Mikes 3.5

[Henry Schmidt]

How I spent my thursday morning.
Supertec built this 3.5 Motronic engine for Mike G last thursday while Mike watched and took these pictures.
The car is an 88 3.2 Cabriolet.
The engine has LN Nickies 100mm, JE piston 9.8:1 and DC Super Cup cams.

[Henry Schmidt]

[Henry Schmidt]

[Henry Schmidt]

3:30 and Mike's off to catch his flight home.

[mnmasotto]

Is that a single plug setup? The heads appear to have one spark plug.

[0396]

Thanks for sharing.. cool looking!

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by mnmasotto

is that a single plug setup? The heads appear to have one spark plug.

yes

[mnmasotto]

May I ask why you chose to go with a single plug setup in a 3.5L motor?
Thanks Mark

[mnmasotto]

May I ask why you chose to go with a single plug setup in a 3.5L motor?
Thanks Mark

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by mnmasotto

May I ask why you chose to go with a single plug setup in a 3.5L motor?
Thanks Mark

Twin plugging is a luxury that should be considered way down the list as far as performance options are concerned.
Bang for the buck is almost silly. This a street cabriolet for heaven sake.

[Henry Schmidt]

Todays progress:

[dshepp806]

Very clean....nice work.....

Doyle

[DYB]

going 3.5, was there any concerns around using the SSI's as distinct from a larger exhaust choice? I thought the SSI's were considered as a little to restrictive for a motor that size ?

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by DYB

going 3.5, was there any concerns around using the SSI's as distinct from a larger exhaust choice? I thought the SSI's were considered as a little to restrictive for a motor that size ?

The choice of exhaust was more about availability of quality heater boxes and economics than choosing the optimum exhaust tubing size.
In a perfect world a slightly larger primary might be desirable for higher end operation but for the purpose of this exercise, the SSI seems like the best compromise.

[jimbauman]

Nice! All that gold plating makes it look like P-Diddy's engine!

JB

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by jimbauman

Nice! All that gold plating makes it look like P-Diddy's engine!

JB

Yo Jimbo, You aint getten up in my grill and dissin my bling, is ya?

[DYB]

very nice. Any HP and torque estimates ?

[Henry Schmidt]

Originally Posted by DYB

very nice. Any HP and torque estimates ?

I try not to play the horse power prediction game but I would guess 265/300.
But the truth is, unless you're willing to change parts "you get what you've got".

[DYB]

265- 300 Wow !. Regardless of what the final number is it will be strong motor and a great ride.

I have to admit though that I get confused with how successful these 3.4 and 3.5 upgrades are in increasing power from a 3.2. If a 3.6 with higher compression puts out 250 HP, i am always baffled that a base 3.2 upgraded to a 3.4 or 3.5 can exceed what a 3.6 puts out so easily?

[Henry Schmidt]

Better exhaust and better cams are the key as well as the higher RPMs achieved by these smaller engines.
BTW: that's 265 hp 300 ft/lb of torque