What should I ask the shop to do to my engine

[bigfishassasin]

Today they dropped my 3.0 engine and tranny off in Huntington Station. Tomorrow I'm going there to discuss the services he offers.

My questions to the forum are

What services should I have him do?

Can I produce more horsepower? And if so where should we start.

and last but not least

What should I expect to pay based on your past experiences.

Thanks for all the reply's on my first post. You guys really helped me make up my mind and stick to the 3.0.

Thanks Again
Rob

[faverymi]

I'm rebuilding my engine.

I went back and forth should I go stock, should I modify. I'm improving the stock engine. Got to tell you it is a snow ball. Once you do one thing you have to get other 3 ready.

Assuming you did your math and you are comfortable with the builder... The list of options are endless. I think you have to decide what you want out of your engine and determine if your needs can be fulfill with your budget (don't tell your wife)

After this step you have to talk to your builder and listen to their options. See if they match your needs for that engine. Maybe you can afford the whole nine yards right away. Maybe you want a plan. Have a nice bullet proof stock motor and modify in the future.

I just wanted to share my experience. I'm a newbie. Didn't want to be too technical since there is a countless number of threads about 3.0 motors

Come back to the forum and keep asking. Everybody has been immensely kind to me.

Hope it helps.

[snbush67]

Rob,

The first thing that has to be done is to establish a starting point.

a. How much will your wife let you spend?

b. What is the current status of the engine and its parts, mileage etc. (what can be used vs. what must be replaced or reconditioned)?

For example, if you need to replace the pistons and cylinders you might as well increase displacement, If the camshafts are worn badly you can upgrade to a better grind.

You can get quite a bit of horsepower just from adding Carburators, SSI's and a 964 cam.

How fast do you want to go = How much can you spend.

Shane

[bigfishassasin]

The shop called a few hours after the engine arrived and started to go over what upgrades the engine has had. He said I need a complete exhaust and that the engine is filthy. He wants to send parts out for power coating and replating nuts and bolts???

Told him we power coat in our shop so that saves me some money. Still need to meet with him in the am to go over the engine in detail and tell him what i'm expecting.

[Flat6pac]

Is he a mechanic of just a painter?
Bruce

[faverymi]

Just a thought.

You are going for a rebuild and the first thing offered is a powder coating job and replating?

As I said just a thought....

[brads911sc]

Sounds like you need a new mechanic if his feedback is that "it is filthy..."

This is a job that requires patience, a few tools, and time. If you have those you can do it yourself. A top end can be had from 3k+ and a total rebuild (if done right) will be 8k+... depending on many factors. Start changing head studs, P&C's, cams, and you will quickly pass 10k. Of course those prices are if you do it yourself. If you add labor then it will be much higher...

Where are you located?

[bigfishassasin]

yes , i thought that was a little crazy... i'm leaving within the hour to go and meet with him. Don't see the advantage of spending 9,000 dollars when we have a eddie bello built turbo engine in the shop that can be had for 12,000.

Our back to my orginal idea of a 3.6.

Would like to add 100 horses to the 3.0 and still be weekend driver we shall see what his game plan is.

[brads911sc]

Adding 100 HP is a 50% increase.

Need to consider Brakes with a 50% increase in HP. Should upgrade brakes first IMO.

Plan on spending at least 12k on getting 100 HP out of your 3.0.

[OldTee]

There are too many options for this forum to decide for you and as somebody said what is the present condition of the engine?

I have rebuilt two Porsche engines and several aircraft engines which makes anything I would offer subject to a lot of debate. Still here it goes.

For a 3.0.
100k miles. Top
150K miles. Top and bottom.

Questions for you are: How long do you really expect to keep the car? If you plan to be buried in it, keep it stock and enjoy the hell out of a well designed, reliable machine.

If you plan to race or DE the car, swap out the 3.0 for a 3.2 and go run with your buddies.

If you hate being passed head for the stealership and order a GT?

A couple of upgrades you should do are:
SSI's or cat by-pass.

Maybe advanced grind on the cam. Don't be too aggressive (see above).

Have at it guys and girls.

[brads911sc]

If you want it to feel like a new car for minimal dollars... Recurve the Dizzy... Barry Hershon can recurve and rebuild it for you... Add SSI's, Sport exhaust... raw HP numbers gain will be small... But it will really wake up the car. You will think you suddenly put carbs on the car... The Dizzy recurve is the Best $550 you can spend on a stock SC...

[bigfishassasin]

Thanks again for all the advice.

We are gonna do a top rebuild and change the exhaust and clutch for now. The engine has 102,000 and is a 1978 3.0. I drove the car from buffalo to new york city and pulled the engine for a ground up restoration the day after i bought it. I manage a large towing company in New York City and we are owned by a bodyshop in queens. So the 15,000 paint job was a gift from my boss.

He has 4 super fast pcars so the horsepower confusion was from my talks with him during the week. I wanted a beautiful running reliable engine that has a great sports car tone from the exhaust.

Now Fabspeed or SSI's?

[snbush67]

SSI's and M&K. You will have to backdate the oil lines, I recommend that you backdate heat while your at it.

[James Brown]

I followed Brads advice on my 3.0 (most of it) did a carb conversion, ssi's, m&k, msd, Barry dissy recurve, backdate heat. All the rest is stock. Along with lighting the car, this SC JUMPS right up to red line!!! It will tide me over for a few years till i get that 3.6 or a Cayman!
Stock engine, small mods (intake, exhaust, ignition) play with it, save your beans for a bigger engine.