Just passed 500 mi top end rebuild break-n & opened her up...WOW

[dafischer]

After being limited to 4500 rpm for the first 500 miles in my 72E, I had no idea how nice the new top end and mods would be. I passed 500 yesterday, and did a few wide open acceleration runs up to 7000, and man what a difference. Was it ever tough keeping my foot out of it for that first 500.

I was lucky enough to have Fred Apgar do the job for me, and he went with boring out the cylinders to 85mm, 9.5 JE pistons, and an aluminum flywheel. Also, new used E cams, new exhaust valves, guides, rod bushings bolts & bearings, sundry rockers, shafts & adjusters, and chains and ramps. The job was the result of finding a badly worn cam lobe on #3, 50 lbs compression on #2 (burnt exhaust valve), and leakdown from 15-30% on the others.

It's great...it starts easily, idles smoothly and quietly (both chains were at full tensioner extension), doesn't mark it's territory in the garage, and the smell of oil incinerating itself on the heat exchangers is gone. But the performance...absolutely great. The aluminum flywheel does give a bit of a decrease in lower end driveability, but from 4000 to redline at full throttle, it pulls like a freight train. Flooring it in 1st from a rolling start pops the glove compartment open...see my ad looking for a new latch!

Fred estimated about 20 hp addional from the 85mm and 9.5 compression, does this sound about right? We had to richen up the MFI a few clicks for the added displacement, but it may need a little more adjustment. Now I can do a proper CMA since I've got a healthy engine.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm really psyched. Close to S performance, and all for $6200...what a deal.

[Zeke]

Sounds like a great motor at a great price. I could be jealous.

[livi]

That is a real 'feel good' report. Makes looking forward to the expensive rebuild a lot easier. Good to know!

[Larry_Ratcliff]

Wow great price for a 911 engine rebuild. Sounds like a fun car to drive.

[rs6er]

If you think it's fast now, wait till you have the valves readjusted. That was my experience.

[dafischer]

The whole thing was pretty painless. Fred helped me drop the engine (my first time), I delivered it to his shop & picked it up, and he helped with the re-install. I cleaned all the ancillary bits...heat exchangers, tranny, fan shroud, etc., and glass beaded and painted all the sheet metal. I also beaded the fan and housing and did them with Eastwood's 300 deg. clear coat.

The money was a bit of a bite, but it felt good knowing that I've got an engine that will last as long as I have the car. It also helps having a wife who's a real good sport, but now she's got some ammunition for that new kitchen.

Thanks for the kind words, guys!

[EarlyPorsche]

Nice! Its funny to hear of a cheap $6,200 rebuild. As it is arguably a smoking good deal, if we drove Chevrolet's we could purchase a big block 502/502 for exactly that much money. That engine would have 502 cubic inches/502 horsepower/502 ft/lbs of torque.







After that rant, I am really I am not driving a Chevrolet.