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Posted by: Chuck Mar 10 2008, 11:00 PM

I've seen a number of you 6 guys cut a hole in the rear firewall for reaching the engine for timing. Is this necessary? not necessary but nice? not needed? Doing the rustoration on my teener right now and the 6 is forthcoming. Now would be the time to do it.

Posted by: John Mar 10 2008, 11:05 PM

Is your 3.2 Motronic? If so, there is no adjustable timing.

However, an access panel in the firewall would be a good thing if your belt were to ever break.

Replacement of the belt in the car would be a nightmare. I would probably drop my engine to do it. I never have cut a hole for the access plate. I change the belt every time I have the engine out regardless of condition.

just my humble opinions.

Posted by: Phoenix 914-6GT Mar 10 2008, 11:21 PM

I would just drop the engine, but then again, I don't race wheel to wheel, and if you have a race day and you're out there and your belt breaks you may need that access panel.

Posted by: pete-stevers Mar 10 2008, 11:28 PM

just a good idea......
i cut one this year
after trying to tighten a belt with the engine in.....unsucessfully
twice
and wrecking the pulley from undertightening
there may be a couple of guys who will say not to....
but trust me it is just
a good idea.....

Posted by: Brando Mar 11 2008, 01:31 AM

Boxsters have one... why not?

Posted by: RON S. Mar 11 2008, 07:12 AM

I put one in my teener for access to remove my belt.

I also had to modify my mount so the belt would easily slip on and off.
It is now relatively painless to carry a spare belt and to change it out.

Ron

Posted by: Root_Werks Mar 11 2008, 07:27 AM

You're all wierd. 18 years I have owned like 7-9 converted sixes and never had to cut holes anywhere to change a belt. I agree not the easiest thing in the world to do, but go spend $25 on a couple of hand tools that work and fit in the space provided. I have had to change my fair share of belts too.

Posted by: ClayPerrine Mar 11 2008, 07:40 AM

I have only one comment on this thread....

IT IS CALLED A FIREWALL FOR A REASON! IF YOU HAVE AN ENGINE FIRE, YOU WILL NOT WANT A HOLE IN THAT PANEL!!!!!

Posted by: brant Mar 11 2008, 07:40 AM

I really think its only needed on race cars
I have had my panel off multiple times at the track
of course I've also had my tranny out and my motor dropped multiple times at the track... (Once I dropped the motor 3 times at the track and still finished the day)





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Posted by: brant Mar 11 2008, 07:41 AM

but seriously its a race thing...
If I had an original -6 I wouldn't cut it


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Posted by: thesey914 Mar 11 2008, 10:04 AM

Crumbs -how often do belts break?

Posted by: Cap'n Krusty Mar 11 2008, 10:08 AM

On this subject, Clay and I agree 100%. Besides, I remember seeing only ONE broken 911 fan belt in all the years I've been servicing them.

Posted by: Brando Mar 11 2008, 02:44 PM

I repeat...
BOXSTERS HAVE ONE, WHY NOT?

Posted by: crash914 Mar 11 2008, 02:54 PM

Here is another view of an access window...

Posted by: Rand Mar 11 2008, 03:37 PM

Just because it has an access hole does mean it cannot still be a firewall. Look at Brant's for example. Fire isn't going to shoot through there just because a cover is screwed on vs. an uncut wall. Leaving the hole open might be silly, but an appropriate cover isn't dangerous.

Posted by: rfuerst911sc Mar 11 2008, 03:49 PM

It's not just when a belt breaks.....................what about preventative maintenance? If you want to chasnge your belts once a year you can either drop the engine,struggle with limited access or cut the access panel. I know which one I'm going to do.........................

Posted by: thesey914 Mar 11 2008, 05:02 PM

I'll drop the engine + do the valves at the same time. clean behind the tank etc

Posted by: Twise Mar 11 2008, 06:30 PM

I cut the hole and made a stainless cover for it. Belts break man. It would be very foolish to leave it open.

I got tons of tools - a shop full of them. Please point me to the $25.00 tool that will allow me access to the belt without dropping the motor.

I just figured - damn, why not. It's better safe than sorry. I may never pull that cover off, but if I need to, I will be glad its there...

Posted by: pete-stevers Mar 11 2008, 07:09 PM

Posted by: pete-stevers Mar 11 2008, 07:45 PM

oh yes one more........

Posted by: SLITS Mar 11 2008, 09:01 PM

I cut one .... guess I'm not a professional Porsche mechanic ....

By the time the fire burns through the plate, backpad and reaches the location of my body, I will have been out of the car for a LONG period of time with a fire extinguisher in my hands.

Oh, and long before it burns through the plate the back window is gonna shatter and flames leap in the cabin.

Posted by: Root_Werks Mar 12 2008, 07:06 AM

Not that it's all that hard, but some of you are saying you would pull out both seats, a backpad and a cover to change out a belt? If a belt got hosed up on the road, please no offense intended, I wouldn't want 2/3rds of my interior laying around for others to see. Emabarassing enough to be working on a car broken down with on-lookers (Traffic), worse to have it look completely torn appart.

Track car folks, sure go ahead. Street car dudes, again, you're wierd.

If you actually have the correct pulleys (Like NOT ones for AC or Air pumps with dual channels), the Porsche tool kit comes with what you need to change it out.

Posted by: Richard Casto Mar 12 2008, 09:18 AM

Ok I am considering doing this as well. It will be a dual purpose track/street car, but most likely without having the back pad installed.

So this gives you...

* Easier to change belt
* Easier to set timing on non-motronic engines.

Anything else?

Posted by: Justin Fischer Mar 12 2008, 10:57 AM

On non-motronic engines you mark your flywheel and use that for timing. There is a notch in the top of the 901 for viewing the timing marks.

I'm not sure the access panel makes setting the timing easier, you can't reach the distributor from inside, and I'm not sure I would want to rev the engine to 6000+ with my legs near the shifter while facing backwards.

When I set my timing, I can reach the distirbutor (carefully), I can see my timing marks on the flywheel, and I have access to the throttle linkage to rev the engine all from within the engine bay. With the access panel, I would think it would require two people, or a lot of back and forth.

-Justin

Posted by: rick 918-S Mar 13 2008, 04:55 AM

I'm weird.


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Posted by: Root_Werks Mar 13 2008, 10:24 AM

Umm, yeah! Too funny, I was waiting for you to post something like that.

Posted by: LvSteveH Mar 13 2008, 10:38 AM

Of course there's not a six behind there

1/8" aluminum is quite a bit stronger than the stock firewall, so no worries


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