/hour I am doing GREAT!

[Quickstep192]

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

Tim,

These were used for several engine rebuilds till I switched to something fancy. I am cheap and frugal. And built a lot of special tools for my needs and gradually switched to commercial tools.



But making and building these special tools take time and effort. I grew up making my tools because of necessity and just a second nature to me. If you value your time, you are not saving a lot $$$$ building your special tools unless it is not commercially available. As you get older, you become wiser and experienced. Time is GOLD.

Tony

Just what do those “special tools” do?

[tirwin]

They’re when you’re doing engine assembly. You do one side, install those and secure them with nuts. One side of the engine is pointing up when you do this. Then you flip it 180° on the engine stand and it keeps the cylinders from falling off.

[Brian Cameron]

Gordo2 did a lot of tool fab for transmission rebuild

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/941069-gordos-915-transmission-rebuild.html

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by RSBob

Hey Karl, there already was a thread on this but can’t get Search to function. Maybe that accounts for the lack of response. BTDT

Bob... yeah, I did search. Found nothing. Figure this is a very worthwhile reference for us ALL so another go at it seems a good idea.

Originally Posted by Trackrash

So you can go to Google and type your search and include the word Pelican. Works much better than the search on this board, unless of course if you know who the starter is.

Nice "approachtool" Gord. A creative workaround.

Originally Posted by tirwin

Karl,

I am working on an engine rebuild cost calculator in Excel. One of the things I was thinking about for some of the Porsche special tools was noting if there is an alternative/workaround available. Some of these tools are one time use (unless you’re someone who is rebuilding a lot of engines) so a good & cheap alternative helps save a little money that can be better spent on other project costs.

Two examples are the chain & rod holders and the cylinder hold down nuts. Both are described in Wayne’s rebuilding book. I’m sure there are other good examples. If anyone has other ideas I’d like to see them posted here.

Typical you Tim... Excel calculator is brilliant "tool."

Originally Posted by boyt911sc

As you get older, you become wiser and experienced.

Tony

Am looking forward to get old... like 100, and still making tools. Fine creative use of PVC Tony.

An alternative dimension on time value: Waiting on shipping or, going-to-get a tool---sometimes can be more appealing to make tool needed. Lack of patience = instant (sorta) tool.

[Discseven]

Home Made Toe Adjustment Tool

3/4" copper tube made into a "C". (Create for rear track distance... then will surly fit front track distance.)
Is for toe adjustment only.
Put car on flat, smooth surface...
Put "C" under front of wheel jammed under tires at both sides with one end of "C" touching rim... take measure to rim on other side of car...
Move "C" to rear of same wheel and jam under tire both sides... one end touching rim... take measure to similar "high point" on rim (or same point on rim prior measure was made off of.)






Front toe in I like.

[Brian Cameron]

This one comes from Garth S on the Rennlist 993 forum - tip for replacing the tie rod boots which is a b!tch on that car: make a tool out of coat hangers, hook boot from inside and pull over the lip.

Full thread at: https://rennlist.com/forums/993-forum/369706-steering-rack-boots-installation-trick.html

[Trackrash]

Here is the thing. If you are a hardcore DIY guy, like me, it makes sense to make many of your own tools. If you have the time, motivation, skills, and get the satisfaction from doing your own work, it only makes sense to make some of your own tools.
Ball joint.

Cam tools. The old style was easy and worthwhile. If I had it to do over, I would have bought the newer style one. BTW, how do you hold the cam on the newer style with the bolt?

Easy to make for the 901 trans. Used it many times....

Easy to make spacers to hold the cylinders. Just cut some tubing.

Wrenches? If you have a bandsaw, why not make some oil line wrenches.

I have used this wheel balancer numerous times. Every time I get new tires I always have to rebalance and this does the job BION.

[Trackrash]

Here is one I made to install those pesky JE piston circlips. Well worth the effort IMO.

[1979-930]

I didn’t want to chisel out my split bushings from the aluminum and thought the elephant tool was a good idea. But not at $120.00.
So I made a crude version in about 15 min with a torch and grinder.







Sent from my iPhone while Driving

[ClickClickBoom]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/787780-euromeisters.html

[speedo]

Originally Posted by Trackrash

More pics and description please?

Speedo

[speedo]

Got tired of burning through thin sheet metal butt welds. Copper is a great heat sink.
Bought a stick of 36 inch x 1.5 inch copper plumbing. Used an old road bike tube to insulate the handle and flattened to productive lengths. Clamp behind the butt joints to ease welding frustration...not that I EVER get frustrated welding.