Choose your engine...

[nigel911]

Is there a preferred year/model car donor when undertaking 3.6 or 3.2 transplant into an earlier car? Are any years particularly more involved or harder to transplant? Gearboxes?

Just trying to find out a little more before I make costly mistakes... all advice welcomed.

[DonDavis]

Now you're talking!! And don't rule out a 3.0 with a few goodies. Those are very respectable.

Of course the newer the 3.6=more $$$, but from what I hear the euro 97-98 3.6 had more oomph.

[dd74]

3.0 is very nice and simple to install. Prices have gone down on them since the 3.6 are de rigeur these days. Maybe $5 or $6K can buy and install a 3.0 for you. Get hold of some SSIs and a nice exhaust, and you'll have almost as much power as a stock 3.2.

3.2s are nice too. They're a little more complicated. Do a search under Marcesq; he has a very nice and comprehensive website on his conversion.

3.6s are the big daddies, but cost bucks like Don says. Lots of stuff on this floating around as well.

If you want something that'll kick everyone's hiney, stick a Chevy V8 in your car. Of course you'll be banished to Harry Potter's cupboard afterward.

[JSDSKI]

Check the threads on the MFI 2.7 RS spec motor vs. 3.0,3.2,3.6 et al.... Bigger is not always better in a narrow body. Your most expensive mistake might turn out to be the transplant. A heavier, used, 3+ engine that might need "freshening" could well turn out to be less effective and more expensive than a properly built 2.7 - especially in a nice 72 - with that exclusive oil tank position - like yours.

[adomakin]

3.3 turbo!!! loads of lag then.........wheelspin. the only way forward and you can boost it when you get bored with ONLY 300 hp

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by JSDSKI
A heavier, used, 3+ engine that might need "freshening" could well turn out to be less effective and more expensive than a properly built 2.7 - especially in a nice 72 - with that exclusive oil tank position - like yours.

The 72 oil tank can be enlarged to work with a 3.6, in fact.

But you need to consider a lot of factors in considering an engine swap. As has been pointed out, a 3.0 or 3.2 is probably the most economical. Building up a small-displacement motor is not cheap, if done properly. And putting a 3.6 into an early car is no bargain, either.

If you do go with a 3.6, then Steve Timmins' website has a lot of information on which particular years are better suited to a swap.

[Tim Walsh]

I've always beena fan of the 2.7RS... 100K+ miles of sheer grins. But then again as a student I'm building a 2.4E hotrod (I'm expecting about 180). I decided to go with a rebuilt engine for a couple reasons. The biggest reason was that I know I'll get more miles out of my rebuild engine but I'm also a sucker for MFI

[k9handler]

Jack has pretty much said it...but I would like to add Harald Julicher (speedster94) to the contact list. Harald did my transplant and the quality of the work was excellent, but I am also located in Germany where Harald is as well.
You could get an engine from Harald and then use the contacts in the states to make it work, just an idea for you as the euro and dollar even out the better the deal.

I have more info on my website.

Smitty

[Superman]

It does not make me angry when folks put V8s in Porsches, but it's also not my preference. Put them in Cobras. It goes without saying that Porsche engines are unique and desirable. Aluminum cases do not weigh that much more than magnesium cases, and are much more robust. With them you can build a reliable, streetable 250-300 hp engine that sounds fantastic and looks mean. Maybe 325.

Then again, there is the magic of the MFI engines. The 2.7 and 3.0 RS. 3.6 swaps are pretty involved, but they're an instant 260+ hp.

Just so many choices. I think perhaps the funnest project is the building of a hotrod Porsche engine, according to your taste. Gosh it would be fun to build an MFI RS. Or a carbed, twin-plug 3.2 or 3.4 with real cams and real pistons. Funner than a 3.6, IMHO.

[nigel911]

Is there a preference on 3.2 engine? Would the oil tank still require enlargement? Power/weight difference between 3.2 + 3.6? Would the gearbox from the 72 work with the 3.2?

What sort of power would 'built from scratch' 2.7RS make? Any ideas on cost to do this? Would the engine be reliable or fragile? Engine weight? Could the MFi from my T be adapted to the engine or would I another induction system?

I know I ask lots of questions, but just trying to get some general ideas on direction - the wealth of knowledge available here is invaluable and I truly appreciate everyone's input.

[nigel911]

Pretty Please?

[Supergranule]

i have to stick up for my underdog 911 and say a 2.2L T engine!

[West]

I run an alum. 2 liter S block with E-cams in my 72'. May not be the fastest car in a straight line, but it holds it's own on any twisty road in my neck of the woods. By the way, didn't have to enlarge my oil tank and it runs cool all day!

[dd74]

Originally posted by nigel911
Is there a preference on 3.2 engine? Would the oil tank still require enlargement? Power/weight difference between 3.2 + 3.6? Would the gearbox from the 72 work with the 3.2?

What sort of power would 'built from scratch' 2.7RS make? Any ideas on cost to do this? Would the engine be reliable or fragile? Engine weight? Could the MFi from my T be adapted to the engine or would I another induction system?

I know I ask lots of questions, but just trying to get some general ideas on direction - the wealth of knowledge available here is invaluable and I truly appreciate everyone's input.

Okay, but only because you said "please..."

MFI I know next to nothing about, only that it's real pretty. Oh, wait: I know something else about MFI. It's real expensive and in some cases, difficult to set up. As for the MFI on your T grafting onto an 2.7 RS, I'm not sure. Is the same "kind" of MFI used on both engines? I don't know. As for power? Probably 210 to 220 hp.

But I bet you'll get close to a really primo 3.2 install with all the bells and whistles, or most of a 3.6 conversion for the cost of breaking apart your current engine to build it into a 2.7 RS.

[Tim Walsh]

actually a 2.4T isn't a half bad way to go to get a 2.7RS. You'll need new stacks and bore out your throttle bodies, new P&C's, new cams,and a pump recalibration but overall it's alot easier than some other engine rebuilds

[Randy Webb]

It's a very broad question -- you need to cut it down to size.

First, are smog regs at issue? If not, the swap is a lot simpler if you go with carbs and no computers.

Take a look at the books by Wayne and Bruce Anderson to get some ideas.

[Dantilla]

I have a stock, other than exhaust, 3.2 in a '73.
Still has a 915 tranny with a 7/31 ring & pinion.
I have the reliability of a factory motronic engine, in a car that can accelerate faster than my brain.

[350HP930]

I say 3.3 Turbo but I am obviously biased

[dd74]

Originally posted by Dantilla
I have a stock, other than exhaust, 3.2 in a '73.
Still has a 915 tranny with a 7/31 ring & pinion.
I have the reliability of a factory motronic engine, in a car that can accelerate faster than my brain.

How's that 7.31 hold up with the 3.2?