mglobe

Well actually, continues, as I put in a short shift kit last week.

Let me preface this by saying that it was only a few months ago that I smugly told deep_uv and TR6 that I fixed my cars with my universal tool... my Visa card. So it's ironic that I now find myself spending entire days in my 190 degf garage working on a 996.

Friday was my birthday (39th... ), so I took the day off work to get started on installing the needed 3rd radiator kit. Here's how it went:

8:30 AM: Clear road cars out of the garage, and back the 996 in. Start removing the front bumper cover. Turns out to be easy.

Dismantle right side radiator assembly. Spend 30 minutes trying to get spring clamp off of lower radiator hose. Finally remove lower right radiator hose. Pour over DIY from Renntech.

Determine which hose replaces lower right. Install new lower right hose. Spend 45 min trying to replace spring clip. Finally go to hardware store and buy screw type hose clamp. Buy four in case I need others. Worry that I Porsche must have a reason for not using that type of clip, and that my car will explode as a consequence. Clamp on lower right radiator hose.

Dismantle left side radiator assembly. Spend another 30 minutes getting the spring clamp off the lower radiator hose. Once clamp is off, hose will not come off fitting. So... take out pocket knife, slice hose, and peel it off. Look at instructions & realize I was supposed to take off the UPPER hose on the left side. Call Porsche dealers looking for replacement lower hose. None in town. Go back and look at car, and realize I can use the upper hose, which I'm supposed to replace as a surrogate for the lower hose I cut. (phew).

Start to install left side hose, and realize that I put the wrong hose on the right side. Dismantle right side radiator assembly, and swap hoses.

Plumb everything up, climb in car, and start it up. No leaks. Mumble to self something to the order of "I am Spartacus".

Reassemble car and put bumper cover back on.

Start car. Radiator fluid spews out of right front end of car.

5:00 PM Call it a day. Have a martini and a cigar. Life is good.

Saturday 8:30 AM Large puddle of fluid lingers under the car.

Remove bumper cover -- even easier the second time.

Remove right side radiator assembly. Discover that after I tested the car, but before I put the bumper cover on, someone must have snuck into the garage, and removed the clamp from the right side radiator hose.

Plumb up the coolant system, this time using an actual hose clamp, and carefully guarding the vehicle from the neighbor kids to make sure they don't remove the clamp again.

Fire up car. No leaks.

Replace the bumper cover -- I'm getting good at this.

Fire up car. No leaks.

Mumble something to the order of "I am Spartacus".

Open personnel entry door to garage. Whack self in nose with door. Hear nose make a cracking noise, and literally see stars. Drop F-bomb about 20 times. Sit in 190 degf garage drinking ice water, and holding bag of ice on nose.

Tune in next week for the next chapter: Installing a new suspension.

Bull

And you guys are going to be on track with THAT????? (I know, he isn't on track much)

"Death Wish V"

Never have had a single issue with a radiator on a PORSCHE! How about you deep_uv?

rlm328

Let me know if you need someone to pass you tools.

Once you climb under the car at your age it gets difficult to squirm out after you forget somenthing for the ompteenth time.

mglobe

Deep_uv is more than ready for a car with a radiator. He has the backwards through the infield maneuver down pat. Just ask the guys that bailed out of the flag station right before he nearly hit it.

mglobe

You got that right. Plus you have to remember what tool it was you squirmed out to get.

Veloce Raptor

LMMFAO.

Happy birthday, Spartacus!!!!

mglobe

Thanks Dave!

In spite of all the Keystone Cops mechanics, the project is right on schedule.

Bull

Another B'day???? Wow!

All the best from one Leo to another!

deep_uv

Radiator, WTF is that? He must be building some sort of cheater car.

BTW, where is that filmmaker daughter of his? She should be documenting all this stuff.

deep_uv

Ewwww!

Mike in Chi

Spartie, the committee (that may or may not) knew what it was doing when it picked you

mglobe

Well I definitely took one for the team. I'm pretty sure my nose is broken. Hurts like hell. But the radiator is working.

Bull

Stuff some cotton up that sniffer, get it stabilized and march on soldier!

Veloce Raptor

No more speedball parties with Marion Barry for you!

Bull

And welcome to the MBA team! (Mouth Breathers of America)