Harry Pellow "Maestro" motor question

[kpick]

Hello my 356 brethren...

I'm a 911 and 912 guy. I just came across a 68 912 for sale I'm going to pick up tomorrow.

I'm told it has a brand new (15 miles) 356 motor that was build by Harry Pellow "The Maestro".

I will admit, I had to Google Harry Pellow.

They tell me they have all the paperwork for the engine to verify the purchase.

My question is:
Is this something special and if so how special? Any ideas on the value? Since it's not the original motor to the car I had planed on swapping it out for a 911 motor.

Can you educated a non 356 fellow?

Thanks in advance,
K.

[id10t]

Harry was probably one of the best 356/912 mechanics around.

When he died unexpectedly about 12 years ago, the common thought was that God and Ferry Porsche were having a disagreement about engines and the design, and Harry was called to moderate and tell it how it really was.


My only concern would be that the engine has been sitting and not running for more than a decade... aside from the not-running issues (gunked carbs, etc) you can be pretty sure it is/was a good strong motor with the ability to run for another 100k miles.

[Rusty 356]

Harry kept records of all the engines he encountered and wrote a couple of books for the brethern. A nice data base. If you have the engine number may be able to provide a little info.

[callard]

If the engine is in the 912 chassis, check the third piece. The 356 and 912 third pieces are different since the 912 uses a rear engine mount while the 356 does not. Look at the case numbers (616/??) and that will tell you what the engine is. Harry may have built a killer 356 (S-90, C, SC or industrial) engine and swapped the third piece for installation in the 900 chassis.

[kpick]

Thanks for the information. Can anyone take a guess as to the value of the motor?

Thanks again,
K

[id10t]

Originally Posted by kpick

Thanks for the information. Can anyone take a guess as to the value of the motor?

Thanks again,
K

IIRC when he died a full rebuild on your suitable core cost $5-7k, depending on what parts needed help and exactly what core you had to start with.

If you want to sell, I'd join hte 356 Registry and post it for-sale there

[Daves911L]

Pellow was a character, an engineer, and had some writing skill. He came along at a time when 356/912 motors were forgotten stepchildren, and he actually bothered to study and document. He made a career offering moderately priced, decent quaility rebuilds in an era when everybody went to shade tree guys and veedub shops. No doubt he knew a great deal about 356/912 motors. But not all approved of his methods. If a Pellow job, your motor likely has NPR P/C's, weber carbs, and an 050 distributor. You probably have a good, solid, serviceable motor, bit in my opinion nothing to get too excited about.

[Les Paul]

I've had a Maestro massaged motivator for 20 years now. Even all these years later certain people will slam him. I've never understood that part. Guys coming here on the 356 forum to give their snide opinions. Whatever. Real class there.

I have 50k on mine no problems. He also built to your spec. So whoever he built that engine for might not have your particular idea of the ideal engine in mind. For instance on my engine he replaced the crank with a C, asked if I preferred mid range torque to higher revving peakier power. What my elevation I lived at, where I would be driving it etc.

I spent 5k in 94 which would be far far more today. I've done nothing more than adjust valves and tinker with different carb settings on the webers to smooth out the flat spot when the engine is cold.

Do get on the 356 registry. Plenty more guys that will denigrate him there like daves911. Tell us about your Pellow engine there Dave.

[Daves911L]

Les Paul,
Please don't get defensive. I'm not denigrating HCP, and didn't mean to come off as snide. I loved his books (got them way back when). I loved reading all his articles over the years (funnier than all get out). He built good motors at a time when most people didn't.

The OP seemed to be of the opinion that there might be something really special about his motor. I guess what I was trying to say is there is no particular magic to a motor from the "maestro" (Pellow's term for himself). Just good parts and good work. There are more shops today doing good work (in no small part due to Pellow's writings) than in the past, so that is no longer the rarity it once was.

DG

[CountD]

Originally Posted by Daves911L

Les Paul,


The OP seemed to be of the opinion that there might be something really special about his motor. I guess what I was trying to say is there is no particular magic to a motor from the "maestro" (Pellow's term for himself). Just good parts and good work. There are more shops today doing good work (in no small part due to Pellow's writings) than in the past, so that is no longer the rarity it once was.

DG

Well said.

[Les Paul]

Apologies to Daves911L. He knows his stuff. Actually wrenched on the old 930 of mine late 80's. to the original poster I would say that engine would be worth a min of 5k and possibly up to whatever someone is willing to pay extra for the Maestro motivation

[kpick]

Thank you all for the input.
Happy holidays.
K

[marktodo]

harry was a very entertaining writer and at the time a sought after engine builder. Some of his techniques aren't fashionable or current ie: he threw away zeniths and solexs to add webers. he loved cadmium plated fasteners.
I have a complete 2.2T from a 70 that I would trade for that 912 motor. My cab? could use it.
mark