DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

Contemplating the drive to Classics at the Castle. My usual route is via M40 and M25. Decided to plot a different route heading towards Milton Keynes then Cambridge direction then south-ish. Still a lot of busy main roads but not motorways. Decided to get fuel in the ST already in order to make a quick getaway. Second attempt at starting engine gets going then pop, bang and F all thereafter. Just refuses to even fire. Stare under the engine lid. Can't see anything obvious. Push the car out of the tandem garage to get the 1970S out which fires first time of asking. Push the ST back into the garage and engaged swearing mode. Resisted kicking the thing. So CATC will be visited in the S.

Went to the last event at Shelsley Walsh today in the 911, car running well and the meeting too, lots of Porsche's competing.

Pic of the car by fellow hillclimber, Simon in the car park.

Hoping to use the car more over the next month before it goes away.

Despite the car going well, the gear change from 1 to 2 to 3rd and back etc was stiff, a high friction feel.
Decided today to see if i could re-set the lever position a touch to give more space for 1 to 2nd against the left side of the snifter tower.
I had set the lever to gearbox as per the manual, but thought i would add a lager gap of the lever shaft to the plastic gate by about 2mm.

So armed with a wood lolly pop stick (!) shim i set the lever vertical and the shim in light tension and then slacken the coupling clamp ring and twist the box input shaft the 2 or 3 degrees to take the right position, so 'As per manual but with a 2mm gap between the shaft and the gate'

Took the passenger seat out for comfort and access:





Took the car for a run around the estate, so lots of gear changes and all good and far less 'friction' in the selection action.

Noticed that reverse was now a problem!

Easy, the lever had moved 3mm aft when resetting the gap, so a quick ease forward and re-tighten the clamp and all is good.

Well worth the 45 mins.
I have the advantage here that the box had a mega Mike Bainbridge rebuild some years ago, now 15K miles in so he box is good.

The cupling at the box input had graphite plastic non slotted bushes decades ago, so a few drops of oil to help things along!

911hillclimber wrote:Are they bolted down Gary?

Yes, massive M16 expanding bolts into the concrete. Some idiot (!) put porcelain tiles down which are impossible to drill through so that was fun
Most of the hose covers are stuck down with 3M tape rather than screws because of that!

Thanks.
I like the idea of working on a car not on my back at my age. OK for you Young Guns.

I can imagine taking a 911 drive train out with this ramp system would be a snip compared to the 'drive-way' method us DIY owners endure.

911hillclimber wrote:Thanks.
I like the idea of working on a car not on my back at my age. OK for you Young Guns.

I can imagine taking a 911 drive train out with this ramp system would be a snip compared to the 'drive-way' method us DIY owners endure.

Ideally with one of those hydraulic trolley things… but I’ve nowhere to keep that so will still be partially old school, but SO much easier!

Just be cautious when lifting the car off the engine - it’s too easy to go quickly and suspend the engine by the wiring loom , or whatever you’ve forgotten to disconnect

I always find getting the shifter input shaft of the box out of the trans tunnel the tricky bit, but a trolley on wheels will work.
Storing these devices are always an issue in a normal garage. I would have no room for such a trolley.

I'm finding now in the last few months working on a car on stands on my back is getting difficult, actually makes me feel like throwing up.

sladey wrote:Just be cautious when lifting the car off the engine - it’s too easy to go quickly and suspend the engine by the wiring loom , or whatever you’ve forgotten to disconnect

All spoken from experience

My speedo cable did a fab job once as an engine crane, didn’t work so well as a speedo cable afterwards

Absolutely - to be honest just an extra pair of eyes would have been fine