True Dat! I tracked the E36 M3 a few years before retiring her to road duty only. She was too portly. Ginger's lighter and faster, MUCH more reliable and durable as a track car. Enjoy your beast! Love the early 70s ducktails!

For the others who don't want to wade through the photos:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5298/...62194928_z.jpg
911S Snake afternoon Fahren 023 by Max_911_fahrer, on Flickr

Sweet. Yours IS a race car--no hiding that!

Back to the cylinder discusion, thanks Chris and Henry. I guess I'll have to keep thinking.

I'm in Australia and have been a mechanic for too many decades but a bit new to 911s. I have had lots to with early desmo Ducatis and these use a cylinder similar to Birals and like Porsche, Ducati also started using plated alloy bores in the 70s.

Despite the cost I do like the idea of all alloy cylinders and at least I now know there are other options apart from Nickies.

One well known engine builder I know of, who posts often here, has made some very successful 911 race motors by using interference fit iron liners in formerly aluminum barrels. As I recall, he says that the iron keeps its round shape much better under high temperatures than an all aluminum with wear coating (e.g., Nikasil) cylinder does.

Though I don't think he had data comparing this to Nickies.

I have a set of well used 88mm all iron barrels, with pistons to go with them. I think they were made by NPR for Empi. Motor, with 66mm crank and 40mm carb and S cams and rather odd Grady Clay heads (he built motor originally), ran great, but I needed the sandcast case for another motor. Some day I'll get around to trying to sell these Ps and Cs and heads, having sold off the other bits. But no heat issues there.