THe FT's engine might be biting the dust

[Tim Walsh]

Well I'm WI right now but it looks like i'll be looking at an imminent rebuild of the FT. On wensday night I drove her home home and she started acting up. She started to smoke a decent amount (not a smoke screen but VERY noticable) and her oil pressure dropped back to where it was to begin with. It's now down to about 10psi at 2000 RPMS. The miss was also getting worse.

I'm thinking that she's telling me her longblock needs some TLC so it looks like I'll be tearing into fairly soon . My question is what would be the best/most fun street car that could be made on a budget out of my extra 2.0T longblock and my sick 2.4T engine. I was reading through BA's book and there's a mention in there of a 2.0 914/6 racing engine that uses the same ports and valve sizes as the 2.0T and makes 180HP using an S cam and 9.9:1 CR. That would be more than enough for me if that's a decently reliable enigne and still streetable. I'm not really a carb man so I'd probably like to run megasquirt on this engine.

The other option would be to just plain rebuild the 2.4 back to stock or to bump up the CR just a little bit and keep the MFI.

Idea's?

[Jim Richards]

Tim, are you sure you need the rebuild? I remember reading on the BBS that your MFI wasn't tuned right...maybe you should see if it's at all possible to sort out your 2.4L. Maybe it's a lost cause, I dunno. Have you done a leakdown test to figure out what was wrong with your one dead cylinder? You might be able to get the FT running right for fewer $$. Of course, I'd love to hear that you're doing a 2.7RS upgrade (my dream for Lu's 73E, too).

[jpnovak]

You should easily be able to do a budget rebuild. Tear the top-end down, You said it had a recent rebuild right? heads should be fine. You could probably get away with re-honing those steel T cylinders and as long as the ring gap measures good, slap some new rings and re-assemble the top end. If you find otherwise on the pistons, Do some High comp. JE's regrind the cams, have the MFI recalibrated and I bet you could do better than 180. This would see you through school when that 2.8 twin-plug gets built.

Just a thought. Sorry to hear the BT is sick. We can all help to make it better.

[dtw]

Don't worry Tim! We knew this was a serious possibility when you saw the H2O in the motor. We can get a fix on the condition of your bottom end once the p/c's are off. If the rod bearings feel good, we can fly in the face of all Wayne's wisdom and try rebuilding just the top end of a mag case motor. Hopefully the broken rings have gouged some good scrapes in your cylinders- perfect excuse to bore them out and drop in some oversize JEs and perhaps bump the CR a bit. Those cast iron cylinders should rate a few more HP and a bit more CR.

Then again, it'd be so easy and not that much more $$ to 'sert the case and get a new set of bearings...hmmmmmm. Well anyway, we'll get it all sorted out.

[Early_S_Man]

Tim,

The 'Rallye' 2.0 engine only made 150 DIN hp, 10 less than the Weber-equipped 901/02 'S' engine.

A budget power boost would be practical with your cylinders bored out to 85 mm and JE 9.5 pistons ... plus get your cams reground to 'S' or GE-60 specs, then get your injection pump recalibrated to 'S' specs. Expected output would be 185 - 190 hp ... the higher compression and slight displacement increase would offset the losses due to the restiction in your 'T' heads' ports.

The next step up would be to RS 2.7 specs (or close) not a lot more in terms of the Mahle RS 2.7 piston/cylinder cost over the JE's cost ... but full bottom end tear-down and machining would be required.

A donor CIS 2.7 engine would make the transition easier, and used 2.7 CIS cylinders could be bored and sleeved to 92 mm to give you a 2.8 using JE 9.5:1 92 mm pistons! Using 'S or GE-60 cams it should be good for 210 - 220 hp when keeping your heads and stacks unmodified.

[Halm]

Tim,

I just ordered a new daily driver or I would be all over this 2.7:
CIS Injection...

-11 Blade fan, Dilivar Head studs, By Design Stainless Muffler with dual outlets, Empty Cat, The engine was rebuilt by an ex rothmans porsche mechanic that lives out west in the states, The Valves were adjusted last summer and Brand new Injectors with injector sleeves were just installed 1 month ago, Brand new spark plugs also put in this year, K&N Air Filter, Pop off valve in air box, Turbo Rocker Covers, Brand New alternator put in last summer, Pertronix electric ignition(Replaces Points), This car has lot's of power and is very fast, Their is 32,000 Miles on the engine. I Maintain this car likes it's my baby with regular oil changes and tune-ups. Not much more to say but it is the best engine I have ever owned being a 911 owner.

I think the owner wants $3500. Might be a few $$$ more than a DIY rebuild, but a lot quicker and a lot more power. PM me and I'll forward the entire email.

[jim72911t]

Tim,
85mm 9.5:1 JE pistons, E cams, stock T heads, stock crank/rods and Webers (until the MFI can be rebuilt and recalibrated). That's what I'm doing to my '72 T right now. To keep costs down further you could look for a set of good used 2.2E or S pistons/cylinders, which should yield about 9-9.5:1 compression.

It didn't make any sense to me to rebuild back to stock specs when upgrding to E or S specs could be done for not much more money.

I'm hoping for 160-170hp, which should be fun in a lightweight early car. (For comparison, my 325is makes about 175HP, weighs almost 700lbs more, and is a quick, fun car IMO).

Good luck
Jim