NEXT UP: ENGINE!!!! (Advice needed!)

[thefaculty]

Hey all! - posting here because the same wasn't answered in my build thread so hoping this may encourage some feedback/advice

I can feel winter coming and I have many small projects to keep me occupied throughout this time on the car which is great but I would love to get some advice from you knowledgable folk about what to do with the engine.

The 3.0 ('79SC, 122k miles - only 1500 of which are mine) runs great. It really does, not a cough or splutter AND since Jay rebuilt the WUR the cold idle issue has completely gone. That being said we have the usual oil leaks, not too much but enough to look at and, not that it matters, but I would love to raise the engine lid someday and see something nice in there! I'm enjoying the power of the 3.0 right now so do not feel a full rebuild and stepping up to 3.2 is necessary. This year the car was only street driven. Next year I am hoping to do some DE days now that the suspension and brakes are all sorted.

So what would you guys & gals recommend? My thoughts are:

• SSIs and a new muffler (gotta get the sound a little more fun than stock and getting back a few horses would be nice!!)
• Any advice on a muffler welcome, I'd like some noise, preferably 2in2out but worried about drone, Dansk? M&K? Monty? Do you have one you are happy with?
• Pull and plug the remaining smog lines while we are in there (if it's not used it's gotta go).
• Replace all hoses and lines (just because, peace of mind and why not?)
• Replace all gaskets (hoping this is the cause of the leaks (I'm getting through about 1litre of oil per 800miles)
• Step up to the hydraulic chain tensioners!!! (save that engine - it'll happen someday!!)
• Replace the oil line and add better front fender coolers (perhaps elephant racing kit?)

Like I say - I really don't think it needs a full rebuild though I know Jay (my mechanic) would love to do that. I am hoping not to spend a fortune $10k would be ideal (I'm guessing more like $15k if we go with the oil line replacement).

Am I missing anything? Do you think I should do the rebuild now knowing I will likely have to do one later anyway? If I do a rebuild should I step up to 3.2?

Any and all advice HUGELY appreciated as I consider this next step!!

cheers!
dK

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by thefaculty

Like I say - I really don't think it needs a full rebuild though I know Jay (my mechanic) would love to do that. I am hoping not to spend a fortune $10k would be ideal (I'm guessing more like $15k if we go with the oil line replacement).

Am I missing anything? Do you think I should do the rebuild now knowing I will likely have to do one later anyway? If I do a rebuild should I step up to 3.2?

dK... $10-15k is reasonable number (depending on Jay) IMHO. "Now" or "later" sounds like a coin toss---if engine doesn't need, and it's a good time to do, I'm inclined to "do." If 3.2 is fuel injection upgrade (to Motronic), voting "do"---is questionable where budget goes with this move. If using VDO oil pressure sender, suggest sealing it with gel epoxy top and bottom.

Looking forward to see pics of build provided you move into the dK.

[thefaculty]

Originally Posted by Discseven

dK... $10-15k is reasonable number (depending on Jay) IMHO. .

Thanks Karl!! Well Jay is telling me that a full rebuild will be $20-30k (up to a 3.2 depending on options) which is why, for my budget and knowing the engine has been running really nicely all summer, I am thinking "do I need this" and is there a compromise that can be made where a full rebuild is not needed but we can get in there and fix some issues without regretting just going full force at it at a later date.

Not sure how to proceed really. My recent suspension rebuild went WAYYYY over budget and my hope is to learn from this and work within my means.

[shoooo32]

First things first- do you have any broken head studs? That would necessitate a top end rebuild and you could do some "while you're in there" performance mods like cams, 9.5:1 pistons and increase displacement to 3.2. If the head studs are okay, backdating the exhaust is your best bang for the buck. As for a muffler, Dansk sport is on the quieter side and heavy. M&K is lighter and louder. Duel out is kinda aggressive for an otherwise stock SC; I'd probably stick with single out.

[da Vinci Dan]

- Are you pulling the heads? If not I would recommend you check the head stud bolts while you have the valve cover gaskets off.

I would certainly adjust the valves, replace the spark plugs etc... I would also repaint the shroud and and repaint all the engine tin.

Does the oil pressure sending unit leak like it does on the 3.2’s? Are there sensors similar to the crank position and flywheel sensors on the 3.2? If so, I would replace these too.

Rebuild axle shafts?

Rebuild calipers?

Edit: As far as the exhaust is concerned, I did a cat bypass and a cheap used maxflo muffler I purchased for $150 total. I love the sound. Personally, comments about drone are silly to me. Either you want horsepower and want to drive a real sports car or not.

Clean / repaint engine compartment?

My list would keep growing, especially if I was doing it myself and my wife driving me crazy.

[QueWhy]

SSI and M&K 2-in-1-out. That's what I did and it had been by far the best bang for the buck modification.

No idea the HP gain but it is largely irrelevant, it feels like 50 and sounds like 100.

I would do that before tearing into the engine and spending the big bucks, plus when you do get around to engine mods you'll want to ditch the stock SC exhaust anyway.

[QueWhy]

Originally Posted by da Vinci Dan

- Are you pulling the heads? If not I would recommend you check the head stud bolts while you have the valve cover gaskets off.

I would certainly adjust the valves, replace the spark plugs etc... I would also repaint the shroud and and repaint all the engine tin.

Does the oil pressure sending unit leak like it does on the 3.2’s? Are there sensors similar to the crank position and flywheel sensors on the 3.2? If so, I would replace these too.

Rebuild axle shafts?

Rebuild calipers?

Edit: As far as the exhaust is concerned, I did a cat bypass and a cheap used maxflo muffler I purchased for $150 total. I love the sound. Personally, comments about drone are silly to me. Either you want horsepower and want to drive a real sports car or not.

Clean / repaint engine compartment?

My list would keep growing, especially if I was doing it myself and my wife driving me crazy.

This seems silly to me. Drone has nothing to do with making horsepower or driving a real sports car. Drone is ear splitting head crushing resonance and usually occurs at much lower RPMs thank peak HP.

[universeman]

SSIs for sure, but check your muffler choice carefully. Drone is one of those things along with loudness that is very personal. I used a Dansk 2-1 sport and it was really loud compared to stock, but really quiet (and drone-free) compared to the other 2-1 I had on there previous. YMMV. Suggest riding/driving in a few cars with the setup you're thinking about before pulling the trigger.

[thefaculty]

Thanks everyone! Yes - Answering as much hear as I can.

Suspension has already had a full rebuild as have the brakes, check my build thread, its awesome work! Bilstein HDs all round but dialled in for DE track as well. Jay, my mechanic wrenched on Porsche teams around the world. He's top class and has set this up perfectly for my use which is mainly street and tracking only DE days next year. Brakes we stepped up to '86 Carrera callipers sotting on 24mm rotors, also a perfect upgrade for my use.

Broken head studs? Im honestly not sure but Jay gave it a service and he is so detail orientated that I feel certain this would have been noted as it is such a common issue on these 3.0's.

Drone? This is a street car that needs a little more "oomph"! Drone is an issue and anyone that disagrees is either lying, being stubborn and most definitely single. I'm with you 100% that while flying around a track I simply don't care. I want it as loud and as fast as possible, the adrenaline mixed with the sound of a 911 race engine is intoxifying. But a 5 hours road trip with the Mrs sat next to you. Nope! It;'s not happening. So I am looking for a good middle ground. Something nice an chunky at idle, gives a good roar where these 3.0s are at their most funs (2500-5000rpm) but sitting at 3000rpm on the highway is bearable.

Paint. Yes! I have a door repair that needs doing at some point so most likely would get that done and a full repaint while the engine is out which seems to make sense.

By all accounts this means a 2in2out is out of the question on this SC which is a shame as I love the look but a nice 2in1out is the way to go. Winter is coming so the opportunities to see other's cars are limited but it's narrowed down to an M&K or a Dansk. Jay does build his own but I feel that at least a M&K or Dansk has a better chance for resell if it turns out that I don't fall in love with the sound!

Thanks for all your advice everyone! More is welcome as I still don't know how to approach the engine itself. Perhaps another year to wait and just go for the full rebuild, up it it 3.2 and don't cut corners!

[OldSpool87]

I have a 2/2 MK wirh one outlet capped internally and a baffle in the other. All the look and minimal of no drone. Just a thought.

[gomezoneill]

I have a 1982 SC I replaced the stock exhaust with SSI's, new oil lines and a Dansk Sport. Sounds great not too loud no drone but a nice bark to it.

[QueWhy]

I can't say enough good things about the M&K 2-1. Initially I wanted the 2 out but I got the 2-1 as a package with my SSIs. I had a Dansk 2 out but never bother to install it. The M&K is so light 13lbs if I remember correctly, the Dansk is big and heavy like the stock exhaust and I love the sound of the 2-1.

If you get either of the M&K and don't like it you should have no problem trading it for what you want there seem to be people looking to move from the 2 out to 1 out and vise versa.