928fan4life

I know ours is one of the more complex porsches to work on but what do you think is the easiest porsche to work on?

Cameron

The original VW Beetle. I could drop the engine on one of those puppies in about 35 minutes.

What part of Winterpeg are you in?

jserio

The easiest Porsche to work on is a non Porsche.

blau928

Easiest is one that is in perfect running condition.... That way, you can just drive it, and this will be considerd the "work', not wrenching on it....!

928fan4life

Cameron- I am just north of winnipeg, by birds hill park.

Joe - You would be right about that

Abby Normal

This one.

epbrown01

I'd have to go with the 356, which is Bettle-like in it's simplicity. Next would likely be the 912, and then the 914.

Emanuel

goodspeed928

A new one!
You souldn't have to work on one of those for a some years.

Fogey1

I think the 912 takes the honors from the 356. Very basic chassis and electrical systems, the engine is a basically a Super 90 356 and the engine compartment has enough room to work in.

heinrich

944. No sweat. Early 928. Even easier. My little sister could pull the engine and rebuild it. And replace clutch and such.

Early 928 for sure.

karl ruiter

Early 928 for sure. 356: just try to get a set of heads...and you will need to do the motor every 50k miles or so. Same for the 912. 911: early cars are pretty easy but it seems like there is always something going wrong, later cars: a piston/cylinder set costs WHAT??!!! 930: be sure you won't mind pulling the motor to change the plugs (early cars, at least). 944: things are TIGHT in the engine compartment, just try replacing the throttle switch or hunting down an airleak. A clutch job takes something like 25 hours. 914: pain in the butt to get the engine/ motor assembly in and out and they just did not have fuel injection systems well worked out so you will struggle with that. And they tend to drop valve seats as they age. Late 928: stay awake at night in fear of the TBF twins. Early 928: I prefer my '82 to my '79 The '82 (80-84?) era cars have manual trannies that hold up much better, better brakes, better clutches, and I find L jet easier to work on than CIS. The only really PITA is the clutch hydralics.

Ron_H

I guess I'm a masochist, but I have to say my 914/6. It is so simple. The only PITA is valve adjustments, which only one man has ever been able to convince me could be done with the engine in the car. No way for me; I took it and the transmission as a unit out to adjust the valves. Got so good at it I could do it in 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Just watch out that the assembly doesn't fall off of the jack on the floor or your head. Lots of VW Rabbit parts on the 914. Simple parts that work. AC is there: just open a window or take off the top. Dash re-upholster? Simple. Take it out and put it back in again. Power nothing in that car, so no problems. Just rapid transit. Of course it leaks in the rain right on your shoulder. Hey I have even slept in my six once in a pinch....and a pinch was what I got trying to figure out how to manuver my body around the stick, while the rain dripped in on my head. Sheesh!! Decided to get more money.

I always had trouble with 356 engines not aligning with the transaxle and would push and shove to no avail all night, only to go out again in the morning and nudge the engine and clunk...in it would go. I know about the tool, but it didn't always work for me.

My 911s gave me little trouble after some warranty work was done. I didn't have occasion to do anything to them but valves and polishing them too much.

I haven't done extensive work on the 928 ....yet. I live close to Devek and hope people just keep needing houses. But I can't justify this extravagance much longer. I like the "comfort" but long for the simplicity of my six sometimes. Rip into it and out in a flash and back on the road again. Only problem is the dental work which shakes loose all the time from the 200 # springs in the rear.

Simon Jester

I gotta weigh in.

The 914 has gotta be second easiest after the 912.

I don't know why folks say the engine is hard to get in and out. Mine is four bolts, two axle shafts (12 bolts), two cables, two connectors and two hoses and out. In 40 minutes from shutting it off to having the entire drivetrain out from under the car. That part is easier than the 912 because you don't have to wrestle with mating/demating the transmission under the car. Hell, I'd rather take the engine out of the 914 than clean Celebration's sheath.

I put stellite valve seats in and went back to the original sodium cooled exhaust valves and now have over 100K on the 2.2 Litre engine. Lotsa power and no failures.

BTW, Ron-H, try using a transmission jack to remove the engine, it's LOTS more stable than the floor jack alone.

cambria

For me, it was the 356. Simple engine and the only problem with the electrics and it was the grounding. I just realized that the grounding system has always been a problem with Porsche's at least thru 1987.

karl ruiter

Hey Simon.
I actually have a dolly system that makes 914 motor/tranny assmebly super easy to pull. Once I was super busy at work and my girlfriend (now wife) asked if there was anything she could do to help. I said "sure, pull the motor on the green car ('70 914)". An hour later she came back and said "o.k., what next". But for those that do not have this it is difficult and a little dangerious the balance the assembly on the jack while you lower it. Other issues: leaky rear calipers, clunky smog system, difficult to replace alternator, breaking door handles, crappy shift linkage, failing clutch cable system, etc. Mind you I loved all 8 914s I have owned, but somehow I think I may be finally over it enough to actually get rid of all my cool 914 parts.