QuestionI have a 78' 911 SC. I need to replace the delivery & return fuel lines that go through the tunnel frt to back (leaks). I have the hoses required. What is the best way to go about this, drop the engine & trans and the rack & pinion to get to these? I have done all of the repairs myself, like putting in a new clutch, etc. Don't want to pull the engine but can if needed.
thanks
Answer*****************************Followup****************************************Hi Barry, thanks for the feedback. Every once in awhile I receive feedback like yours, where the "Knowledge" rating scores lower than the others. All the other ratings are consistently higher, which indicates the overall reaction to my response was positive.
When I get questions like yours, which aren't 356 specific, I always wonder if its better to give whatever information I think would be helpful or to respond with the canned answer " I'm sorry, that's not my area of expertise." With the canned answer, the questioner doesn't get any help at all... but I avoid the chance of a bad rating. OK...so 7 is not bad, but I'm proud of the ratings I've built up over the years and when I see a 7 it bothers me a bit. Especially when the question isn't that far afield...and I can't imagine what "knowledge" I would have passed on that would have scored higher. It's a strange system because it's actually easier for me to hit the "I'm sorry" button than to try to point someone in a direction I think is helpful.
I've never asked for this kind of feedback...and I promise to leave you alone after this, but what factors did you consider when you chose the 7? I hope it wasn't that I referred to the hard lines as steel and they're actually plastic. But I'm sure curious.
Thanks and have fun with those snakey lines!
Dave
Barry, what the heck started you thinking about dropping the engine and the rack and pinion??????? OK, so I've never been under a 911SC, but I've been under a 356 and a 914 and I've replaced the fuel lines in both cars without going to these extremes.
Once you've stood on your head trying to see what's in the "tunnel" you'll wish taking the engine out was all that was required. The tunnel runs under the gearshift lever and from the front fuel tank bulkhead to the transmission bulkhead. It's got the fuel line, the clutch cable, the brake lines and other snakey pieces running through it. Usually these cables and tubing wind around each other like a bunch of anaconda snakes. Pulling anything old out is just as challenging as pushing a new line through. It's possible, but patience is the key.
Gather every flashlight and trouble light you own and get three or four tiny little inspection mirrors and learn how to work in small spaces on your head looking through mirrors.
Now...the most important question of all...is it the rubber/flexible lines that are leaking? Or is it the hard steel lines. Generally speaking, the hard steel lines, which should last forever, are installed so that their end points are just barely accessible at the bulkhead walls. Your best case scenario is to locate these hard lines going into the tunnel and exiting the tunnel and replace the flexible pieces clamped onto those barely visible hard line ends.
Get yourself under the car with a huge light and you'll locate these lines. Do not drop the rack or the engine unless your plan is to restore the car completely at this time.
Write back to me if you find anything contrary to my descriptions. I'd be curious if the 911's are all that different from their predecessors.
Dave
