Ahsai

Sounds like a vacuum leak. You need to retrace all the steps and see where the intake/vacuum leak is.

Simonripley

Well, bad news. I retraced my steps and took even more care on the reinstall making sure all the hoses were placed correctly. The car still didn't feel right and even misfired a time or two or five. I immediately thought that's it, I'm screwed. Five months and 1,800 miles and the fun is over.

Out of ideas I went to my local Porsche shop. Turns out I somehow managed to pull out or tear out the knock sensor wiring located right around the starter. I didn't feel it happen but it easily could have happened when I pulled out the old starter or put in the new starter. The starter motor weighs about 15 lbs. and you have to reach in pretty far to mount it with very limited sight of the surrounding area. (still can't find a good picture of where the wiring is located in relation)

Live and learn, I suppose.

5CHN3LL

I duct taped my right sleeve to my arm because I was afraid of catching and unplugging (or breaking) a connector with my coveralls. The plastic clips get brittle after thousands of heat cycles, and I hate to dislodge anything that doesn't specifically need to be messed with. I would have skipped the coveralls entirely, but I didn't have time to wait for the engine to cool down...