Pelican Parts
Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   Pelican Parts Forums > Porsche Forums > Porsche 911 Technical Forum


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Rate Thread
Author
Thread Post New Thread    Reply
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New Milford, CT
Posts: 347
Garage
2.4T lack of power? or normal?

I recently registered my first 911 last week. I've been working on it for months to get it to this point. The car is a '74 coupe with a '73T motor that someone swapped in at some point. I am very pleased with how the car starts, idles, runs. Smooth & consistent. But the car has no get up & go! I can put the pedal to the floor & the car goes, but with no authority whatsoever. (My stock '92 VW GLi is quite a bit quicker) Is this what I should expect from this motor? Is it known for kinda being a dog? If thats the case, then I'll just live with it for now. The only engine items that I've looked at thus far, I installed Bursch headers & muffler, adjusted the valves & changed to NGK plugs. Plug gap is to spec & the points were replaced prior to my purchase. I also run a manual thermostat mod as suggested by Grady. As I mentioned, the thing runs very well, just no get-up & go. Open to suggestions: -John

__________________
'73 RS Clone (flared, lowered, backdated, swapped)
'72 124 Spider (newest project; shaved & lowered cruiser)
'97 328ic (wife's toy)
'05 3500HD D/A (tow vehicle)
Old 08-09-2004, 06:06 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #1 (permalink)
Bandwidth AbUser
 
Jim Richards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
Toast, it's only about 140hp, so I wouldn't expect the T engine to set your hair on fire. Does your engine have MFI, carbs or CIS? You might be able to tune it a bit for more performance.
__________________
Jim R.
Old 08-09-2004, 06:16 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #2 (permalink)
Registered
 
Tim Walsh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Green-Salem, NC
Posts: 3,914
Garage
Send a message via AIM to Tim Walsh
Have you gone through check, measure, adjust? I was plesantly suprised by my 140 HP T motor, but then again I wasn't expecting much with a dead hole, it running VERY rich and TOTALLY worn out.
__________________
Tim
1973 911T
2005 VW GTI
"Dave, hit the brakes, but don't look like your htting the brakes...what? I DON'T KNOW, BRAKE CASUAL!!!" dtw's thoughts after nearly rear ending a SHP officer
Old 08-09-2004, 06:19 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #3 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New Milford, CT
Posts: 347
Garage
Quote:
Originally posted by Jim Richards
Toast, it's only about 140hp, so I wouldn't expect the T engine to set your hair on fire. Does your engine have MFI, carbs or CIS? You might be able to tune it a bit for more performance.
It has MFI. I'm combing the archives now to find more info on MFI & tuning. The PO did quite a bit of around town driving. When I was installing the headers, there was alot of carbon buildup on the exhaust ports. I carefully cleaned out what I could from there, but not sure how much that helped. (PO ran the car without the thermostat hose hooked up)
Since putting it on the road last week, I've put 700 miles on the car, mostly highway, mostly at 80mph
__________________
'73 RS Clone (flared, lowered, backdated, swapped)
'72 124 Spider (newest project; shaved & lowered cruiser)
'97 328ic (wife's toy)
'05 3500HD D/A (tow vehicle)
Old 08-09-2004, 06:21 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #4 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New Milford, CT
Posts: 347
Garage
Quote:
Originally posted by Tim Walsh
Have you gone through check, measure, adjust? I was plesantly suprised by my 140 HP T motor, but then again I wasn't expecting much with a dead hole, it running VERY rich and TOTALLY worn out.
dead hole? I just found the CMA pdf article, so I will start some lite reading this evening. Hopefully a shady tree mechanic like myself with basic hand tools can handle this task.
-John
__________________
'73 RS Clone (flared, lowered, backdated, swapped)
'72 124 Spider (newest project; shaved & lowered cruiser)
'97 328ic (wife's toy)
'05 3500HD D/A (tow vehicle)
Old 08-09-2004, 06:28 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #5 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Liberty Hill, TX
Posts: 212
John,
Here are a couple of threads that you might find useful.

MFI thermostat spacers

MFI tools for DIY'er

Lots of info in here, including good details on some specialized tools that you'll need to make or buy.
__________________
John
Old 08-09-2004, 06:40 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #6 (permalink)
 
Registered
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Liberty Hill, TX
Posts: 212
by the way, I have my 2.4 tuned pretty well (it still needs some tweaking) and its power is more than adequate for me. Kind of hard to describe how powerful an engine feels though.
__________________
John
Old 08-09-2004, 06:42 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #7 (permalink)
Registered
 
Aussie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 755
Garage
I had a 1969 911T 2.0 litre car.

Although it wasn't fast for a Porsche, it was comparable to most 2.0 litre modern cars (which probably are much heavier).

It was faster than my 2.3 litre automatic SAAB.
__________________
1969 911 T (SOLD), 1977 911SC (SOLD), 1999 BMW M3 (SOLD), Current Car 2005 Lotus Exige
Old 08-09-2004, 06:42 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #8 (permalink)
MAS MAS is offline
Registered
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Victoria, BC, Canada
Posts: 608
Garage
Your GLI is around 134hp, and is probably heavier than the 911. So even at only 140 hp, your 911 should have a better power-to-weight ratio than the GLI (not to mention that it should have a lot more torque).

Your 911 if stock, would have been a significantly faster car than the GLI. Even with the smaller engine, it should still not be a slug. I suspect that your 2.4 is not set up/tuned correctly.

-MAS
__________________
77 911S Targa (current car)
87 924S (my previous car)
Old 08-09-2004, 06:44 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #9 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New Milford, CT
Posts: 347
Garage
Quote:
Originally posted by MAS
Your GLI is around 134hp, and is probably heavier than the 911. So even at only 140 hp, your 911 should have a better power-to-weight ratio than the GLI (not to mention that it should have a lot more torque).
True. My Gli has 170k on the clock & weighs 2528lbs with a 1/4 tank. (Use to track this car in its younger years).

Skimming the CMA article, it appears fairly technical & some tool fabrication required. I much prefer to do this myself & learn or at least work with someone with the nohow. Is there anyone local who has done this before who wants to tackle this with me?
-John
06776 or 12594
__________________
'73 RS Clone (flared, lowered, backdated, swapped)
'72 124 Spider (newest project; shaved & lowered cruiser)
'97 328ic (wife's toy)
'05 3500HD D/A (tow vehicle)
Old 08-09-2004, 06:51 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #10 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 7,492
Garage
There is no way your GLi should be "quite a bit quicker" than a 2.4T 911. Something is definitely not right. I've owned GLi's and have driven a stock 2.2T and the 2.2T was quicker .....
Old 08-09-2004, 07:09 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #11 (permalink)
Registered
 
jtkkz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Bay Area, CA.
Posts: 2,048
Smile

I use to have a really well tuned low mileage 67K miles 1973.5 2.4 911T CIS.

It had a dansk sport muffler and MSD Ignition, aside from these it was a stock motor.

It was actually pretty quick, I easily took 3rd gear all the way up to 100MPH when I shifted it to 4th it would turn 110-120 MPH easily and still pulling.

My friend who use to race cars has a stock low mileage '85 GT Mustang and he said my porsche was much quicker.

He also went to a porsche school and studied under Jerry Woods and he works on my Porsche personally.

So a well tuned 2.4 CIS is not that slow. I heard a MFI is even a bit quicker.
Old 08-09-2004, 07:22 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #12 (permalink)
 
Registered
 
HarryD's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Portland, Oregon
Posts: 12,651
Also bear in mind that the lower displacement engines do not come alive until about 3500-4000 rpm and then peak out at about 6000. If you are shifting at 4000 (like most first timers do), you are missing the best part in terms of power and sound.
__________________
Harry
1970 VW Sunroof Bus - "The Magic Bus"
1971 Jaguar XKE 2+2 V12 Coupe - {insert name here}
1973.5 911T Targa - "Smokey"
2020 MB E350 4Matic
Old 08-09-2004, 07:24 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #13 (permalink)
fancytown
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: DEE-troit
Posts: 1,726
My 2.4T has little power off the line. I consider 1st and 2nd gear are present just to get the car moving. Playing around in 3rd and 4th, while working the car's mid range is fun.
__________________
all cars sold.
Old 08-09-2004, 11:42 PM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #14 (permalink)
Bandwidth AbUser
 
Jim Richards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
Toast, it's nice that you have MFI. With the info available here on Pelican and using the CMA procedure, you should be able to liven it up some more. MFI cars rock!
__________________
Jim R.
Old 08-10-2004, 03:34 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #15 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Orangeville, Ontario, CANADA
Posts: 312
Garage
What kind of transmission does the car have, 901 or 915?
__________________
Steve F
69 911
71 911
87 Carrera
2004 RAM 1500 4x4 "Hemi"
Old 08-10-2004, 03:41 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #16 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New Milford, CT
Posts: 347
Garage
Quote:
Originally posted by HarryD
If you are shifting at 4000 (like most first timers do), you are missing the best part in terms of power and sound.
True. I am a bit hesitant to crank on it. I know my Gli is safe to 5800, I dont have that condfidence yet in the P-Car. I have done several spurts of taking it up to 5200ish on the 911, not much change in the power band.

Even though the car runs well, based on opinions thus far, I really should be getting more out of this motor. I will start digging & post results as it progresses.

p.s. I havent found the tranny code yet while crawling under the car. It is a 5 speed.



TIA, -John
__________________
'73 RS Clone (flared, lowered, backdated, swapped)
'72 124 Spider (newest project; shaved & lowered cruiser)
'97 328ic (wife's toy)
'05 3500HD D/A (tow vehicle)
Old 08-10-2004, 04:06 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #17 (permalink)
Bandwidth AbUser
 
Jim Richards's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: SoCal
Posts: 29,522
If reverse is directly below 5th, it's a 915. Otherwise, 901.
__________________
Jim R.
Old 08-10-2004, 04:33 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #18 (permalink)
Registered
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 513
You say it is running smoth; a sign of a health MFI.
Be sure to re-check your point gap(or dwell), then adjuct ignition timing. I like to adjust more advanced than spec, try up to 38 deg @6k, back off if detonation or a decrease in top end power. This will give more kick at the low end.
PS; Never take off that MFI system, nothing beats it.
__________________
'69 911E 2.7MFI ;996TT;987.2 CaymanS
'71 Volvo P1800E wife's; AMG SLK wife's
'71 Volvo race car
944S; 986S ; 734WHP drift car (son's)
Old 08-10-2004, 05:13 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #19 (permalink)
Registered
 
}{arlequin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DC/Boston
Posts: 5,500
Garage
I have a '73.5 T (CIS) and it certainly feels much better than any 140hp engine has a right to feel. Maybe it's the torque, maybe it's the car's low weight, but it sure likes to rev too.

__________________
dave
1973,5: one two thweeee!
no.don't.stop.
Old 08-10-2004, 07:59 AM
  Pelican Parts Catalog | Tech Articles | Promos & Specials    Reply With Quote #20 (permalink)
Reply


 


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:31 AM.


 
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page
 

DTO Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.