How many 911's drive around with pulled studs?
 

My car is a '74 2.7 that runs without problems, but when I recently removed the one cam housing to do a minor job, I noticed that the top two head studs on cylinder no. 4 were pulled. I believe that it must have happened long before I bought the car, since there was never any sign of blow-out (hot or cold), and the compression on all cylinders are good. It also never ran too hot during my ownership. When I noticed the pulled studs I didn't take off the heads, and decided to let sleeping dogs lie. It's a job that I will tackle in a few months' time.

After putting everything back together the car still runs like it should. It made me wonder how many 911 engines run with broken/pulled studs, (with or without the owners knowing it) and how long they potentially can still run. In other words, how devestating is one or two pulled studs when you can't notice the difference?

Pulled studs.....Broken studs.

Two studs of a *different* color.....er....cost.

It's an unwritten rule that if you do a top end on any 2.7, the studs will pull out completely within about 10,000 miles.

Be prepared to tear it apart again real soon - I don't recommend doing top-end work only on a 2.7...

-Wayne

I regretfully have to report that the 1971 911E sunroof coupe that is my daily driver underwent a major service last week and part of the service we do is valve adjustment, rocker shaft re-torque and head bolt re-torque. Mike Kuzella, one of the technicans that works here told me that two of the head studs would not take torque, the head studs were pulling out. I THOUGHT that a stock 2.2 ltr. would not need case savers, but I have found out otherwise. WE always case save all 2.7 ltr. motors, but now, there will never be an mag case that leaves this shop without casesavers. Mike Kuzella is crewing for Kevin Bucklers 2002 911 GT3RSR PORSCHE that is the FACTORY backed entry at the 24 hours of Daytona. Two of my former employees are working for Buckler full time, I miss them, but I will never keep anybody from trying to fulfill their dream. If things go right around here this year, we will be the factory team in 2003. PORSCHE A WAY OF LIFE. OTTO

Pretty sure mine's got at least one broken stud - been that way for 6 months, driven it daily. :) Seems like an inevitability.

-Boyo

Wayne,

I plan to install timeserts sometime in the near future, which I believe will remedy the problem. That is all I really need to do, right? I mean, I don't have to split the case or take any drastic measures just because of pulled studs?

Thanks
Martin