Porsche Club of America, Northeast Region

Activities

Nor'easter News

Car Care

Membership

Other Cool Stuff

Sponsors & Advertisers

Administrivia

Porsche Club of America
The Northeast Region

By Tom Tate
NOR'EASTER Online - April 2002

Ever notice how every job that's automotive related takes twice as long as you estimate? Maybe it's just my inability to estimate the time required for a simple job like changing a taillight bulb. Or maybe it's just that I always see a couple of other things that need attention while I'm there, like cleaning the inside of the lenses since I'm there anyway. Some jobs are fun because they show immediate results. Like new wheels, a new exhaust system (always louder - but my hearing's going so have to keep turning it up), or just washing the car. Other jobs are just what I call grunt work. That is they don't take any special expertise. You just have to grunt through it.

It's the grunt work that always seems to run over the 11:00 News for me. Like changing shocks and springs on the Audi Quattro ice racer. That's just not a job that I would look forward to at all. So I found a shop (local) that just loves to bust their knuckles on 15-year-old suspension bolts and let them have a go at it. Shines Racing Service did a great job, set it up just the way that I would have done it and I didn't miss the news for a week.

You really need to pick your battles when it comes to auto repair. Years ago when we couldn't afford to pay someone else we didn't really have a choice. You just stayed under the car (why was it always under the car in the dead of winter that needed help?) until the work was done. Of course that was the car that we needed to get to work the next day so we really didn't have a choice. Nowadays there are other cars that can be pressed into service so it's easier to be picky.

When number one son was home for the holidays, he did what I've been unable to do with 5 Quattros over 8 years. He spun a rod bearing on number 3 cylinder. You just can't kill those 5 cylinder engines but he was able to do it with just a few speedy rides into Boston. This was clearly a job that called for a lot of grunt work. So I made a decision to have Kevin at Randolph Racing take a look at the damage. He's has a lot of Audi experience (even has a Audi turbo coupe that he's setting up for the track to scare the Porsche drivers), knows what a cheap SOB I am, and I always get the sense that I'm getting the straight story.

There's a lot to be said for the right tool for the job. As I was assisting (is that really the right word?) I watched Kevin apply a torch to the exhaust manifold nuts and do in 5 minutes what would have taken me 4 hours. Don't ask me how I know. He directed me to a company out west that shipped a short block replacement (OK, OK, it was a 2.6L instead of a 2.2L - but only a couple of people know) and the puzzle went back together pretty quickly.

Having a rack loaded with shiny bolt, nuts, and clamps made it almost fun to reassemble. No endless trips to the local hardware store. I did have to put the engine in a couple of times since I forgot to torque the pressure plate bolts. And did have to put the clutch master cylinder in twice (it was upside down the first time). After the third Saturday of wrenching I realized why I'm not in that business. It's way too much work! Every thing is heavy lifting. I'm too old to spend 2 hours upside down under the dash with my hands so far up the firewall that I can't see 'em. And the bending over the engine compartment! My knees don't go that way, never have and don't want to now. This stuff is better left to other people like Kevin, he likes it! Besides those that do this kind of work every day develop a knack for it.

Like when Kevin and Rob redid the top end on the Carrera. It was all back together running well and Rob couldn't wait to get back on the road to Atlanta. Kevin said that he didn't like the sound of the exhaust so he hooked it up to an exhaust gas analyzer. It showed that the engine was running too lean on number 5 cylinder. Holding Rob at bay, Kevin pulled the valve cover to find an exhaust valve too tight. He readjusted it and sent Rob on his way. I would have just gone with it and burnt a value 100 miles down the road. Some things are just better left to the experts.

Keep the faith!!

Porsche Club of America The Northeast Region

Porsche Club of America
The Northeast Region