I'm a stud, Repair guy, hopefully Options

[Porschef]

Well, it seems that the constant reoccurrence of an exhaust leak stemmed from a pulling exhaust stud. I'd tighten it, the noise would go away, come back, rinse, repeat.

A couple of weeks ago I took her out for a spin, heard that sound, and got under after cooling to see what the deal was.

A quarter turn later, the stud dropped right out.

So I'm gonna do an EZLOK insert, and pray.

Pics to follow, along with any tips, snags, or bonifide cuss sessions.

The fun never ends

Right Joe? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[stugray]

FWIW - in my business (aerospace) threads directly into Al, is absolutely Verboten!! Inserts ONLY (they can be replaced).

That said - when I got my first 914 (I was ~20yrs old), it was not assembled when I bought it, so I did not know what the exhaust SHOULD look like. I didnt know what the "funny shaped steel thingy" under the trunk carpet was for....

I drove the car for a year or two with no rear exhaust support for the exhaust and all the weight (and torque) was being applied directly to the exhaust studs.

No wonder that I had to replace exhaust studs every few months.

By the time I figured it out (and installed the exhaust support bracket) I had:
Drilled stripped stud, tapped, insert new step-stud
Drilled out stripped step stud and replaced with insert + stock stud
Drilled out stripped insert and replaced with New Insert + Step stud

Learned that exhaust is supposed to be supported from the back with bracket

Lesson learned is: Make sure the rear is suported.
The heads can be drilled & redrilled with the heads in the car and inserts installed more than once, but requires the skill of a Anal-retentive person that has drilled thousands of holes in Al.

I do NOT condone such stupidity that requires you to do this repeatedly ;-)

Stu