3.2 Engine rebuild configuration questions...?
 

I've read through the search results and it's not clear to me
yet what the general 'best' configuration is for rebuilding a
3.2 Motronic engine (1988).

What I am seeking is the following:
single plug (simplicity
retain stock computers (with perf chip)
as much torque as possible - balanced - with a free revving engine up to 7k
more horsepower
still streetable as a daily driver and a DE vehicle

I gather I need new con rod bolts and perhaps
better valve spring retainers. Some posts suggest
a 3.4 liter displacement with 964 cams, however I
can't tell from the posts if that really buys much power,
and there's no mention of high revving engine
capability...

Any advice in terms of:
cylinder bore (3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5)
pistons
final displacement
cams
'other items'


I'm trying to generate my parts list so I can start picking
up the parts.

Thanks.
Spike

3.4 Max Moritz flat dome P&Cs, ARP rod bolts, and 20/21 cams. It wont rev that high but its going to make mad torque and be a real hoot to drive. You probably wont need the lightweight valve train, but talk to a pro or someone who has built or driven a 3.4 before buying any parts. Shoot Pelicanite 'rdane' a PM or search some of his old posts about his 3.4.

Take the time and allocate the funds to do it right. Doing it right is not going to be cheap. Doing it wrong is going to be a lot more expensive in the long run. Buy Wayne's engine rebuild book along with Bruce Anderson's Performance Handbook and read each of them several times. Buy the right tools. Make sure that any parts you have even the slightest notion of reusing are inspected and determined to be in spec.

There is a lot of help available here. Keep us posted and ask lots of questions.

good luck!

So as to keep your headaches to a minimum, get some Mahle 98mm Motronic top pistons/cylinders, update the rodbolts(and all other wear parts while you are in there) talk to Elgin, Webcam etc about an appropriate cam and villa you'll have a spiffy 3.4

Icing on the cake would be some nice light hollow CS Intake valves and Na filled exhausts w/ cleaned up ports, and extrude honed intake manifolds.

Check out Carrera 3.5L 's rebuild thread. A bit more extreme than what you outlined but still pertinent.

Here's an idea........... http://www.bath.ac.uk/~ccsshb/12cyl/

That's pretty cool, but it would throw off my 60/40 weight
distribution.

I actually use to work with Wartsila when I was at the
Bath Iron Works. Even cooler though were the GE LM2500
turbines we installed in the AEGIS Destroyers and Cruisers.
Those babies can take a ship from full forward to full stop
in about 1 ship length. And they are replaced by taking
them out the exhaust pipe (smoke stack) in a few hours,
while at sea!

Anyway, sounds like a 3.4 setup with light valves,
racing bolts, lighter flywheel, a chip,
a free flow catalytic converter, and a reworked stock muffler
or sport muffler are the way to go.

Zoom Zoom