It’s Alive! ... First Build/Creation

[Sway Bar]

Decide to post since it’s not just a straight rebuild and it is my first ever attempt at any sort of engine build or the likes and I think I did alright?

Backstory:
I have a 73 T 2.4 MFI matching numbers original engine (no history to me). More than happy to have it and I cut my teeth exploring the motor by striping it down to the long block and replacing any seals and gaskets possible. I think it turned out rather well and it doesn’t drip any oil.



That being said last summer after joining a few drives I typically find that I am the oldest and slowest (graceful, yes) car out. This does not include Don’s (Haycait911) ‘67 Blua Tuefel with Afterburner…read, Nitrous. Soon to be a 3.4 Litre!!!
Anyway, Don is my local mentor, parts supplier, and chief instigator when it comes to pre 90’s 911’s. That being said it was his idea to build a slighter more torquey motor. So last summer I started collecting odds and ends came up with this:




Can you see the difference??? I know not much to go on…concept was for everything to look like my 2.4 MFI…In fact everything up top is from my 2.4 MFI but the bottom end is a 9.5:1 3.0L.

Thanks to this forum and its history, expertise, etc. I went down the route of what I have coined the “Jeff Higgins” motor… I only say this since most of everything is the same and it was the most posts I could find regarding building a non-typical MFI “affordable” motor…plus all his amazing posts on the MFI pump and so forth. I have never conversed with him but thanks for all the insight; and that goes to all the “Pro’s” that spend time as well posting because I try to soak up all I can.

The Build Specs
Nothing exotic since it is a 98.85% spirited road car and it what was readily available and affordable (all relative)
78 3.0L case, crank, rods, cylinders, etc.
JE 9.5:1 Pistons
3.0L Small Port Heads
Induction and MFI pump from existing 2.4
72 MFI E Cams
Stock MFI Heat Exchangers
M & K 2 in 1 out Exhaust

[Sway Bar]

For Fun some build pictures:





Gotta love the Jewelry that you never see:





Before and during head cleaning…I had 6 out of the 12 exhaust studs break…added a few hours for drilling.



New valves, guides, etc.

[Sway Bar]

con't...



Ready for install:





You can see what is left of my 2.4 in the back ground...time to mothball it.

And finally IGNITION!!!!

[Sway Bar]

Now comes the technical part of trying to tune the MFI pump for this creation. I’ll have bunch of questions to ask the pro’s but wanted to get this posted for now. Thanks to our host and again to all that post some great and technical information it made my first build fun.

Special shout out to Don who always told me to stop second guessing myself whenever I called him and answered all of my many, many questions, dumb or not.

Gratuitous pic of today’s first PCA meet and greet…I managed to drive there, so, so far so good???



First impressions....oh WOW I get it now. Not that the ole 2.4 was bad but I can finally say I have an old hotrod

[billybek]

Very nice!
It will be interesting to hear how the tuning goes.

[mattC2993]

Stock MFI pump? I thought it would have to be recalibrated for a 3.0. Any idea what the AFRs are?

[Sway Bar]

I have a LM-2 Data Logger connected and I'm playing with the main rack after short runs...so far cruising at 3500rpm-4500rpm I'm hanging around 10.9 to 11.2. Under wide open throttle (up to 5200pm or so) I'll peak at the high 13's so that has to be richened up a bit to my understanding.

I haven't played with the idle circuit as of yet since I believe one should take care of the main rack since it will influence what is adjusted at idle etc....so far it smells pretty rich at 9.9 to 10.1

Once I have some clean data I'll post to get some Pro's opinions to see what is close to acceptable. So far, I have almost not hesitation or kick under load as opposed to when I first started and it was hitting the 17.5.

[kenikh]

Heck, you're close enough to take a drive to Jeff's house and get some hands on assistance. �� nice work.

[burtm5]

I didn't think the old e cams would fit in an sc case. That's one reason I put my L/E cams in a 2.7 case. Looks like you've got the best of all worlds (maybe bigger heads?) best Henry

[kenikh]

The early cams won't, but the early cam towers bolt right up to SC heads.

[Dpmulvan]

Nice job

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Really love this. Great piston choice as well. I run JE!

-Luccia

[KTL]

Nice job for sure! How do the MFI manifold ports vs. intake ports of the later "small port" SC heads match up size-wise?

[kenikh]

34mm for both the small port SC and 32mm for the 911T means there should be a nice little 1mm reversion ledge.

[Sway Bar]

Part of the reason I used small port heads was the ease in matching throttle bodies and also to my understanding it would create a little more torque in the lower rpm range in addition to the E cams that I had within reach.

As for the reversion edge I think T bodies are only 29mm and require some enlargement and E spec are 32mm, however, currently I have the reversion edge the other way because (stupid side bar story) unbeknownst to me during the build the throttle bodies and stacks that are from my 2.4T are RS versions!!

Something I completely missed until the time came and I started to try and figure how I was going to bore out the bodies and stacks.

So far I'm about 400miles in and still playing with the tuning...fuel mileage (haven't really measured) is out the window when pushing the loud peddle but man is it ever fun. However, I now think it's unfair to compare to my 2.4T since with those large stacks and throttle bodies intake velocity must have been really poor until much higher RPM's therefore negating the drivable torque the T is known for??? I'm learning so correct me if I'm wrong.

Obviously still learning if I didn't realize I had RS stacks the whole time[img]

[Jonny042]

Bump for an update! And thanks for sharing this information.

Pretty neat to see that the "T" pump is so adaptable. Of course the 3.0 with "E" cams and small ports would be a torquey combination, I wonder if it would have a similarly shaped torque curve to a 2.4T motor.

How is the tuning going?