SWB, engine type and originality

Will 1967 · 01-10-2008, 12:52 AM

I'm trying to find 901/05 engine for my 1967 911 project and my plan is to rebuild it back to original condition (not concours). (mind you, finding here even project condition SWB car here in Europe is much more difficult than in US and prices lot higher) Problem is that finding exactly that type engine is fairly difficult and I have been offered main parts of 1968 engine (type 901/06).

As car will not be matching# anyway would you say it's as "original" and valuable without having exactly right engine type code?
(type 901/05 and 901/06 difference is cams IIRC, and they did make 1967 cars with 901/06 as well)

So should I go for wrong type engine that I could get easily here in UK (cheaper than shipping engine from US) or should I wait right type engine to come up for sale? (unlikely here so most likely I should buy it from US) I'm not in hurry...

carsngolf · carsngolf's Garage

Just a humble opinion but if an engine isn't the orginal as listed on a Certificate of Authenticity I doubt it would make much difference to a prospective buyer whether it was a from a different year, so long as it wasn't outwardly different - such as fuel injection rather than carburetors, etc.
Good luck.

304065 · 01-10-2008, 07:35 AM

How do you know it was a 901/05? I would think a '67 would have the softer cams of the 901/06. But if your COA says so . . .

I'm with Jerry, I think you would be fine with any aluminum cased pre '68 engine. It's a shame that everyone snaps up the aluminum cases worldwide not for restoration purposes but for race engines, they are expensive now.

Will 1967 · 01-10-2008, 08:09 AM

My friend checked motor# based on VIN (from Porsche), and number matches 901/05 engine (909849). Engine I have been offered is 308.... (so should be 901/06)
I would have to source cams anyway as I have been offered only some parts of engine. (missing cams and rods). I believe cams and rods should be relatively simple to find?

I agree it's shame that aluminum blocks are so difficult to find, I bet I would get it build with 3.0sc motor for less.

And actually what comes to value, it's kind of irrelevant as I'm doing car for myself, not to sell it.