3.2 to 3.5 - Part II

[Dennis Kalma]

Wow, great engine and an inspiration to us all....especially since doing a rebuild similar to yours is in the plan for my '89.

A favour to ask, as I am considering putting a 6 speed G50 in my '89 (bought the car without engine and transmission, so I have a choice)....how much space between the nose piece of your transmission and the torsion tube? I have heard there is about 2"....can you confirm?

Thanks

Dennis

[Jeff Alton]

Well, its about time!! Just kidding. Glad that you got it in and it fired right up! Great job.

Jeff

[JP911]

Congrats Ralph! Great work and so clean...time to go dirty it up a bit. That coil mount is trick. I'll have to ask you about that when I get around to building my motor.

[randywebb]

Do you have a pic of how that coil holder itself mounts to the car?

[911teo]

Fantastic write up. Must be a great feeling to have accomplished what you set out to do. Looks like a great engine. I am looking fwd to the first driving report!

[JeremyD]

Congrats Ralph - you should be very proud of your accomplishment. Sweet motor

[armandodiaz]

[Highfield]

Ralph,

I am really none technical, but have thoroughly enjoyed following the write up from over here in the UK. Let us know how the car drives. Thank you.

[Carrera3.5L]

WOW! Thanks for the comments and questions guys. Good to see that the 6,000+ views on this thread currently wasn't me looking at it 5,999 times!

I guess I'll try and answer the questions in order. I don't know how to incorporate/highlight various questions from people into one post so I'll do it individually.

Ralph

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by 84porsche
Ralph,

Looks awesome, congratulations. Now you can make the next Porsche run except you will be the lead car this time to make up for the ones you missed.


Chris

Chris, yes I plan to make the next South OC run and will gladly lead provided that you loan me your V1. Deal?

Ralph

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by Craig911
WAY TO GO! What a feeling. It is a beauty!
So, I must ask......when is she due to go to the dyno?

Craig, first off let me tell you that I'm glad you survived your little "shunt" a couple of weeks.

Not going to dyno the motor until it has a few miles on it. Don't know whether I will wait till 1,000 miles or not but it will be closer to that number.

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by ChrisBennet
Way to go Ralph!

Maybe it's the angle or something, but I don't see the pull knobs on your splitter. I put rubber hoses around the shafts to keep them from accidently being pushed in (off) by stuff/feet behind the seat.
-Crhis

Chris, you are a sharp guy. You won't see the pull knobs because they aren't there. I guess I have the "new and improved" version.

Andial stopped putting the pull knobs on them awhile back because they didn't feel the need to do so any longer. The knobs simply allowed you to test individually. I asked Arnold (the AN in ANDIAL) about it when I bought mine months ago because I remembered the unit having them when I worked there years ago. He said they have had very few problems with the splitter unit and customers don't think the feature is absolutely necessary. They still send the old instructions though which mentions the pull knobs.

Free plug for Chris, any of you 3.2L Motronic guys looking to twin-plug your motor Chris has an Andial signal splitter that he would like to sell. PM him for pricing and info.

Ralph

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by Dennis Kalma
A favour to ask, as I am considering putting a 6 speed G50 in my '89 (bought the car without engine and transmission, so I have a choice)....how much space between the nose piece of your transmission and the torsion tube? I have heard there is about 2"....can you confirm?

Thanks

Dennis

Dennis,

It is always nice to have a clean sheet of paper to work with, and with no motor and trans you have alot of options to explore.

There appears to be a bit of room between the torsion tube and nosecone of the transaxle, but I don't know if it is 2". I took a couple of pics but I don't think you can see much from them so they're not even worth posting.

I would contact Jim Patrick at Patrick Motorsports in Phoenix, he seems to have a pretty good handle on the gearbox conversions for different models and should be able to tell you what is easily possible and what would take extensive fabrication.

Sorry I can't be of much more help.

Ralph

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by randywebb
Do you have a pic of how that coil holder itself mounts to the car?

Randy,

Yes I do. Steve's coil bracket uses the existing studs in the body that the stock single coil bracket attaches to. Instead of the stock single coil being mounted vertically, the dual coils now mount horizontally. I used 2 more 962 jet nuts to secure the bracket.




Hope that picture helps. I can take more if needed!

Ralph

[Carrera3.5L]

FIRST DRIVE!

Well, I was really looking forward to the maiden voyage today. The car needed a few things buttoned up before being "road worthy" and I came in during my lunch hour just as the car was being taken off the hoist. Perfect timing.

I booted Dwain out of the driver's seat (he has enough seat time in his 993tt and Cup Car) and said the first drive is mine (but I took my cell phone just in case! ) Drove the car for about 5 miles in a big loop and holy crap it is a night and day difference.

My biggest complaint with the 3.2L Carrera has always been the low and mid ranges, as nothing much happened below 4,000 rpm. With Steve Wong's chip, Dansk pre-muffler and final muffler, it was better but I still was left wanting. No more.

This motor really makes nice torque in the bottom end and mid-range, it is a real pleasure to drive. Didn't take it above 5,000 rpm but it gets there in a hurry! Ran it up to 4th gear (shifting at 5,000) on a nice straight road and the run seems effortless. I think the upper end to 6,800 rpm will be just fine as well.

Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't consider it "scary fast" and I'm not going to embellish and say the car will go sideways if I stand on it in any gear. It's still only 270-280 horsepower (guesstimate for right now) in a 2880 lb car with a full tank of gas.

Very, very smooth and progressive power, this is going to be a fun car to drive! The way I look at it, the car has just been updated from 1988 to 2004 with the power increase.

The exhaust sounds sinister for lack of a better word. Not overly loud and obnoxious, but purposeful. It will definitely turn some heads going by I think. A little bit of a lope at idle as well with the 20/21 cams, the 964 cams are a bit smoother but I like it.

Would I do it again? If the first drive was any indication, then in a heartbeat!

Here are a couple of pics of the car (dusty from from sitting 10 weeks) before the detailer gets his mitts on it tomorrow:





The popular slogan "there is no substitute for cubic inches" is certainly valid. A 3.4/3.5/3.6 motor makes for a nice package in an earlier car.

Ralph

[Jeff Alton]

Very cool, I am glad you got a drive in. Were you a little nervous?!?! I remember the first few miles on my new HP 3.2 back in May. I am going to have to head to the fridge and pull out a couple of GI,s and drink mine ... and ... well drink yours too!!! Great job, I hope to see it some time.

Cheers, Jeff

[Carrera3.5L]

Originally posted by catca
Very cool, I am glad you got a drive in. Were you a little nervous?!?! I remember the first few miles on my new HP 3.2 back in May. I am going to have to head to the fridge and pull out a couple of GI,s and drink mine ... and ... well drink yours too!!! Great job, I hope to see it some time.

Cheers, Jeff

Nervous? Nah. Only was nervous when the motor was first started, hoping I wouldn't hear a rod knock or see fuel spraying all over the place.

Drink a GI for me, I'm eating some Indian Candy from my Charlottes fishing trip at least.

Ralph

[randywebb]

Thx for the bracket photo - I am actually looking for a way to mount 2 coils horizontally on a plate (on their sides). Not sure if I could adapt that one.

[89turbocabmike]

Great job Ralph! I've really enjoyed this thread and have learned alot. Can't wait for the next OC run.

[SteveM911]

Great write up Ralph!! Looks a really impressive job you have done. Documenting this experience has been a real bonus to me to see whats involved in a good engine build. Much appreciated.
Steve