Yes it would be rewarding to do it myself had I done it before. I've done my 72' beetle several times but I don't think it's the same.

Maybe I will check up the writeups on Pelican and see what it's all about....

 

I do everything.... but then again I work at a shop *shrug*

 

So far I have done everything but I'm not sure I am up to tackling bodywork or paint. Thank god for Clark's Garage!

 

Yep, pretty much everything myself. I only take it in when I'm completely stuck, or know I don't have and can't get the right tools. That's the reason I bought the car - when I bought it (fall of 04) I couldn't have pointed out what part was a carburetor, or even identify the fan belt (honestly!). I really wanted to learn how cars work, right down to the smallest detail. I think this comes, believe it or not, from my music background, in composing (yes, there are still composers around, and I don't mean Sondheim-like composers!). I love writing music, because you get to work with the most minute details, and put them all together into something really beautiful. The parallel to fine German engineering is obvious (maybe that's why the best cars and music come from Germany...)

A quick list of major tasks: tranny rebuild (as we all know too well!) involving 2 engine drops (it's like sex - the first time it's awkward, after that it's a piece of cake ), fuel pump replacement, shock replacement, ignition tune up (CD, coil, cap, rotor, points, plugs, wires, set dwell and timing), multiple valve adjustments (the hardest part is the strain on your back!), brake fluid/pad change (many).

The trick is always tools and knowledge. The 101 Projects book and Pelican provide all the knowledge I could ever need. Tools are almost all available locally, though sometimes you have to get creative The tranny rebuild only required basic tools that I already had, except for 27mm and 36mm sockets, and 27mm(? can't remember) wrench for the hard oil line. I also bought a clutch alignment tool (which is required but only $7) and shift fork jig (which I didn't use) Total tab for tools was under $50. The only other thing required was a mondo jack and jackstands, which I borrowed from Jim.

I do take it in for things like alignment and wheel balancing. Mantis only charges something like $30 for an alignment, so I figure what the hey. Wheel balancing I can't do myself. I did cave on the fuel pump and shocks. With the fuel pump, I didn't have the right pump and had spent over a month and half a tank of spilled gas so I finally said screw it, get it done right. With the shocks, Bilsteins are held in by a roll pin at the bottom of the shock, and after 35 years, that pin can get pretty stuck. I tried every penetrant known to man, heat, cold, punches, different size hammers - my dad and I spent 3 full days on one goddam roll pin. I said screw it and limped it in to Mantis. I did manage to replace the rear shocks, plus the front ball joints before giving up.

 

Other than the motor. Everything.

BTW Hit 305 k the other day. Never cracked.

 

so that would mean..... .. cleaning the wheels ?

 

all i have really done successfully is replace the blinker fluid !

 

On my 944 project, I have done (and am doing) everything, from motor rebuild to new paint.

On the 911, I am leaving most of the bigger stuff to a shop due to time constraints.

 

Hey . . . Experienced shade tree mechanics are leading . . .

Ian

 

That's a surprise I thought the "I do intermediate jobs but leave the bigger stuff to a shop " would be out there.

Lets see if the trend continues... .

 

I do everything I can...swapped tranny, brakes, suspension, interior, paint/bodywork, exhaust...just not the motor, as in a rebuild.

Otherwise, I go for it.

If I blow the motor...I'll swap it out for an LS2 project for sure.

 

Yes I sure it would but I'm trying to sell my car and some people may not like the idea of adjusting them yourself. There's always the question of does he know what he's doing going to be there....