Better DIY car, 3.0SC or 3.2C?

kwm · 02-23-2006, 05:00 AM

If you were looking to buy a car and part of your motivation was to do as much of your own work as possible would you look more at the 3.0 or the 3.2. Second part of the question, if you were also looking forward to doing performance and appearance (possible backdate project) mods to the car would you lean more to a 3.0 or a 3.2? I am sure the first part of the question will affect this as well but which car is generally less expensive to maintain? Thanks

Rot 911 · 02-23-2006, 05:20 AM

They are both equally easy to work on and equally easy to modify although you can get more HP out of the 3.2 then the 3.0 for fewer dollars. For backdating the body they are the same to work on.

RickM · RickM's Garage

IMO, not having to deal with CIS issues is a godsend.

kwm · 02-23-2006, 06:42 AM

I was thinking that the chip tuning options on the 3.2 have to be pretty inviting

masraum · 02-23-2006, 07:21 AM

I'd say the 3.2 for two reasons. 1 I've heard too much about working on CIS and wouldn't want to have to do it and 2 the engine compartment in the 3.2 is cleaner because the CIS on the 3.0 covers the whole darn engine with that unsightly airbox.

masraum · 02-23-2006, 07:23 AM

SC

3.2L

masraum · 02-23-2006, 07:25 AM

even the 3.2L with AC isn't that bad

masraum · 02-23-2006, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kwm
I was thinking that the chip tuning options on the 3.2 have to be pretty inviting

Except that there's not that much beneficial tuning that you can do. Steve Wong seems to have one of the better chips, but Porsche didn't leave as much on the table as Chevy, Ford, Honda, etc....

Ron.G · 02-23-2006, 07:37 AM

Pretty much no tuning on CIS.

Drago · Drago's Garage

I have a 3.2 and find DIY a piece of cake...I just pay John Walker cash.

yelcab1 · 02-23-2006, 07:46 AM

EFI is easier than CIS
Both are DIY friendly.

Wil Ferch · 02-23-2006, 08:05 AM

Let's be honest....The two versions of 911's are pretty much indentical from the perspective of DIY....but I agree the various CIS permutations are really a band-aid compared to the set/forget nature of the DME FI system.

Sensors, however, for the DME can be a pain to properly trouleshoot...if they go bad.

In balance, I would favor the DME cars.....

Wil

kwm · 02-23-2006, 08:14 AM

Fact or fiction.......SC are leaky-er that Cs. They tend to have more oil leaks that is.

BDHender · 02-23-2006, 10:23 AM

From someone who is just completeing the conversion from 3.2 Carrera to 3.0 SC, the SC. If a 3.2 spends much of it's life around 6K rpm the stock rod bolts are going to give problems. My F class racer has just spun the number 6 rod bearing. Main bearings were fine. The 3.2 has smaller rod bolts. All 6 rod bolts were loose. The car is now a 79 Euro SC in G and will soon be an 83 Euro SC still in F again with more power more torque bigger rod bolts and less weight. They have identical chasis except for the thickness of the rotors and brake pads and corresponding caliper spacing. The 915 tranny changes a couple of gears but otherwise is the same. Fuel and spark are much easier to tune on the SC. The motor actually likes the headers.

Bryan

edward993 · 02-23-2006, 10:51 AM

Not much difference in DIY work between the two models. I'd rather have the DME not for chipping, but because it's a better system. CIS is not a trouble maker, though. Once it is set properly, it's good to go. But it does not offer the inherent trouble-free nature of a DME. Then again, as was stated, any DME problem will likely cause more in time diagnosing or sensor blah blah that needs replacing ...but that rarely happens from what I know. Assuming good overall condition of both cars, I'd get a DME if funds allow.

Edward

stealthn · 02-23-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kwm
Fact or fiction.......SC are leaky-er that Cs. They tend to have more oil leaks that is.

If I told you once, I told you a million times, quit making wild exaggerations...

AvonGil · 02-23-2006, 11:08 AM

Id say the cars are remarkably similar. Id take the carrera, for the EFI is easier to deal with than CIS. At least that how I feel. Other than that, you can more or less treat the cars as identical.

They are super easy to work on.

DavidI · 02-23-2006, 01:01 PM

I'll bite....Super Carrera or Carrera?

Superman or man?

Supermodel or model?

It is called super for a reason....long live SCWDP, David

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

I have a 3.0L SC hotrod, my dad has a 3.2L hotrod. All things equal I like the 3.0L midrange and pull better than the 3.2L. They both have SSIs, uprades etc and similar weight and suspension. But then again I have my timing and CIS set up very very well, so thats a none issue.

zotman72 · 02-23-2006, 04:20 PM

Well I just had to pull the engine/tranny from my '84 Carrera the other night with the help of a couple Pelican boys (jpinkert and Jess). My throwout bearing had seized. The extensive disconnections of the Motronic world were a royal pain compared to CIS or MFI. However the 3.2 does have more snap than my 3.0 in the SC. The cars are pretty similar up to the G50 introduction. YMMV.