Best Street Motor

[drummer323]

Alright, I'm sure this issue has been hashed many-a-time but I'm looking for opinions. My '71T has the 2.2 motor and needs a definite rebuild. I need the Tim Allen fix of more power. So, I would like the crowd to weigh in their opinions. I'm considering building the 2.2 to a 2.5 using the 2.7 crank and then turbo-charging it or building a short stroke 3.2 and turbo-charging. I've looked at a 3.6 conversion nice but extremely expensive. I realize any modifications and rebuild is expensive in its own right. Being in Indiana the car is never winter driven in fact I'm lucky if I break a thousand miles a year in the car. I love running the country road curves but occasionaly like the straight shot flat out torque and speed from a stop. Its hard to find any open roads for top end so the strong torquey motor capable of top end of 135 to 145 range is sufficient, but 0 to 100 mph in a quick fashion is what I'm after. I did hit 145 with the 2.2. I also realize that with a turbo you will have lag and lose some of the low end torque. The car's suspension is being totally updated for truthfully more track than street and the front end is all fiberglass for weight savings. So, On a price/hp ratio what is truthfully the best street motor at the best cost? I only want to do the motor thing once and that is why I'm asking for advice. So what would you do? I'm figuring $6500 to $8500 max. Appreciate the input.

[drummer323]

Forgot to mention, I have located an early 915 tranny with lsd unit and 7/3/1 gearing that will be coupled to the motor.

[JonT]

I'm biased but I'd say a low mileage 3.6 is your best bet for streetability and reliability. If you are doing the work yourself it can be done for 10k or less.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by JonT
I'm biased but I'd say a low mileage 3.6 is your best bet for streetability and reliability. If you are doing the work yourself it can be done for 10k or less.

ditto..
It'll still be cheaper than building your own engine.

[jmz]

3.2 motronic.

[SC-targa]

Originally posted by drummer323
My '71T has the 2.2 motor ... I did hit 145 with the 2.2. I.

Had you just driven off a cliff or had you been dropped from an airplane?

Jerry Kroeger

[ZAMIRZ]

a bone stock 3.6 would be ideal and a great street motor. If you can't justify the cost, then probably a 3.0 or 3.2 with good compression numbers and mild cams.

[raceman]

l suggest an all aluminum V8,fasted then the other options and cheaper too.lf you add the electric supercharger no one will touch you,ever....but my other choice is the 3.6,a known conversion and probably in the long run the most economical.As a bonus if your car goes 145 mph with a 2.2 it should go,what,200 mph with the 3.6? hehehe,sorry about that but with the V8 and the right gears you really could almost touch 200mph

[KobaltBlau]

You seem turbo-oriented so you could get a 930 engine. Adding a turbo to an NA engine will not be easy or cheap. Plus you still have to buy an engine or rebuild yours since yours is shot.

[Wayne 962]

Short stroke 3.2 or 3.4 with 'S' cams and a set of carbs. Will rival the 3.6s out there, and will keep your car looking stock...

-Wayne

[Porschekid962]

i agree with wayne, my dream engine would be a 2.8 or a 3.5 but those 3.2 and 3.4s are also very pokey. the 3.0 sc engine that is in the car right now is a blast on the street and has very good power for the track, currently in the process of getting parts to build it to a 3.2

[dd74]

Firstly, the best street motor is one the driver can handle on the street, which invariably would be a stock motor.

Second: the best street motor is one which has had everything else around it attended to:

1) Suspension
2) Weight

Third: the best street motor is one that is stock and that you've taken on the track and seen what it can do there. Only then will you realize you probably already have the best of both worlds already in your car.

Examples of drivers who race their cars with stock street motors and come away with high results: Ed Bighi, Jack Olsen, MMarsh, and I'm sure others.

With all that said and keeping in mind your budget, you can probably do a 3.0 swap for under $5K and a 3.2 for a little more (your engine included as a trade in). A 3.6 is big money unless you're a DIY guy and already have the necessary parts.

No one seems to realize you gave a range of the money you want to spend, which is why I suggest the 3.0 or 3.2.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by drummer323
I'm lucky if I break a thousand miles a year in the car.

straight shot flat out torque and speed from a stop.

On a price/hp ratio what is truthfully the best street motor at the best cost?

this a a low rpm/ high torque kinda guy imo.. cool

turbos will more of a pia for him.. especially if it's not needed.

so if he's not low rpm/ high torque maxed out now .. he'll never be happy..

and he'll need $10k no matter what for a new page.
Only imo

[Bill Verburg]

Short stroke 3.2 or 3.4 with 'S' cams and a set of carbs. Will rival the 3.6s out there

You should try a cammed, breathed on 3.6 sometime

[Paulporsche]

Got rid of my old 2.7, and replaced it w/ a 3.0 enlarged to 3.2 w/ twin plugs. For now I am running just the single plug dizzy from the 2.7, with CIS and SSIs but without emission controls. Car pulls great and runs smoothly without flat spots w/ gearbox from 2.7. For more power I can go to PMOs, and to use lower octane I can put in the twin plug dizzy. But for now I'm a happy camper.

Paul

[Jcon]

For that money and the desire for a great street engine I'd go 3.2 Motronic. They are getting hard to find, but craig911 has what sounds like a great one for around $6500. I just prefer to stay away from CIS.

If not that than get a decent 3.0 and build to a short stroke 3.2. The 3.0 is bullet proof foundation. Almost any of the options will blow your $8500. There's no way you could touch a 3.6 conversion for anywhere near that money by the time you add oil cooling and exhaust and conversion parts.

Jeff

[88 Club Sport]

A 3.6 would be nice but I do not see it happening on your budget. Remember that when you take a car that is used to 130 hp and double it, you also need to do brakes, torsions etc. if it is to remain safe.

If I had a T, I'd find a 3.2 and keep the Motronic vs. carbs. You ought to be able to find one for $5k. Then I'd spend $3k on an external oil cooler, torsions, new bushings, brakes etc.

A light weight 71 with a 3.2 ought to be plenty of fun especially when you compare it to what you're used to

[SandyI]

How in the world did you get a stock 2.2T up to 145?

[drummer323]

I see I 've got a broad range of answers and a few who have too much time on there hands. With that said, yes the suspension has or is getting replaced except for one thing and that is the front thru sway bar. So far I have Koni adjustables all around, Going to front "S" calipers, drilled rotors all around, better pads, adjustable drop links, Elephant racing bronze "A" arm bushings, 21mm front and 26mm rear torsion bars, aluminum front crossmember, Braided brake lines, Rear turbo sway bar, aluminum rear banana arms w/mono-balls, Front Camber plates w/bearing, Stable energies tri-angulated strut bar, Rims are Etoile 15 X 8 w/225's and rears are 15 X 11.5 w/345's which are Yokohama AVS's. Front end is all fiberglass 935 look slant nose. Rear fenders are 935 style w/slats. Front air dam has a place for front mounted cooler and I just bought a 12 gallon fuel cell from a fellow pelican. So I believe the suspension can handle the motor. So it looks like spend the dough and do a 3.6. I didn't say I was totally sold on the turbo, but it does add power. I believe 300/hp range in the car would suffice nicely and offer all the thrills I need. So maybe this will help someone sell me the idea of what is the best street motor for my application. And no I wasn't dropped from and Airplane, Were you?

[Zeke]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
Short stroke 3.2 or 3.4 with 'S' cams and a set of carbs. Will rival the 3.6s out there, and will keep your car looking stock...

-Wayne

Stock might be a moot point with the 935 glass front end.

I always thougt turbos were something to bring small displacement motors into the big leagues. Why not just turbo the T? I'm sure you can find some low comp 2.4 pistons for cheap. In fact, I have some. Get your 2.7 crank and go to it.