2.2 litre vs. 3.0 to rebuild
 

Hi Wayne and folks...
I'm new to the forum, and recently bought a 912 to rebuild and modify. It's not a matching numbers car and there were modifications done to it previously so there is no guilty feelings about doing this. It's also a project i've wanted to do for some time.
My question is this; i have the choice to rebuild a '71 2.2 litre engine in the car, or rebuild a '77 3.0. My question is simply, which is the better option?
I plan to take the car to the track (not to race necessarily) but to learn to drive it at speed, do some auto crosses etc. I want it to be a bit of an outlaw. As such, in either case I'd like to modify the engine and bump its power a bit. Which engine do you think is better suited for this? I've read/heard that the 3.0 engines were incredibly solid so i am leaning this way.

Hey Pender,

I have a 912.7 and it's a blast to drive. The 2.7 I have is a little much for AutoX but perfect for freeway entrances and canyon chasing. The SWB suffers a bit in AutoX and will take a little bit longer to figure out esp if you but a 3.0 in it

For the cost of things the 2.2 will cost more because you will need to get all the necessary upgrades to the Mag case; bypass, shuffle pinning, etc.

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I recently moved from a 2.4 in favor of a rebuilt 3.0
The 3.0 has a ton of power and was fairly easy to rebuild. Click on my name, go to statistics and see all posts started by me. Check out Rookie 3.0 rebuild.

a no-brainer, the 3 liter engine. Easier and cheaper to rebuild, on top of that more powerful. A 2.2 at s-spec is a fun engine, but you can make a 3.0 equally fun.
Never understood the concept of "to much power", that's not gonna happen this side 500 hp...
To be a little over motorized is what separate a good car from an awesome car. :-)

Agreed no such thing as too much power. As I used to say as a flight instructor, "the throttle works both ways." Just because the power is available doesn't mean you have to use all of it! But it's nice to have it there when you do want/need it.

If the engine you have is a 77, 3.0 that means you have a 3.0 Carrera engine.
That is vastly different than the 78-83 3.0 SC engine. The main difference is the case.
The case was manufactured to hold a 6 bolt crank instead of a 9 bolt crank. This is important because it allows you to put a 66mm stroke crank in the engine to build a short stroke 2.8. This unique little engine can be great fun in that you match the reliability of the 3.0 engine with the engine characteristics of the 2.2 "S".

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-engine-rebuilding-forum/593530-best-engine-porsche-never-built.html

http://www.excellence-mag.com/issues/177/articles/short-stroke-shootout#.VYlUykYYGf4

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1435063164.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1435063275.jpg

What Henry said. A 77 3.0 core is a special starting place, even if you don't destroke it.

I think I should clarify. The power is only good enough if you can put it to the ground. I think the widest tire that I can put on my car is a P185/65r15, and maybe I could get away with a p205/65r15. Just food for thought.

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Guys...sorry for the late reply. Thanks VERY much for your replies. That really helps me. I had two more questions...i forgot to mention that I have a 901 transmission. If I go the 3.0 route, can i use that 901 transmission (without any major modification)? i've read that it could handle the extra horsepower, but it seems the prevailing wisdom is to go with a 915 just to be safe. Keeping in mind, that for me, going to the 3.0 means not having to do major modifications to the engine (ie. it has a lot of built-in natural power).

Secondly, on that note of not "over-doing", i also have a set of weber carbs that i was simply going to rebuild and re-use. Again, my thought being that I wanted to use the power that's naturally there, not modify things to the point where the engine/transmission is finicky or unreliable, but be able to drive it on the street, and to the track/auto cross the odd time. (i don't pretend to be a race driver, just interested in getting better at driving at speed)

Lastly (yes, that's three questions, sorry): knowing what i'm after in a set-up, i'm open and appreciative of any suggestions you may have as to what you think i can do to achieve this, as in engine/tranny updates, upgrades, etc...even as it relates to handling etc (i was thinking i'd go to updated, adjustable torsion bars and sway bars...as opposed to coil overs, for instance).
thanks again.
ps, Henry, the engine is actually a '79. not a '77. i was mistaken. apologies.
P.