Engine Restorations

Service Auto Premium: Winter, the Season for Engine Restorations

As the first autumn colors appear, Service Auto Premium begins preparations for the major engine restoration projects scheduled for the cold season.

A Growing Demand

Each year, our specialized workshop handles an average of four major Porsche engine restoration projects. In recent years, the demand for original restorations, retrofits (engine conversion on an older model), and backdates (modifying a newer Porsche to resemble a 1970s model) has surged in Québec.

We have worked on numerous 911 air-cooled restorations, including pre-1998 models (901, 930, 964, 993, etc.). Over the last five years, demand has also increased significantly for all generations of Boxster.

Given the time required for each restoration, we typically complete four projects per winter, depending on the condition of the engines. Booking in advance is highly recommended.

A Sought-After Expertise

To keep up with demand, Service Auto Premium has made significant investments to bring all restoration stages in-house. Since 2020, new highly specialized equipment has been added to our workshop, allowing us to perform:

• Cylinder head reconditioning, including:
  ? Valve seats
  ? Valve replacement and guide machining
  ? Valve spring adjustments
• Crankshaft and camshaft polishing & measurement
• Bushing replacement for rods and rockers
• Rod ovality correction
• Complete engine and component cleaning
• Full gasket replacement
• Replacement of worn or damaged parts

Only a few steps still require external partners:
? Engine painting
? Nikasil cylinder replating (Nickel-Silicon composite)
? Line boring for block alignment

Decades of Porsche products Experience

But equipment alone isn’t enough—true expertise is essential for a high-quality restoration.

• Jean-Philippe, owner of Service Auto Premium, has over 15 years of experience working on Porsche models, from vintage to modern.
• Martin, our lead technician, has been perfecting his Porsche knowledge since before restorations were mainstream. Since the 1980s, he has been servicing and repairing 911s, the very models that are now sought after for original restorations and backdating.

A Clientele Beyond Québec

Located in Parc industriel François-Leclerc Sud in Saint-Augustin-de-Desmaures, near Québec City, our shop welcomes clients from across Québec and Canada. Some ship their vehicles from Toronto and even Vancouver.

While other shops in Canada offer Porsche restoration services, Service Auto Premium has built a strong reputation for high-quality craftsmanship.

A complete engine restoration, including aesthetic refinements, typically requires at least 80 hours of work, with budget and client preferences defining the final scope.