Many of us have seen all different screwups caused by prior owners and some of them by ourselves. Just thinking, should we have a thread just for this?

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I don't use head gaskets

An eye opener for me was rebuilding an early 964 engine. No head gaskets!

PO - lost screw

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ME - lost valve

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there is one already LINK

I just missed something like this. Taking apart my 2L heads, gave he valves a quick rap with a mallet just to make sure they were not frozen before compressing valve springs.
One exhaust valve stem popped right out as the head had fallen off.
never re-use 50 yr old sodium filled exhaust valves.

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Oh my word, did it take out the top of the piston sending a big piece into the crankshaft, after the impact the piece exiting the case by creating a new viewing portal. It can you know.

I'm mid GT-ish conversion and stripped my entire car to see what was going on under the paint. It turned out bondo was going on under the paint... a metric sh*t ton of bondo to be precise.

The driver's door was the highlight. They drilled holes to pull the damage, and then just bondo'd straight over the holes. The fact it lasted for 30 years without the slightest crack is, I guess, testament to their repair skills...




That's my pinky for scale.


The aftermath, covered in fresh epoxy until I have time to fit the new fiberglass skins.

Wish I had taken pictures back in 1985... a late '66 911, broke an exhaust valve and holed the piston going over Delaware Mem Bridge. Turned around and drove the car all the way back near Springfield, MA. The oil filter did its job, no damage to anything else after taking it apart later.
Also, I probably have pictures of my 964 that caught fire and almost took my house with it. Or the 912 that had a carb fire, or the 914 that caught fire at those lovely plastic fuel lines.

And you live to tell about it!!

Ohhh yeah, that’s why it’s apart!

What's up with the spark plugs?

My 356 was like that, they gas welded it, warped every panel, pounded it with hammers, and mudded it up.
Thousands of dollars later, it now has very little filler.

Must have been running beautifully before the teardown.....please notice the other
combustion chamber.......and the abundance of leakage

Well, wish I could blame this on the previous owner but thats me (40 years with this car). After five years of restoration, body, suspension, engine and interior and just started the shake-down with a slow drive....forgot to put the hood pins in! Back to the body shop. Now done and ready to come home. Best, MarkClick to view attachment Click to view attachment

Most of us are still mere mortals, some more than others

Ouch.....