71 911T 2.2 power, handling.

Have almost completed returning my 71T to original specs, at the same time have been racing regularly. I'm feeling like I need more power and tighter handling. How far would be too far beyond original spec? Don't want to go overboard but any recommendations on subtle upgrades. I have replaced the chain tensioners to 3.2 oil type which I thought was a fair departure from originality to ensure reliability. B.

As far as handling goes, a Turbo-tie rod kit is an easy upgrade, and quite an improvement in steering 'feel.' Anti-roll bars, front and rear, the heavy-duty aftermarket ones, along with Poly-Graphite mounting bushings for the bars themselves will help your handling, as will a new set of KONI's all around! A set of high performance tires, 205/60-15 front, and 215/60-15 rear will probably fit on 15x6 Fuchs wheels without fender clearance problems, and you will notice the improvement, especially if combined with all of the previous items!!! If I haven't put a big enough dent in your wallet, yet, you might consider gear ratio changes if/when a rebuild of your transaxle is needed! Replacement of all of the bushings between your shift knob and the transaxle would be a help, I'm sure! Until that time, I strongly recommend SWEPCO 201 gear oil for the best shifting and life remaining in your transaxle! A change in cams would 'improve' your engine power, especially if combined with piston/cylinder changes at the same time ... early, original 'Solex' cams are slightly 'hotter' than 'E' cams, but 'S' cams are not out of the question ... if you don't already have a copy of Bruce Anderson's 'Porsche 911 Performance Handbook,' I suggest you get a copy and read from cover to cover before proceeding with your upgrades! A very nice 'sport muffler' is available from www.ajusa.com, good for 10-12 hp ... with no other changes! Good luck!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Brian:

Augmenting what Warren suggested:

1. Anti roll bars from the Carrera of later years is a non-modification upgrade. You just have to find a wrecked 1987+ Carrera, buy the Carrera rubber bushings, and attach them all, using the old screws. Or else you can buy new anti-roll bars for about $125. Easy and cheap to do.

2.The Turbo tie rods don't really give you anything, except the tighter "feel". Is this worth anything on the track? Have you ever had trouble turning? You decide if $125 yields any benefits.

3. Tires are the ONE AND BEST improvement you can "buy", other than more seat time WITH A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTOR. It is amazing how much faster we can make you, for no additional cost if you come to PCA events, by just teaching you how to drive fast. It is not intuitive, it is not something we are born with. Otherwise, we would all be Micheal Schumacher (who I believe WAS born with IT). However, we can make you faster with very little monetary outlay.

4. Another way you can change your gear ratios without major cost is to buy the DOT "racing" tires on 15" wheels. This changes your final drive, and makes acceleration far better, at the cost of top speed. But getting around a race track is not a question of top speed, but sustained high speed around the ENTIRE track, turns included. Tires and fast acceleration out of the turns will do this. Again, talk to racers. More power is not the end all, be all, of going fast.

5. A sport muffler, with the 1974-type SSI headers encased in heat exchangers will give you about 20-25 HP. This will augment the lower gear ratios of the 15" tires, and thus make you "squirt" out of those corners.

In summary, there are many "inexpensive" fixes that you can do, and you do not have to throw money at your car. And just think, all of the stuff I mentioned above can be taken off again if they don't work FOR YOU, and you can recoup your investment if you want to.

Gee, not such a bad deal after all.....Andras

Thanks for your advice guys. Exactly what I was after. The upgrades sound great I plan to get started next service. I agree that the most critical is practice and education. At the moment I'ts a once a month event. The one thing that I find really lets me down is the gearbox, often can't find the gear when shifting down at speed and around town 1st can be a real grind. I'm tempted to upgrade to the 915 too.
Thanks again. B.

[This message has been edited by bpliston (edited 04-09-2000).]

Brian:

I would be twice thoughtful about upgading to a 915 tansmission. I have one on my 1983 911SC, and they are not the smoothest. In fact, the 2nd to 3rd upshift is notchy, always has been, and I'm afraid might always be. And selecting first is sometime difficult (one has to engage neutral once or twice to get it to go into first at least with a cold engine). And yes, I have optimized and adjusted to a great extent.

Another option is the new G series (G20, I think), of the 1987 and later series. You should be able to get one of these at a Porsche salvage store (PartsHaven, Kempton Brothers, Aaase Brothers, Oklahoma Foreign, Foerign Intrigue, etc.), and it should be much better. Plus, they are stronger, since the later Carreras had more power, and when Porche AG increases power, they also increase the brakes and the trannies.

As one Porsche expert once said, always get the newest, for Porsche AG has always improved their products over the years, and have always gotten the bugs out of the old ones.....Andras