What engine for my RSR?

[porschenut]

I'm planning to convert my perfectly good '86 Carrera into a stripped down '73 2.8 RSR replica, as so many others have already done. I'm planning to use the stock tranny, brakes, and suspension from my car, which have all been recently rebuilt. The only thing I need to do is body work, paint, and engine.

My engine budget is $15k plus the 3.2L that I have to start with. I can sell it and start with something else if needed, but whatever I end up with I want to be able to do the disassembly/reassembly myself using Wayne's book, if possible.

This will be a street motor, and needs to pass Colorado emissions (horrors!) and last at least 50k miles before needing another rebuild.

So, what's the best motor to build for this car, considering I don't know much about engines aside from what Wayne tells me in his book, and that I want at least 250 flywheel hp when I'm through?

P.S. I'd love to send the motor to Steve Weiner, but that would probably blow my budget out of the water, and besides, I want this to be as much of a DIY educational project as possible. My mind remains open, however.

P.P.S. I'm doing my diligence with the search button, but I can't search on 3 character terms like RSR, 2.8, etc.

[Jeff Alton]

Search me or "catca" (my old user id) on the engine forum for a decent 3.4 build or dfink here on this forum for a similar build. These will give you an idea of what others have done. Look around on the engine forum, lots of great motors have been built over there....

[Gogar]

Give me your 3.2, and I'll give you my 2.4, so you can make a 2.8. It's only right!!!!!

[porschenut]

Gogar, make that a 2.4S and I might pause to think about it...

[Wayne 962]

How about this?

-Wayne

[4G1]

If you are in the Denver Metro you could get a PO Box in Larimer, Grand or Elbert and register your Pcar there to avoid the Colorado E-test. I'm sure several other surrounding county's don't have emissions either but I know those three don't.

[BoxsterGT]

OK, Wayne..........

Tell us about this 3.6 motor w MFI....

Its sure not a 79 911.

Len

[Elombard]

Sell 3.2 + $15K gets you into a nice 3.6 conversion.

[Wayne 962]

Originally Posted by BoxsterGT

OK, Wayne..........

Tell us about this 3.6 motor w MFI....

Its sure not a 79 911.

Len

Porsche factory werks prototype engine created for Vasek Polak's 908 chassis. The only one like it in the world...

-Wayne

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by porschenut

......
My engine budget is $15k plus the 3.2L that I have to start with. I can sell it and start with something else if needed, but whatever I end up with I want to be able to do the disassembly/reassembly myself using Wayne's book, if possible.

This will be a street motor, and needs to pass Colorado emissions (horrors!) and last at least 50k miles before needing another rebuild.

So, what's the best motor to build for this car, considering I don't know much about engines aside from what Wayne tells me in his book, and that I want at least 250 flywheel hp when I'm through?
.....

get your self a 3.6 - 4.0

- '94 964 3.6 > 250hp
- '95 993 3.6 > 270hp
'96 - 98 993 3.6 > 280hp
3.8RS > 300hp
4.0 > 330hp
all but the last will be smog legal

[ninesixfour]

Originally Posted by Elombard

Sell 3.2 + $15K gets you into a nice 3.6 conversion.

That's what I was thinking. A stock 3.6 would do the trick nicely but I don't know if $15K will leave you anything for the bodywork and that's probably true no matter what engine you go with other than the 3.2 you already have.

[Porsche_monkey]

Financially, would you not be better starting with something like this:

1974 911S with 993 3.6L engine Track Car for Sale

??

[JeremyD]

If I was in your shoes I would go the same route as Jeff - but maybe make a 3.7 out of it with LN Engineering Nickies. I always like the idea of a full rebuild vs an unknown used engine.

[JeremyD]

or this

3.6L Race Motor, 350hp turn key

[porschenut]

$15k is just the engine budget. An additional $15k for chassis straightening, rust repair, panel fitment, and paint.

One thing that doesn't turn me on is the idea of a 3.6 swap. I know it may be cost effective, but I really don't want to buy a solution - I want to build one. This is going to be a fun project. I don't want to just write a check.

Surely I can coax 40 more hp out of a 3.2 without spending the entire budget...can't I?

I already have a Wong chip and exhaust on it. If I added 964 cams and a custom Wong chip, how much more would that get me? Suppose I rebuild it with 98mm jugs in addition (single plug 3.4, keep the Motronic). Now how much?

[Porsche_monkey]

I think Jeff can tell you what you'll get from a 3.4.

[JeremyD]

For comparison, here's my 3.4, in blue, compared to Ralph's 3.5, in red, compared to a bone stock 88 3.2 with a euro premuffler and stock chip, in green.



Now Jeff's 3.4 with ITB was a large step above these. You can run wilder cams with the ITB's. My 993 ss cams are about as hot as you can go and still idle with motronic.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

How about this?

-Wayne

Wayne, you're one of the guys I was hoping to get some useful advice from.

[JeremyD]

Hmm - after I reread - and the need to pass colorado emissions - I'd follow Bill V's advice - he's spot on. I'd sell your 3.2 - I'd buy a 3.6 core engine and rebuild it to 3.8 or 4.0 specs. You won't be able to go too hot on the cams. Stay with the stock engine management. That should get you past emissions. You'll be pushing your budget though.

[Rot 911]

I'd stick with your 3.2. I assume you already have done the cat bypass, if not do that. Then add the 964 cams and updated Steve W chip. That won't gain you much more HP, maybe 5 or so, but you will now get a lot more off the line grunt. When I rebuilt my 3.2 I went with SSI's, 964 cams, chip and muffler and it is nice and strong off the line all the way up to redline. Stripping you car of weight will just make it more of a beast.