1980 Porsche 911

• DESCRIPTIONBy: Bobby Likis... My Weissach Porsche is one of only 408 limited editions made. This edition was named after and specifically created to celebrate Porsche's proving grounds in Germany. Pronounced "V-Sock", its color is "schwarz (black) metallic"--a most beautiful dark charcoal over a base silver metallic. I bought this car in 1986 from my cousin who purchased it at 3K miles (never driven in the rain) from its original owner in Tallahassee, Florida. He drove it until Porsche reinstated their Turbo Version in 1986. My restoration started in 1995 with a planned full-blown paint job, but once we started the removal of glass, weather stripping, bumpers and all the exterior pieces necessary to do the job right, the project took on a whole new meaning. All in all, we spent 9 years to complete this labor of love, finishing in December 2004. I keep this car stored in my 15K sq ft service center (Car Clinic Service/Pre-Repair?), covered with a car cover custom-made from a Block-It ? fabric from Kimberly-Clark. I am torn between driving this car, selling it or sharing it in the new Porsche Museum. For now, I'm keeping it & sharing it right here on www.AutoTraderClassics.com. After 9 years restoration, the engine fired off without a hitch and idled perfectly... unbelievable. But every time I snapped the throttle, I heard a loud popping noise. I replaced the muffler to no avail; spent two weeks testing the exhaust manifold heater for internal leaks; and finally (looking from below and through the cylinder wrap covers) saw a loose bolt... I thought. Actually, it was one of seven engine studs that had separated upon firing the engine after 9 years. Ultimately, I replaced all studs with the latest version "all-thread" design... 24 studs altogether. What's unique about this is how we replaced all studs without removing a single piston or cylinder unit. I've raced and built Hemi engines before, but Porsche engines require a delicate touch and much forethought. I'll throw out a challenge: I'd be interested to hear who can tell me how we replaced these studs as described above. For the first member of the AutoTraderClassics.com Community that emails me the right answer to AskBobby@CarClinicNetwork.com, I'll send you a Car Clinic gift pack that I promise you'll love!