New 3.6 conversion FREAK!

[mmasse]

Hello,

I currently live in Switzerland but am moving to the US (westchester - NY) in February. I just sold my baby, 964 C4 1992, since it was too costly to adapt it for importing in the US.

After lots of meditation and reseach on this and other forums, I decided to go ahead with an old 911 and put a 993 Varioram engine on it. YEAH!! the famous 3.6 conversion.

I already jumped into the water, since I ordered the engine, which should be aariving next week. you probably would think I am crazy for starting from the engine, but there two reasons for this: money (I found one at a good price)...and 2nd, now I am obliged to go ahead with the conversion.

I also though about buying the car here and taking it to the US, but given the current exchange rate and the complications involved with expo/ importation, I prefer to get the car there.

I plan to go with the Dr. timmins kit. And..I am sure I would be bothering you all, 3.6-conversion-experts, with thousends of questions in the future.


At this stage, only one poll-type question:

Which 911 do you think is better to look for the convertion?

Thanks in advance and cheers,

[IROC]

First off, welcome to the US!! Secondly, as for the type of car that would be "best" for the conversion, that's probably a debatable point depending on how you weigh the "easiest to swap vs coolest end result".

In my opinion, if starting from scratch, I'd either build an long hood RSR replica or an IROC replica. But that's just me.

Mike

[911teo]

Also to consider is what you will do with your car after the conversion and what the budget is....
Also you thinking of just swapping the engine or are you going to upgrade brakes, suspensions etc?

Steve Timmins is putting a Euro 3.6 engine + kit + exhaust together for me. It should be here at the end of next week... Will keep you posted.

[mmasse]

You know how it is ...you start by the engine and then you continue with the brakes ..and then you get a loan and upgrade the suspension.. and so on.

At this stage I would like to focus on the engine swap. But having said that, I was thinking that probably getting a nice 70's with some of the upgrades already done, could save me some money.

After doing my research I understand that post 74 911s are esear for the swap, with the ideal being an SC. Am I correct here?

Thanks again

[stefang]

If you don't care for the long hood look then you might be best off with a 77+ because you get a fully galvanized body. Also it obviously depends on what you want to do - tear it apart and rebuild it to where you want to to be or take a decent car and put more reliable power into it and upgrade other bits as time passes.

Also give a holler if you want some wrenching help. Where in Westchester are you moving to?

Stef

[mmasse]

Stef,

Still don't know exactly where. i will arrive on Feb 20th and start the house searching.

PM you email address so we can get in touch.

Cheers

[rcwaldo]

This is great, and welcome to this fine forum. Gotta love buying the conversion engine before the car. Way cool!!

Chris

[Craig 930 RS]

Any chassis you desire.
I'd recommend one with the aluminum case trans - 1972 & on - for strength. These engines are torque beasts - an absolute rocketship ride!

[Kevin Stewart]

you may want to stay with a later sc or new car, thses cars have better transmisions, also you do wnat to get a galvinized car living in new york, Kevin

[Jack Olsen]

Originally posted by Craig911
Any chassis you desire.
I'd recommend one with the aluminum case trans - 1972 & on - for strength.

The aluminum case started in late 1977.

[tc-sacto]

Also consider the state smog Laws. In California you can get away with a little more, (ie larger throttle body, headers)if the chassis is 74 or lower. Although technically the car is smoged to the enginge year, but they rarely verify and probably would know the difference anyway.

[Bill Verburg]

I would go w/ whatever body style pleases you the most. All the rest of the equipment can be swapped in or out. The earlier the chassis the fewer legal issues are likely to arise.

I used a mg case 915 w/ my first 3.6 t/p and had no issues in 5 yrs of use. It was swapped out for a ROW 915/67 to get the factory trans cooler and lsd, both of which are high on the need/want list.

I recall Hayden commenting that the mg case 915s have an iron sleeve supporting the outer race of the pinion roller bearing, in this respect the mg case is superior. But in general I agree that the later the trans the better. Definitely stay away from 7:31 r/p though.

[Craig 930 RS]

Whoops, yes I meant '77.

I'd choose a 1978 thru mid 1980s chassis - this makes the most sense because you would not be using a newer platform (which would be worth leaving alone form a $ standpoint.)

I also believe that the late 79 (??) transmissions also have a reinforced outer cover which the earlier ones do not have. You'd want this for a 3.6 -