Anyone sell their 3.6 conversion? Did you regret it? What did you go to?

JonT · 03-09-2008, 10:59 AM

I've owned my car 14 years now and did the full blown 3.6 conversion and suspension upgrades to go with it around 5 or 6 years ago. The car still runs great and is a blast to drive but I feel it may be time to move on to a new project. To get something faster on the track (I do 4-6 track events/year) I'm going to have to step up to a turbo or something newer and spend quite a bit so it better be worth it. Anyone else go through the sale of their 3.6 conversion? What were your afterthoughts and comments?

Whtnkls911 · 03-09-2008, 04:46 PM

Ask Craig930rs he did.

ninesixfour · 03-09-2008, 05:12 PM

What kind of change are you looking for? Faster in a straight line, faster in the turns, better brakes, better A/C, different look (long hood, turbo flares)...? Is it your daily driver, weekend fun car, track car...?

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonT

I've owned my car 14 years now and did the full blown 3.6 conversion and suspension upgrades to go with it around 5 or 6 years ago. The car still runs great and is a blast to drive but I feel it may be time to move on to a new project. To get something faster on the track (I do 4-6 track events/year) I'm going to have to step up to a turbo or something newer and spend quite a bit so it better be worth it. Anyone else go through the sale of their 3.6 conversion? What were your afterthoughts and comments?

I bought a 993, but couldn't bear to part w/ the C3. So I kept it for dd(or as close to dd as I ever get) summer use.

964 and 993 are very expensive(compared to an older 911) to bring up to snuff for track use.

speedracer · 03-09-2008, 06:30 PM

Wow, beautiful car. What type of wheels are you running? Anymore pics? Sorry I can't help with your decision...

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

i sold a 930/C2Turbo to get a 3.6 conversion, sold that and got a 993, then sold that to get another 3.6, then sold that and got another 993. I just finished an M3 project (but thats another story for another board). Bottom line, nothing I have had (9- 911s so far) compared to the raw power (kick in the pants feel) of the turbo. But of course its a big price difference. i miss them all for different reasons. the 3.6s were great around town and on the track, more nimble, more torquey, easier to drive.

JonT · 03-09-2008, 07:06 PM

To answer some questions I'm really not sure where I want to go with the car-I still want to do some street driving and several DE events. AC not important I haven't had it ever in this car. At the DE's I'm slower than the turbos, GT3's, new Vettes at the fast end and faster than the 993's, 996's on the slow end but not by much. Probably because the guys don't push their newer cars as hard. For me a track prepped turbo would be the only change that would make sense. Some of the other guys that have sold their 3.6's on the board we have not heard from much it seems ie Paul Sopp, Embs. Thanks Speedracer--here's another photo. The car has 17" fuchs, 22/30 torsions, revalved bilsteins, elephant racing front/rear bushings, adjustable sways, tire sizes 245/17/45 and 275/40/17.

mede8er · mede8er's Garage

Well....it's 2 different worlds....see my sig....

On the street I love my 930....on the track the 3.6 was king.....

ninesixfour · 03-10-2008, 03:55 AM

It sounds like going faster is what you're looking for. You could put a 3.6 or 3.8 into a really light chassis or do a big hp turbo. If it were a 930 you'd be stuck with a 4 speed which isn't ideal for the track and dealing with the lag.
Are you trying to stay with a torsion bar platform, air-cooled, or any other cosmetic constraints?

KTL · 03-10-2008, 04:48 AM

Ask einreb for his take. He dumped his '88 3.6 for a '95 M3 and my impression is he's very content with the decision.

einreb · 07:24 AM

I sold mine, but it doesnt appear that our situations are similar. I actually bought Paul's car (you mentioned his name) and used his engine as the transplant into my '88 and put my 3.2 into his targa and sold that.

To get the real benefit out of the 3.6 in my '88 on the track, I would have needed to add LSD. At some point... I was like "what the fuch"? its going to cost me a fortune to 'win the DE'.

I went from that to a '95 M3 that is essentially stock (but I have sticky tires for the track). You're not going to like hearing this, but my lap times are about the same in the M3 and its a freaking family car in comparison and dirt cheap. If you have the Porsche bug, then its tough to argue the 3.6/911 combo. You want to win the drag race down the straight? You'll have to turbo it. If you want to go fast cheaper... there are certainly other ways to do it. There's a guy in the Chicago area that runs a blown M3... its ungodly fast on the track and hangs with pretty much everything.

All that being said... I'd like to get back into a 911 at some point, but it would likely be a motronic 3.2 in and early car... so that seems to be a different direction than you want to go.

EDIT: the guy that I sold the 88 to backdated it. Its absolutely gorgeous.

jwernquist · 03-10-2008, 07:47 AM

Smitty aka K9Handler sold his 3.6 mid year, when he came back over to the states. He loved that car then he came home and sold it no questions asked. I think he just commutes on his mountain bike now!

No 3.6 but I do think it's a 18 speed!

ja78911sc · 03-10-2008, 01:44 PM

If you sell the 3.6 -- Jack & Nick will be heartbroken!

P.S. Larry will be heartbroken as well.

KTL · 03-10-2008, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by einreb

I .............'win the DE'.

Classic einreb phrase that will live on forever.

But I have to disagree with the claim that the RS M3 is on par with the 3.6 conversion. Elbow had nothing for you when you were driving the 3.6 911. Now that you're M3-ing it, he's got your number. I can't believe you let him beat you now..........

tholyoak · 03:16 PM

I sold my 3.6 conversion when I bought a Boxster. The Boxster however now has an X51 3.6 and 350hp.

I'm really just a tinkerer and wanted to try a new challenge. The Boxster is also a better daily driver than the 911 with working AC for the summer and I don't mind slapping on a set of snow tires in the winter where the 911 just sat in the garage most of the time.

I know a lot of 911 die hards will shun switching to a Boxster, but don't laugh at it 'til you try a decent amount of hp coupled to a well balance mid engined chassis.

The old car:

I do miss it, but it has found its way into the hands of an old friend, so I know where it is when I want to buy it back.

Todd