Need some advice, mod or sell...

[KeithK]

I f you want show off power buy a ZO6 or Viper.

The problem with the widebody 3.2 is that the body style SCREAM's "I am BADD!!", but they get blown off by 1979 Ford Mustangs.

Keith

[Kevin Stewart]

Keith any time you wanna pull your mustang up beside my widebody, I have some green dangling for you, Kevin

[Fahrvergnuugen]

The problem with the widebody 3.2 is that the body style SCREAM's "I am BADD!!", but they get blown off by 1979 Ford Mustangs.

Keith any time you wanna pull your mustang up beside my widebody, I have some green dangling for you, Kevin

There lies the problem. A mustang (or GTI, or STi, or Evo, or turbo neon, or -insert turbo car here-) will blow the doors off of MY widebody

I'm not really liking the idea of swapping a 3.6 into my car. The 3.6 would be awesome, don't get me wrong. But for what I would gain, the price just isn't worth it.

Others have mentioned turbos... did you mean put a turbo on my 3.2? or did you mean, buy a turbo motor? I like the idea of the supercharger too, as long as I could safely run 93 octane.

I know with a watercooled engine, like VWs VR6 changing the compression, adding forged pistions and a few other minor details, and you can add boost... and get copious amounts of power. Is that not true of the 3.2? What are the differences between a 3.2 or 3.0 and say, a 930 turbo motor?

I really thing forced induction is the way I have to go, now the question is, can I use what I have as a base? Or do I sell and buy a turbo car.

[KeithK]

Fahrvergnuugen,

The answer to your problem could be as simple as drawing a line in the sand and saying, " I am not going to let myself fall prey to these horsepower wars going on around me".

You have a beautiful car that was made to be a road carver.

Accept it for what it is. So what if a Volkswagen can run faster than your car. I bet those people driving Gti's, and EVO's drool over your car when they see it and wish that they were in your position.

Your car has timeless classic lines that will never fade, that is something WRX's, GtI's and Mustangs will never have.

[Jarrett88]

Dont want to hijack your thread but I have an 88 with a 3.2 and was thinking about modifying a supercharger off of a 3.8L thunderbird to fit. My question is how individuals in california made this mod smog legal, or if they even tried.

[surflvr911sc]

Great advice Keith!

A supercharger would be a good way to get more out of it, be careful and don't over do it though, it sounds like you have a great engine there.

[dd74]

Man, I don't know. The new 997 looks nice, too! That's got a "real" V8.

Maybe you should just keep yours as is, and save up the $$$.

[Fahrvergnuugen]

Originally posted by KeithK
Fahrvergnuugen,

The answer to your problem could be as simple as drawing a line in the sand and saying, " I am not going to let myself fall prey to these horsepower wars going on around me".

You have a beautiful car that was made to be a road carver.

Accept it for what it is. So what if a Volkswagen can run faster than your car. I bet those people driving Gti's, and EVO's drool over your car when they see it and wish that they were in your position.

Your car has timeless classic lines that will never fade, that is something WRX's, GtI's and Mustangs will never have.

Keith, don't get me wrong, I love my car for what it is. I'm not saying that I'm jealous of or want to compete with these other, newer cars. Its that I'm addicted to horsepower.

I've ridden in too many cracked out ridiculous cars to get a thrill from my own any more. I could draw a line in the sand...but I would end up building a ridiculous rabbit or corrado and probably spend just as much money if not more.

The idea of supercharging the 3.2 is very appealing... Assuming we're not talking about just bolting a supercharger onto the motor and expecting it to hold up for 10,000 miles... Can the 3.2 be built to take boost?

[Kevin Stewart]

Supercharger would be the way to go, with a turbo you would need to decrease the compression or run very little boost, or lets say lots of compression and boom, you may just try headers, a chip , air cleaner etc cat, for just a bump in horse power, that may be enough, truth be told you start hammering on that tranny smokin tires and stuff you will need a new tranny, a 3.6 conversion will cost you 10-12000 not including selling your old motor, you really need to ride in a 3.6 car, you may try calling Timmins for just such a ride, www.instant-g.com, Kevin

[Emission]

That car is clean.

I would do forced induction (supercharge or turbo) on the existing engine. You'll find another 100 horses, and put that smile back on your face.

[sscates]

Befoe you decide anything, go drive a 3.6 and a 930. See what the difference is. Anything other than this will leave you wondering. Nice looking engine bay.

[Lothar]

You will spend a fortune getting more hp with a normally aspirated motor. You have the look, now get the power. Buy a turbo motor with intercooler and you should get the kind of hp you are looking for.

Your 3.2 is still worth quite a bit if it is in such great shape after a rebuild and provided you have some documentation.

Now, regarding the Ford Mustangs of the world, don't even entertain a street race with them. You are driving and 911 and they have a Mustang with a damned live rear axle. Who cares how much hp they can stuff in that bucket of bolts. I owned a 96 GT and it was one of the worst cars I've ever owned. Poor fit and finish and rattles everywhere.

[KeithK]

Well then you can take the path that I took.

I went from a 72 911 2.4 in 1990 (not happy with that horsepower) to a 1987 911 3.2 with chip, B&B headers, Hot-wire intake and all the other vendor high horsepower claims (still was not happy, getting blown away by mustangs in 1994), to a 1987 911 turbo which I purchased in 1994.

Major money was spent on getting 450 horsepower from the motor, adding a full ERP suspension, coil-overs, car lightened and a car trailer to deposit it to every track event I could get my hands on in the southeast.

Yes, I was eating Vipers and ZO6's up on the track. Did that for two years.

Then I woke up, I realized that I had a horsepower disease that was eating at a very large portion of my income. I got help for my disease, converted the 911 turbo back to street status and am building a 175 horsepower, slow as molasses RS clone to just enjoy driving on the track.

There is a fork in the road in front of you, which one will you take?

Good Luck!!

[Emission]

Originally posted by KeithK
Well then you can take the path that I took.

I went from a 72 911 2.4 in 1990 (not happy with that horsepower) to a 1987 911 3.2 with chip, B&B headers, Hot-wire intake and all the other vendor high horsepower claims (still was not happy, getting blown away by mustangs in 1994), to a 1987 911 turbo which I purchased in 1994.

Major money was spent on getting 450 horsepower from the motor, adding a full ERP suspension, coil-overs, car lightened and a car trailer to deposit it to every track event I could get my hands on in the southeast.

Yes, I was eating Vipers and ZO6's up on the track. Did that for two years.

Then I woke up, I realized that I had a horsepower disease that was eating at a very large portion of my income. I got help for my disease, converted the 911 turbo back to street status and am building a 175 horsepower, slow as molasses RS clone to just enjoy driving on the track.

There is a fork in the road in front of you, which one will you take?

Good Luck!!

"Horsepower Disease" - Deadly to wallets, time, and relationships.

[JeremyD]

Looks like a nice ride - shame to mod it. If I was in your shoes - I'd sell it and buy a Turbo - You can even get one that has a good set of mods - 400 hp in a 3.3 Turbo is not out of the question if done correctly.

You preserve the m491 wide body (which has some rarity) you get your HP bug taken care of - You're not pacthing together a car with a 3.6 and a 915 - and you can spend and mod to your heart's content.

If you really want tire roasting HP - I'd look for a nice Mark IV Supra.

[rcwaldo]

I would go test drive a 930, like a 78 or 79 model. See how you like the lag, then four minutes later, the rush of acceleration like someone just rear-ended you...

I would keep your car together and think of selling to get an older 930, or newer(?) depending on how much $$$ you want to spend..

[Amac]

Seems you have the makings of a "HP Junkie" so
I'm compelled to answer.
If you can't bear to part with car then put a 930
engin in it. Your engin is worth $6 to $8k, you should
be able to buy and install a good 3.3 turbo for an add'll
$8K.
My advice would be to buy a 930, your car is very nice
sell it and add a few $K and get the real deal.
As we all know HP is addictive, I don't think you'll stop
at 400hp.
So, for a mere $60k I can put you in this equally pristine
85 930 twin turbo (only 32k org. miles) over 600hp to
rear wheels. The only catch is you must be as crazy as me
to drive it!!!!

[Bill Verburg]

Beautiful car!! If it were mine I would want a slightly breathed on 993 3.8.

[piedogger]

This car is already moded. Did they have a factory widebody in 1982? It already has the wrong engine. Why get rid of a car you already like? $10,000 limit could get you alot if you are doing your own work. A couple months ago someone was selling a promotive torbo kit for the 3.2 on the classifieds for around $5,000 (I don't remember the specifics) $8,000 gets you the entry level supercharging of knoxville kit, I think its like $12,000 for the 450hp kit. Before you knock a 3.6 conversion why not find a pelican in you general area and go for a ride?

[DavidI]

How about a V-8 Conversion?

Sorry about that......ha ha ha