3.2 swap, narrow body

enzo1 · 03-02-2009, 05:27 PM

would like to know what people who have this setup think about it.....pros & cons....narrow body car with 3.2 swap

Rot 911 · 03-02-2009, 05:39 PM

Several guys on the board have done this swap and I think they all are glad they did.

dmcummins · 03-02-2009, 05:43 PM

So far it's good with me.

enzo1 · 07:06 PM

did it upset, the handling of the car......too much power, just right,quick....brakes ok.....fun & light to drive....cost.....how you feel about it... uh, elaborate a little bit more,please... drove a 731/2 with 2.9 hot rodded motor, got back into mine & went uh oh!

TT Oversteer · 03-02-2009, 08:13 PM

I have a '77S with a '89 3.2 that I got with the conversion already done. I bought the car because I like the idea of a proven and reliable motor with the motronic system in a light car. And it's a fast but low profile car. I haven't finished sorting the car out completely so I don't think it's performing quite to it's potential yet.

One thing that I think is often overlooked on these conversions is the effect of the additional weight of the 3.2 vs. the 2.7 or whatever smaller, lighter motor was replaced. I think the full-up 3.2 weighs around 485 lbs. My car has stock suspension (for now) which is not matched to the extra weight. I'm in the process of replacing the 23mm stock rear torsion bars with 28mm hollow bars. The other issue is limited rear tire sizes you can fit under the stock unflared rear wheel arches. The biggest size I could fit is a 205/50 on a 7x16 fuchs wheel.

If done right this is a great conversion. But to achieve a well balanced and high functioning car there's more to it than just stuffing the big motor in the back.

TT Oversteer · 03-02-2009, 08:42 PM

I just read your other thread "2.7 vs. 3.6" and it's all been said by others with more experience doing this than me. I guess what you're looking for is driving impressions?

my previous 911 was a '69 with a 3.0 that had pmo carbs, ssi's, reground cams, etc. To be honest, that car was much more fun to drive than the current one. Throttle response was immediate, sounded great, revved like crazy, wicked fast.

This car is much more sedate and handles like it's got a ton of bricks in the back. But again, I don't expect it to stay this way. I have not sorted it yet and plan suspension upgrades as well as a chip/cat bypass, ac delete, heater backdate, etc. Hopefully this will transform the car into the quick, good handling car it was meant to be.

Dantilla · 03-02-2009, 08:43 PM

Since I had a complete 1987 parts car, my '73 ended up with Carrera flares to go with the Carrera engine.

No regrets. None. Not at all. I'd do it all over again. Yup. Sure would.

Ricks911s · 03-02-2009, 08:49 PM

Just wanted to echo TT oversteers sentiments. I just put in a 3.0 into a '76. I haven't run the engine so I can't speak to the throttle response, etc. But in a lowered '76 the car obviously sits lower in back and I know I'll have to adjust to suit the slightly heavier engine to suspension, etc.

PcarPhil · 03-03-2009, 03:28 AM

IMO you'll love it. All pros, no cons.

Will you be using the stock '76 trans? If so that trans is lighter than the later 915's that came with the 3.2 engines.

If you're concerned about the weight increase then I suggest losing the A/C compressor and associated hardware, along with deleting the heater blower moter (go to backdated heat), and getting a lightweight M&K muffler.

I did all this in my '77 and still ran the stock torsion bars for 9 months or so before taking my car apart for paint. No problems. I will be upgrading my torsion bars but IMO it's not immediately necessary.

dmcummins · 03-03-2009, 04:10 AM

I went from a 2.4 CIS to the 3.2. I have 26/21 torsion bars and bilstein shocks. I drive the car on the street, so I havn't pushed the car to the limits, but it is so much more fun to drive with the 3.2 in it. Its just has so much more power. It also starts right up with no fuss, even when cold.

I just finished the swap, so I may be biased, but I would do it again. I havn't noticed the car's handling feeling that much different than before. I also havn't noticed any problem with the brakes. The car is much faster so I have to watch out that I don't get in trouble though.

As far as cost, I didn't add everything up. I already had the motor and planned on putting it into a 71 roller that I had. I was having some problems with my CIS and figured it would be cheaper to put the 3.2 into the 73 as it already had a 915 trans.

For the 73 the only things I changed was the fuel filter, fuel pump, and coil. Now I also did alot of "while I was in there changes", and I used some things off my old motor. I backdated the heat, new motor mounts, clutch, fuel lines, injectors, and other things I can't remmember now. I also need a new tach, I don't know if this is required as mine wasn't working before the swap.

Another difference now is I just have more confidence in the car. I now drive the car often, usually 60 miles a day. Before I was always worried about the car starting or having some other glitch. Now I just turn the key and it start's right up. It's very fast when I want it to be, or I can just cruise down the highway if I want. Now its not perfect, It doesn't idle as well as I would like, it hunts some. But it doesn't die and I just need to sort that out.

TT Oversteer · 03-03-2009, 08:00 AM

dmcummins, how did you do your heater backdate? I've heard there are clearance problems on the left duct due to the larger carrera distributor. Did you cut and clearance the duct? Pics would be appreciated if you can.

cubby911T · cubby911T's Garage

+1 on both Kaefer's and dmcummins' comments....

I converted my '77 S last summer (with a LOT of help from this board, including Kaefer) and I am very satisfied with the results. I was a bit worried about the 3.2's additional weight too, but I really don't feel much difference in that respect. The car still feels nimble and light and the stock suspension seems adequate. Of course, I am using the '77's lighter (7:31) 915 tranny, no AC hardware, a cat bypass, and a sport muffler....these things are saving me some weight for sure.

I have power in spades now - probably 235 hp thanks to my SW chip. My narrow little '77 is now noticeably faster than my '89 Carrera was, and more fun too in my opinion. See the link in my signature line for a "diary" of my conversion process. I used 3 main resources to help me through the project:

1. This BBS
2. Marc's 2.7 to 3.2 conversion guide
3. Wayne's 101 Projects book

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Well, there is a slight con -- it will weigh more and there will be more wt. concentrated in the rear.

The power, torque, lower incidence of oil leaks.... all make it well worth it for me.

dmcummins · 03-03-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TT Oversteer

dmcummins, how did you do your heater backdate? I've heard there are clearance problems on the left duct due to the larger carrera distributor. Did you cut and clearance the duct? Pics would be appreciated if you can.

Its tight. You can buy the 930 heater duct and have a nice clean install I believe. Or you can do what I did and gently remove the left duct and beat on it with a hammer.

78-911SC · 03-03-2009, 11:12 AM

Dmcummins who did your exhaust and how much. Looks evil..

dmcummins · 03-03-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 78-911SC

Dmcummins who did your exhaust and how much. Looks evil..

Its just a pair of early heat exchangers and a old sport muffler that I had laying around. Its probably not the optimum setup, but it was stuff that I already had. To make the thin flange early exchangers work I changed the studs on the ones that came out easy and just used washers on the ones that didn't want to budge.

enzo1 · 12:29 AM

Thanks for all the replies, thats the info I needed, special thanks to rwebb , Bill & Jack for their info, suggestions , I was thinking 3.6 & that would have been a mistake for my purposes

enzo1 · 01:34 AM

lets see, I've read @ 50% of all Porsches made are in California, that may not be, but their are a lot more than here....hwy patrol pulled me over, out of 20 cars going same speed... he actually thought it was a new one, its a 76....speedo probably not working right ....no ticket, I start making it flashy... ticket time ...I prefer a sleeper, but don't get me wrong, I like em all & I want them allllllllll....

enzo1 · 08:01 AM

But officer this beat up ole thing couldn't possibly been going over a 100, This is the ultimate targa, if it had a 3.6 in it!hahahahaha