difference in euro carreras?

banjomike · banjomike's Garage

Other than a premuffler in place of the catalytic converter would there be other differences between an 84 euro carrera and a US carrera? Did the motors have different compression ratios? Are there other differences?

Randy Blaylock · 01-22-2005, 07:19 PM

US car had 9.5:1 CR, rated at 207hp/192tq.

RoW cars had 10.3:1 CR, 231hp/209tq.

There may have been a distinction in the Motronics mapping.

jhoagg · 01-22-2005, 08:50 PM

Other differences: Euro had crush tubes rather than bumper shocks; Euro had the side markers (blinkers) on the front fenders; Euro had no side impact steel beams in the doors; Euro had rubber impact strip instead of side marker in the front bumper; Euro had the smaller rear bumper guards and the orange tail light turn lens. I'm sure there are other detail differences, and I'll bet the Euro weighs at least 100 pounds less.

banjomike · banjomike's Garage

Anyone had experience with a 10.3:1 CR car and california gasoline? Is 92 octane enough? Does the DME on an 84 carrera have knock sensors? Who shot JR?

jhoagg · 01-23-2005, 01:27 PM

Mike,
If you can reliably get 92 octane, my experience is that will be fine with the stock Euro DME. No knock sensors on these cars (not until 964s, I believe).

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

You will definitely want 93 (or better) octane under load on a hot day.

1989 964 was the first use of knock sensors on our air cooled cars

soup dragon · 01-24-2005, 02:49 AM

My uk carrera runs ok on a good quality 95 octane unleaded,but runs better on 98 octane shell optimax.
The sticker on the fuel filler shows leaded 98 octane-this is availible in limited petrol stations around the uk but is a lot more money.

Kahuna · 01-24-2005, 03:30 AM

Bill has a lot of experience in my car, He spoke truely. US gas is rated different from UK gas, my ROW Carrera pings like crazy on hot days at the track or in the mountains on US 93 octane. This can be solved at the track by topping off w/ race gas. Even 94 when it was available ocasionally caused the engine to ping.

IROC · IROC's Garage

The 3.2 in my '76 has 10.3:1 Mahles in it and it does fine on 93 octane (+ a SteveW chip). No detonation even in mid-summer (Alabama) and an extremely heavy right foot.

Mike

Wil Ferch · 01-25-2005, 06:42 AM

Euro basis for octane and US basis is "about" a 5 point difference for the same fuel.....US 93 is about = Euro 98.

Wil

banjomike · banjomike's Garage

It sounds like a Euro Carrera in California (92 octane max) would not be a good idea. Too bad.

Hugh R · 01-25-2005, 12:55 PM

I've got a 84 ROW with the 10.3 pistons and it runs fine on 91 octane here in CA. I also have a Steve W chip he made for me. I don't track my car, but no pinging that I've heard.

rrpjr · 01-25-2005, 02:15 PM

Agreed. My Euro has been in California for 20 years without an issue related to gasoline. I believe a search will turn up a few detailed threads on other differences as well.

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

The Euro 915 Carreras have higher gearing than their US counterparts.
The Euro 915 tranny also has an external cooler as previously stated.

jhoagg · 01-25-2005, 06:43 PM

Rarly,
Yeah - the external finned tranny cooler sure is right. I'm hoping that gives an extra edge of longevity to the 915. Morgan's "Original 911" says that U.S 3.2 915s have a shorter fifth gear than the Euros (0.763:1 for Euros vs. 0.790:1 for US). Do you know if that is the only gearing difference? I assume this would be because of the generally lower top speeds in the US? Is that right? Thanks for any info.