Loads of Fun - 74 Targa 2.7 rebuild
 

Well finished a good day work at the shop today and decided to pull the motor/tranny out of the 74 Targa and rebuild it. Closed the shop at 5PM and had it all out by 8pm and cleaned up :)
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1352517435.jpg

I must say, 38 years old and all the bolts come undone as if it was put together yesterday. I guess all the oil leaking kept everything well lubed :)
All thats left to do now is split the Magnesium case, clean everything and then rebuild from ground up :)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/271352602568.jpg

Wish I could of been there! Interesting!

Done a lot of motor work in my time but this is my first magnesium case. Going to put the block saver inserts in, new engine seal kit, new rings, deglaze the cylinders, new cam chains/tensioners and i'm in the process of making a custom wiring harness (very simple on these engines) but the old wire is very brittle, so a new harness is going to look sweet :-)

Nice! Where's your shop? Wouldn't mind dropping for look at the Targa
engine

Nice!

What's that "junk in the trunk?" :D

It is hard to believe anything that old would workable, and the car too! Just ribbin' - actually jealous I don't have one. A mechanic in the trunk would come in handy!

Hahahaha - You have to fee the mechanic in the trunk a lot of beans so that the afterburners get that porsche moving :-)
Hey JayKay I'm sending you a PM with the address of the shop... You can stop by anytime :-) although it'll probably be more interesting once we get this baby back together :-)
H

Well just thought I'd share a few pics of the '74 2.7 Magnesium case all apart and going back together. The case cleaned up really nice so decided against painting it; I'd rather keep the metal showing original anyways :-)
*Notice the IMS on the 4th pic... just a regular sleave bearing with small oil passage (and no problems) the old one was at 80K and there wasnt a sign of wear yet.... they sure dont build things like the used to :-)

Great work, Heiko.
I'd like a closer look at the Targa myself. Heck I'll be coffee b!tch for the day. PM me if you'd like some company.

Thanks we'll probably be working more on it more next weekend... Gotta get the shop cleaned up tomorrow and then honey-do stuff. PM me your cell and I'll text you when we're at it some more. Gotta get a couple of parts ordered but it's coming along...
Heiko

Sorry BoxsterSteve... forgot to send ya a note but we plugged away at the motor some more today... you'll have to see it once it looks like a motor again...
Have a look - making slow progress a few hours at a time :)

24 Case Savers and loctite on all the studs secured in place
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1354494308.jpg

Cleaned up oil cover with all new seals
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1354494320.jpg

Drive pulley in place for crank (needed to set timing
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1354494333.jpg

A view from the output side of the crank
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1354494363.jpg

...set the cylinders with all new seals and setting the cam carriers and heads back in place
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1354494382.jpg

...Next is the Cam chain cases, rockers, valve timing setup, rocker covers and cam covers

Why are all of the top "wrenches" on this forum everywhere and anywhere but New England ???????:mad:

We have first divs on him for Western Canada. Free trade is okay to a point but.....:)

Heiko,
Looks great, man.

Loads of Fun - 74 Targa 2.7 Rebuild
 

Thanks... :)
I know it would have looked nicer if the entire block, cylinders and pistons would have had a nice coat of silver engine paint, but personally I hate painting those parts because one it retains heat and two it looks like the builder is trying to cover up imperfections or cracks in the metal... so i'd much rather leave it as is. That magnesium case is a rare item to start with and the next to come cam chain cases are also full magnesium.
I figure another saturday and she'll be almost ready to go into the car... of course we still have to get the bay cleaned and ready and still need to make up a new wiring harness (I might do that this week one night).
I'll try to keep posting pictures :)
H

Man this brings back fond memories. My dad & I rebuilt his 66 911 together.

Man that 66 911 would have been one sweet car... :)
Not sure what we're gonna get after this one is done... probably another 911 of some sort

It sure was! I need to find some pics to post. I wish I had that one back. Saw a 66 in last months Pano fully restored & the guy was asking $50k for it.

love the motor stand.
whats the porsche part number for it? :D

It's a heavy duty 6x6 long life version... Lol.
Someday I'll buy a good one but so far this has always worked well... If I did this everyday it would be a higher priority.

Aaaaand again, being jelly here! I wish I would have more time and know how to do these things!

Looks really good!

Well quick update... valve lifters are back in, timing chain cases closed up, valve covers back on... its coming - slowly....
Havent had much time over the holidays but got a little bit done at least :D

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356981950.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356981967.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356981983.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356982003.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356982022.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1356982035.jpg

And the added touch of raising the PORSCHE script on the upper valve cover :)
Happy New Year
Heiko


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01/head1357050247.jpg

Looking good! Nice little touches to top off an ambitious series of projects.

Quick update...
Finally finished cleaning the intake tubes today, got the tranny all washed up
and finished making the new engine wiring harness... just need to wrap it
in the cloth tape so it looks original, but other than that she's good to go :)

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358024057.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358024069.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358024080.jpg

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358024091.jpg

Very Nice work Heiko, can't wait to see the "after" pics when you're done.

I'm always blown away with the simplicity of the early cars wiring loom - compare Heiko's car with a modern day electrical system where manufacturers can use hundreds of meters of wiring just to get the engine and auxilliaries to work....

Thanks and yes I'm also looking forward to the finished pictures as well but more so to drive it when its finished... I'm so looking forward to the first ride after the rebuild :D
Steve the wiring harness for the engine is very simple... one master plug (unplug that and the whole engine is disconnected); from that plug leave 12 wires for a couple of sensors, ignition, alternator (which is driven off the back of the fan) it's really all quite simple... and so easy to work on compare to new stuff! The only downside was that the old wire when bent, basically broke in your hand, so it all needed to be replaced. The wiring which isnt near high heat sources was all ok, but all the wiring in the loom that basically sits on the engine was all brittle. We also finished the alternator/fan and fan housing, but I havent gotten around to taken pictures of that yet... A couple more weekends and the motor will be almost ready to go back in :-)

*Just for the record... still getting a lot of folks asking why I didnt paint the engine and transmission cases when i had them all apart... "The engine case is
magnesium, and I want to keep the engine case as original as possible; Also paint will act as a heat barrier, so the cases all stayed stock :D "

Well got a lot of the motor back together today (almost ready to go back in the car) just need to get the airbox and injectors done)
Hope you enjoy the pics... :) there's a few :)
Heiko
http://pcars.prophpbb.com

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632796.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632812.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632838.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632850.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632865.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632880.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632891.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1358632903.jpg

WOW!! this so coool!!

I agree. Way to cool. I'm actually looking forward to doing some basic maintenance but I'd need my own garage - not a rental - or rented space to do any serious work like this.

Makes me want to expand my garage instead of remodeling the kitchen....Just dreaming, I know I would not win that option.

Heiko, Thanks for the awesome status and photo updates.

One can never have a big enough garage... get a 2 bay shop (not enough room), get a three bay shop (not enough room) - The Ideal shop would be a three or four hoist setup on one floor with a loft setup to be 'Home' :) but my wife wouldnt go for that either.
Just working on the Airbox and Injectors, new starter going in, and cleaning up and blasting and painting a few more little parts (that's what seems to take up most of the time is prepping all the little parts (but sure looks nice and original).

Thanks for the comments and I'll keep updating this thread as the project continues...

Cheers,
Heiko
Heiko's PCAR Motorsports

Once again Heiko BEAUTIFUL WORK!!!! I had to chuckle at your garage comment, it is so true.

I love these pics, it looks so (deceptively) simple when you show us all the steps. Very cool, I enjoy learning new things!

My hubby had a '75 911 (about 20 years ago) coupe with a magnesium engine, and it leaked oil everywhere, constantly. We were told that as the magnesium heats up (as it will on an air-cooled) that the magnesium expands, opening tiny gaps at the seams. And that the oil leaks would never really be solved because of the nature of the material. Is that true?

Thanks for the comments... :)
Magnesium is very susceptable to corrosion if its not treated and cleaned properly making the surface very porous (especially in damp or wet climat). The biggest downside is that the magnesium is soft which causes bolts to losen quicker etc (this was a huge issue on the cylinder studs as they all eventually began to pull themselves out of the cases and had to be repaired by installing case savers or timeserts) A lot of folks dont loctite all the nuts and bolts during reassembly either which will cause them to slowly losen off over time - The key is loctite and proper toque, and you shouldnt have any issues with leaks. We used a Gel based Anaerobic sealant which remains quite rubbery and adhers very well to the case flanges (again prepping/cleaning the flanges is also very important prior to re-assembly). Another important thing I find is during assembly.. o-rings.... always lube them slightly with an assembly lube which will cause them to slide into place easier and avoid binding or nicks in the rubber during assembly... All these things added together and you should be ok.
But in the end they will all leak at some point in time, all we can do is try to prolong the process :)
H
http://pcars.prophpbb.com/

I do remember much discussion about the bolts, now that you mention it, Heiko. I don't know why they weren't properly sealed, and yes, our environment is humid.

Well I got a few pics of the airbox going back on today but havent had much time to work on this car the last little while. Got the fuel hoses replaced, all new seals for the air intake and cleaned it up before it went back together :-)
Enjoy
Heiko

The whole airbox/intake assembly...
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359931213.jpg

The throttle body and linkage...
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359931231.jpg

The throttle body...
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359931271.jpg

Back side of the throttle body...
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359931284.jpg

Ignition coil and distributor side...
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359931300.jpg

Great stuff!!

And to think that putting one of those "christmas tree" air fresheners in my vehicle is a challenge for me.