Tidbits from the Factory
06-26-2014, 01:43 PM
#1
Race Director
Thread Starter
Tidbits from the Factory
Had an absolutely incredible day today. Did the Factory tour in the morning then met up with my Porsche Motorsport friend Henry in the afternoon. Guys like Henry are the reason why I know that Porsche still has people with a passion for building proper sports cars. He graciously arranged for a private tour of the Museum with one of the guides as well as giving me a personal in-depth look at the Restoration Shop.
Then Henry took me to an area that was so special that no pictures were allowed and I can't even be too specific about. I'll just ask; do you remember the scene from the end of the first Indiana Jones movie where they are taking the Ark of the Covenant to be stored away in the immense warehouse full of irreplaceable treasures? That's what it reminded me of. As a Porsche fan, I now know what heaven is like. I'll post some pics that I was able to take in other places when I get back.
My main reason for positing this now is that I asked a lot of questions related to our GT3's and found out a few things that folks may be interested in:
1) I didn't see a single GT3 on the assembly line. Our guide said that to the best of his knowledge 2014 GT3 production has been completed. Series production of 2015's won't start for several weeks.
2) The 2014 cars that are scheduled for engine replacement will NOT be reinserted into the production line. They will have their engines replaced at a separate location, in the same fashion as is being done for Cat A customers.
3) It varies according to what the ongoing problem rate is, but typically only 1% of engines are run in hot, with the remaining 99% tested cold on electric jigs. However, 100% of the replacement engines were run in hot, the same as in the old days with the hand built air cooled motors. This may be where the earlier rumors about every engine being completely broken in on the dyno came from.
4) The replacement engines were built on the same engine assembly line as the rest of the boxer motors. A third shift was added to provide the additional capacity.
I asked as many GT3 questions as I could without making a complete pest of myself, so sorry if I didn't get an answer to something that you might have thought important. It's also possible that I'm not remembering something relevant as I write this so ask and it may jog my memory.
Some other factoids not directly related but that I found interesting:
7% of all cars are still test driven on public roads.
It takes 7 hours from the time a painted body shell enters the assembly building to the time when the marriage of drivetrain and body occurs. The building process for the engine of that drivetrain doesn't begin until the body starts on the line.
Engine parts arrive in small shipments and sit in the staging area for no more than 90 minutes before being moved to the floor. There is enough inventory at any given time to build engines for only 0.8 of a day.
There are so many different combinations of options that on average in a 6 month period only 2 cars are produced that are exactly the same.
As a car and Porsche fan I can't imagine a better day that didn't actually involve driving.
Then Henry took me to an area that was so special that no pictures were allowed and I can't even be too specific about. I'll just ask; do you remember the scene from the end of the first Indiana Jones movie where they are taking the Ark of the Covenant to be stored away in the immense warehouse full of irreplaceable treasures? That's what it reminded me of. As a Porsche fan, I now know what heaven is like. I'll post some pics that I was able to take in other places when I get back.
My main reason for positing this now is that I asked a lot of questions related to our GT3's and found out a few things that folks may be interested in:
1) I didn't see a single GT3 on the assembly line. Our guide said that to the best of his knowledge 2014 GT3 production has been completed. Series production of 2015's won't start for several weeks.
2) The 2014 cars that are scheduled for engine replacement will NOT be reinserted into the production line. They will have their engines replaced at a separate location, in the same fashion as is being done for Cat A customers.
3) It varies according to what the ongoing problem rate is, but typically only 1% of engines are run in hot, with the remaining 99% tested cold on electric jigs. However, 100% of the replacement engines were run in hot, the same as in the old days with the hand built air cooled motors. This may be where the earlier rumors about every engine being completely broken in on the dyno came from.
4) The replacement engines were built on the same engine assembly line as the rest of the boxer motors. A third shift was added to provide the additional capacity.
I asked as many GT3 questions as I could without making a complete pest of myself, so sorry if I didn't get an answer to something that you might have thought important. It's also possible that I'm not remembering something relevant as I write this so ask and it may jog my memory.
Some other factoids not directly related but that I found interesting:
7% of all cars are still test driven on public roads.
It takes 7 hours from the time a painted body shell enters the assembly building to the time when the marriage of drivetrain and body occurs. The building process for the engine of that drivetrain doesn't begin until the body starts on the line.
Engine parts arrive in small shipments and sit in the staging area for no more than 90 minutes before being moved to the floor. There is enough inventory at any given time to build engines for only 0.8 of a day.
There are so many different combinations of options that on average in a 6 month period only 2 cars are produced that are exactly the same.
As a car and Porsche fan I can't imagine a better day that didn't actually involve driving.
06-26-2014, 01:52 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Sounds like an awesome day!
Just curious - any discussion on timing of delivery after production of 2015's begin? How long it is expected to take from order to completion?
Just curious - any discussion on timing of delivery after production of 2015's begin? How long it is expected to take from order to completion?
06-26-2014, 02:00 PM
#3
Mike,
This is so very awesome. Thank you so much for this valuable information that we know we can trust. Glad you are having fun and it sounds like the factory tour (even if "just" a public one) should be on my bucket list.
Sam
This is so very awesome. Thank you so much for this valuable information that we know we can trust. Glad you are having fun and it sounds like the factory tour (even if "just" a public one) should be on my bucket list.
Sam
06-26-2014, 02:07 PM
#5
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Sam.. Thats exactly what I was wondering. the $1000 question for me.
My service mgr said his instruction were to keep it under 7,000 rpm for the 24 mile test run. Are we suppose to interpret it's run in after that?
I'll see what Sam & Mike do and just copy. LOL
06-26-2014, 02:09 PM
#6
Hopefully Mike will clarify once and for all.
06-26-2014, 02:11 PM
#7
Trending Topics
06-26-2014, 02:25 PM
#8
Had an absolutely incredible day today. Did the Factory tour in the morning then met up with my Porsche Motorsport friend Henry in the afternoon. Guys like Henry are the reason why I know that Porsche still has people with a passion for building proper sports cars. He graciously arranged for a private tour of the Museum with one of the guides as well as giving me a personal in-depth look at the Restoration Shop. Then Henry took me to an area that was so special that no pictures were allowed and I can't even be too specific about. I'll just ask; do you remember the scene from the end of the first Indiana Jones movie where they are taking the Ark of the Covenant to be stored away in the immense warehouse full of irreplaceable treasures? That's what it reminded me of. As a Porsche fan, I now know what heaven is like. I'll post some pics that I was able to take in other places when I get back. My main reason for positing this now is that I asked a lot of questions related to our GT3's and found out a few things that folks may be interested in: 1) I didn't see a single GT3 on the assembly line. Our guide said that to the best of his knowledge 2014 GT3 production has been completed. Series production of 2015's won't start for several weeks. 2) The 2014 cars that are scheduled for engine replacement will NOT be reinserted into the production line. They will have their engines replaced at a separate location, in the same fashion as is being done for Cat A customers. 3) It varies according to what the ongoing problem rate is, but typically only 1% of engines are run in hot, with the remaining 99% tested cold on electric jigs. However, 100% of the replacement engines were run in hot, the same as in the old days with the hand built air cooled motors. This may be where the earlier rumors about every engine being completely broken in on the dyno came from. 4) The replacement engines were built on the same engine assembly line as the rest of the boxer motors. A third shift was added to provide the additional capacity. I asked as many GT3 questions as I could without making a complete pest of myself, so sorry if I didn't get an answer to something that you might have thought important. It's also possible that I'm not remembering something relevant as I write this so ask and it may jog my memory. Some other factoids not directly related but that I found interesting: 7% of all cars are still test driven on public roads. It takes 7 hours from the time a painted body shell enters the assembly building to the time when the marriage of drivetrain and body occurs. The building process for the engine of that drivetrain doesn't begin until the body starts on the line. Engine parts arrive in small shipments and sit in the staging area for no more than 90 minutes before being moved to the floor. There is enough inventory at any given time to build engines for only 0.8 of a day. There are so many different combinations of options that on average in a 6 month period only 2 cars are produced that are exactly the same. As a car and Porsche fan I can't imagine a better day that didn't actually involve driving.
06-26-2014, 02:36 PM
#9
Race Director
Thread Starter
Based on what I was told, the engines weren't run long enough to actually be broken in. Given the number of engines that were involved, just from a practical standpoint that seems to make sense to me. I think it will still come down to how each individual owner wants to handle their own break in. In my case, unless I find out differently, I will do my usual slightly more aggressive than factory break-in. In your case, you may be pulling 9001 rpm next week.
06-26-2014, 03:20 PM
#11
Wow thanks for sharing very informative to say the least. Just found out my 2015 production date is 9/15 with a 11/7 delivery date to the dealer scheduled for now. I have until 7/24 to make changes before it locks down
06-26-2014, 03:48 PM
#13
factory tour is a must do. We did it back in October, I was surprised the wife really enjoyed it and wanted to just hang around and watch the building. We saw a couple cup cars on the line being built and in the final assembly area where they pull the cars off of the line, due to the full cage two guys finish the build.
At that time we saw several GT3 ready for shipping and few running around the factory grounds, car sounded sic. I wanted that job. The cars were being driven very rev happy and with the sounds bouncing off the buildings. Just made you want one so bad....
At that time we saw several GT3 ready for shipping and few running around the factory grounds, car sounded sic. I wanted that job. The cars were being driven very rev happy and with the sounds bouncing off the buildings. Just made you want one so bad....
06-26-2014, 04:07 PM
#14
Race Director
Regardless of all the different info we are getting on break-in; I am going to stay under 7000 rpms for the fist 500 miles and then will let her rip. For me, I can live with that and every one can do what gives them a piece of mind
06-26-2014, 04:15 PM
#15
Jim -- I'm with you. Maybe I'll do 2 tanks of gas. Then? Open the floodgates. We're not far off now...