DE Engine options

bbaer6676 · 12-28-2006, 01:48 PM

Im putting together a DE/Autox car. What engine should I use. I was originally leaning toward a 2.8 twin plug setup but I just dont know if thats going to give me the best bang for my buck, sure its high on the cool factor and its a really nice engine but is it worth it. Is a 3.2 a good option? or a well sorted 3 liter? Opinions would be appreciated.

Brian

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 12-28-2006, 02:28 PM

Odd question. Obviously there are no "class rules" in DE, so it doesn't matter whether you have a Carrera GT V10 or a 914 four. Run whatcha brung, you're not competing for anything. (At least you shouldn't be, in DEs; the gitoutamyway guys aren't appreciated.)

And I dunno what the restrictions are in autocross, but if there are any, whatever class you want to run in will determine how you build your engine.

So we're left wondering what kinds of tracks--long fast straight or short and tight--you want to run, and what your level of experience and ability is. (I assume it's at a good level, since you've already sold one track car.)

Having said all that boring stuff, build a 3.0 or 3.2 with carburetors and twin plugs, biggest p/cs you can put on it (mine are 100mm on a 3.0 originally) and all the other cam/exhaust/clutch/flywheel/ignition enhancements you can add.

Talk to Steve Weiner at Rennsport Systems. He'll get you whatever you need.

"The cool factor"???? I'm 70 years old. To me, cool is a Cadillac-Allard, a 550, an XK-120MC with shotgun pipes...

Green 912 · 12-28-2006, 02:29 PM

Stock. Bigger than what the car came with is OK within reason but for DE stock will give you the most track time fun for the buck.

bbaer6676 · 12-28-2006, 02:41 PM

My question has nothing to do with class rules, i know there are none. Im just saying, that a 2.2 liter is not my cup of tea. The 3 liter i had was nice I just didnt know if bigger than that would offer me any real advantages.

Formerly Steve Wilkinson · 12-28-2006, 02:49 PM

I continue to be a bit mystified. What advantage is it you wish? Cheaper? Faster? Quicker? "Cooler"?

NY65912 · 12-28-2006, 02:54 PM

Having a fairly high strung 300 hp at the crank 3.0 for DEs is cool.....but, there are many times I wish I had more bottom end torque.

I have a 3.2 with a little work in my 85 M491, it has more torque than the 3.0 but feels sluggish in comparision.

I don't know which is better.....although I am leaning toward the worked 3.0..........ahh..don't ask me!

Jim Richards · 12-28-2006, 02:57 PM

Brian, if you want a solid performing car (good torque/HP) and reliable, you probably would like to go with a stock 3.2L or 3.6L.

bbaer6676 · 12-28-2006, 03:11 PM

thanks guys, thats the kind of responses I was looking for. I appreciate the opinions.

JP911 · JP911's Garage

IMO, the advantage of a 3.0 based engine over a 3.2 for a DE car is the strength of the bottom end. I think a 3.0 with early large port heads built with high compression (10.5:1) carb pistons to either 3.0 or 3.2 with twin plugs, carbs, and maybe a DC40 cam (or hotter?) would be a really fun track motor. Throw in some ARP or raceware headstuds, a Carrera or turbo oil pump, and a large oil cooler and you're in business.

bbaer6676 · 12-28-2006, 03:40 PM

thanks for the suggestion jon, what kind of twin plug setup are you running on your 3.5?

Dantilla · 12-28-2006, 04:02 PM

I've got a bone-stock 3.2 in my 2200 lb '73 coupe, with a 7:31 ring & pinion. Much higher horsepower than stock, with factory reliability. No need for emmission testing on a '73, so SSI's and a sport muffler are the only changes from stock.

No complaints here. Great combination.

bbaer6676 · 12-28-2006, 04:18 PM

when I had my 73 with the 3.0 I found it to be rather fun to drive. Having only driven my other cars with the 2 and 2.2 motors I didnt have a whole lot to compare it to. Of course it was better than the other motors but I didnt know what i would expect if I went with a 3.2 motor.

JP911 · JP911's Garage

My twin plug setup uses a 964 distributor that was "merged" with internals from a 3.0 distributor (Steve Weiner at Rennsport Systems does the conversion), two factory 6-pin CDI boxes, two factory coils, and a wiring harness made by Andial to run both CDIs and coils on a non-DME car. At the time this was the most cost-effective route (cheaper distributor, cheaper caps, and rotors relative to factory pieces and andial dizzy conversion), but the new conversions from Supertec using the jaguar cap and rotor look good and fairly priced.