3.2 engine build
 

I have a Euro 3.2 with the 10.3 CR pistons. I would like to get as much cost effective HP as possible on the rebuild. I am thinking a Steve Wong chip and SSI's. Does putting in 964 cams help the cause or is it not very cost effective ie. $$ per HP. What are the benefits and drawbacks of installing 964 cams in a 3.2?What else can be done to improve performance with out breaking the pocket book.

The SSIs are too restrictive for the 3.2.
Bruce

The key to the chip is having it mapped properly to the engine's needs & based on what you want. Mapping the ignition and fuel trim to get the desired air fuel ratio for power production (at the expense of fuel economy) is where the power comes from.

The 964 cam profile (you can have your stock cams reground to this profile) is said to be a noticeable improvement. Ive seen a few of these done on our local cars and nobody shouted atop a mountain how great it was. I took it a step further and went one profile beyond the 964 for my stock engine. No great result came of it. However since the cams needed some regrinding anyway, seemed like a reasonable thing to do while building the top end. The benefits are not massive and the drawbacks are nil, so it's not a risky choice by any means. Basically shifts the power curve a bit.

More power is rarely a reasonable cost on these engines. Chip & exhaust are your best bang for your buck and the ECU must be tuned to account for the improved exhaust to see any significant gains. Cams notsomuch on the 3.2 since the intake system (one common throttle body and airflow meter) and pistons are your limiting factor. The stock pistons do not allow for aggressive cams due to their dome shape- not enough piston to valve clearance.


Throw some lighter domed pistons in there with lighter rods (and stronger rod bolts) and you can extract some more power simply by reducing inertia. Not cheap by any means though.....

One approach that often takes a back seat to engine work is transmission gearing. The transmission is key in that it performs the torque multiplication via the gear ratios. Point being is you can change the ring & pinion ratio or select closer ratios for your gearbox and it's like adding 50 hp without touching the engine. Not cheap either though, unless you can find good used gears and do the labor yourself.

I recently performed a top-end overhaul on my US - version 1988 Carrera and installed a set of 964 camshafts. My engine is also equipped with a Steve Wong chip, Dansk "sport" muffler and K&N air filter. The performance increase with the 964 cams is quite noticeable. Low-end performance seems unchanged, while top end is where the benefits are noticed. The engine really "wakes up" over 3500 rpm. Idle has a slight "lope" which, to me, is very pleasing.

I highly recommend these cams for a street engine.

Will 964 cams work with the stock MOTRONIC? What is the downside?

Is this a common mod? I had not read much about this with 3.2s.

Curious minds want to know.