Fitting a 3.2/915 into a 71T coupe

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I've got a complete 84 parts car coming with engine-brain, trans, shift linkage, oil tank, oil lines (will need front cooler) and rear suspension.

I am looking to swap the entire set up into my 71T R/RS clone project.

I've heard the 915 won't fit easily into the tunnel.

Anyone have experience with this? Anything else I need to know?

Thanks

Shaun

[Tim Walsh]

Paul Thomas has done this. I think he had to beat out the transmission tunnel a little but I"m not sure.

[911pcars]

I've done this on my '69 (915 that is. The 3.2/3.6 transplant will have to wait). Remove the front housing from the gearbox. Bolt to the trans. mount and use this assembly to determine what part of the tunnel needs add'l clearance. The clearance needed is all in front of the trans. Find a very large ball peen hammer and create the needed clearance. Not much is needed - mostly on the driver's side. Reinstall the housing with a new gasket.

You'll need a 915 shift housing as well. There are some CV joint matching issues that can be answered by using alloy control arms (lighter and matching axles/CV joints (among other solutions).

Your '71 chassis w/3.2 should be quite quick when completed.

Sherwood Lee
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[jpnovak]

I will be doing the same conversion. I used a 78 SC parts car and will be swapping the entire rear suspension and drivetrain. Don't forget you may have to mill a small amount from the mounting bolt holes if trying to use the late trailing arms in the early chassis. That will be to compensate for a slight clearance issue with the HE's

Sherwood, Love the idea of removing the front cover for clearance. Beats trying to hold a heavy tranny up there.

Jamie

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Thanks Everyone for your help,

Surgery begins this weekend, but I suspect it will be 2-3 before it is close to drivable.

If I come up with any helpful hints along the way (will be documenting with digital camera), I'll post them.

So, anyone want a 2.2 and 911 tranny? : )

Shaun

[Randy Webb]

I might be interested in the 911 tranny... what are you asking for it?
- Randy
xdrw@att.net

[addictionMS]

you might find the wiring chart on my websote helpful, I put a 3.2 and 915 into a 1970T and mapped out the wiring harness

http://addictionmotorsports.com

Jim

[ted]

Here's a pic of my 69 with a 3.2.
Conversion completed by PO.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

That's the engine bay I am going for! PO did a beautiful job.

How's the car go? What else has been done?

Shaun

[ted]

The 69 with a 3.2 finnished 2nd in the AM class last Saturday and 4th TTOD out of 100 plus Porsches at the San Diego AX.

You will have a blast!
An early 911 w/ 3.2 is very enjoyable to drive fast at the track.
Maybe this will add fire and motivate you even more to get your 3.2 project rolling.
have fun!

Links to the results, car pics and specs.
I can't leave it alone so....a 993 non V/R 3.6 is going in this winter, 3.2 has been pre-sold.

You asked, I don't mean to flaunt it...

more pics.
http://groups.msn.com/Gagenracing/shoebox.msnw

specs.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Ted_Drake/

results, I'm the Mike in AM with the 69 911 in 4th overall.
Missed 1st in class by less than 3/10ths.
http://www.pcasd.org/autocross/3_29_2003AX/results.html

[MMARSH]

Ted

You engine bay looks just like mine except mine has all the 72 hardware

[Isabo]

I had a 915 fitted a few years ago. The shop didn't complain too much (translation: overcharge) so it should be pretty straightforward.
I'm just getting used to my 3.0 transplant and it is a blast!!!!!

[addictionMS]

Sean, I am posting here my last email to you so others can get the benefit as well.

the tach the fix is easy, I don't remember off the top of my head, but there is a silver electrical device about the size of a 35mm film canister in your engine bay, which you wire into the system and you can keep the original tach.

You will need two fuel lines, one for feed and one for return, I put a Carrera fuel tank in my car, so the plumbing was there but since I have a welder, I converted the stock lines over braided stainless steel lines and AN-6 fittings everywhere. I ran tow AN-6 line inside the tunnel from front to back for the feed and return lines. Wire tied them to the side so the shifter does not hit them. I would also plan on replacing the fuel line between the fuel filter and injector rails with AN-6 lines and the return line which goes from regulator to regulator. I have done this on all my 3.2s ( I have three, 1970T, 1988, and race car). I am actually in the middle of changing the regulator to regulator line in the 88, it was not done and started to leak badly last week.

I would also caution to becareful when pushing the motor into the car, that a 1970, and I assume a 1971 have a few differences in the shock tower, on a later car there is a clearance between the seat and the shock tower to allow the wires and fuel line to go behind the shock tower traveling up from underneath the car were they pass through the bulkhead, that clearance is not there on a 1970, so rather than dealing with that problem, I drilled a hole in the bulkhead above the shock tower and passed the harness through there and hid the harness in the cabin under the carpet and behind the panels that cover the sides under the rear windows.

the second difference is less noticeable, the lip where the top half and the lower half of the shock tower is somehow different so the pressure regulators on the back of the motor don't have enough clearance, so you will need to rotate them (on my car just the one on the passenger side hit) so they don't hit. They are hard to see and if you are not looking for it, you could damage them pushing the motor in, they are small the pressure needed to damage them is small compared to the forces involved in pushing a motor in.

As for the clearancing of the trani, I started pounding my car where the trani hit the hump between the seats, and gave up, so I cut out the section and welded in the section out of my donor car, really easy to do if you have a welder.

Finally as for fun to drive, I have 4 911s, the 1970T 3.2, the 1988 stock 3.2, the race car 3.2 and a 996. I choose to drive the 1970T everyday, it is the most fun you can have on the street. It is so close to the race car, I can;t get enough of it. Make sure you lower and stiffen your car enough so you can really enjoy the new motor. I know I am spoiled here in CA, since we don't have the steep curbs anywhere, so I can keep my cars as low for the street as my track car. Not sure anyone living in the east can do that, or anywhere is rains alot. But lower is better, I am running bilstein HDs at all four corners and the stock setup off a 1985 Carrera. The car is really too stiff to drink a coffee in, bit it is a price I am willing to pay.

Good luck, ask any questions and Iwill tyr to answer, I will be away at the track this weekend, so may be slow to respond.

Jim