What kind of engine do I have?

[Joeaksa]

Thanks for the videos. Love the sound...

[ljowdy]

cnielsen
I just sent you a PM re: 550 81 Also, I seriously doubt this engine was in a 550 as they had the distributors on the flywheel side

[Monza_dh]

Just thinking, would the factory or museum be interested in this as well? Maybe they'd be willing top contribute more to the college fund??

[ljowdy]

One of my closest friends was Kurt Meier, he was an Exec. with Porsche of Germany and worked in the USA ensuring Federal and State vehicular compliance. Back in the 50's he toured with the race teams and worked on 550's and Carrera's with 547 (4) cam engines and then in the 60's when the (4) cam was in the 904.. He was very knowledgable about those engines and was my "go to" for anything Porsche but, he passed away in 2004 and is dearly missed.

[Grady Clay]

Originally Posted by ljowdy

One of my closest friends was Kurt Meier, he was an Exec. with Porsche of Germany and worked in the USA ensuring Federal and State vehicular compliance. Back in the 50's he toured with the race teams and worked on 550's and Carrera's with 547 (4) cam engines and then in the 60's when the (4) cam was in the 904.. He was very knowledgable about those engines and was my "go to" for anything Porsche but, he passed away in 2004 and is dearly missed.

Small world.

Some time in the early ‘70s Kurt Meier and I became friends We may have met at Vasek Polak’s shop. He was in charge of the high altitude testing (among lots other) here in Denver.

Every time he came to Denver, we had dinner and talked Porsche. I put him up many times at the University Club (17th & Sherman).

I think the only Porsche engineering “improvement” I know I can take credit for is connecting the 928 A/C to the fuel system. I stranded a 928 coming off I-25 at Lincoln. Much to his chagrin it went ‘blub, blub, blub’ and died from too rich. “Vass? It cant be.”

We spent many hours looking over all my 4-cam engines, two 904s, two C2 Cabriolets, RS-60, C2GT and more.


My advice to everyone – don’t get old.

I just went to a party with guys who we have played with Porsche for 40+ years. Damnitall … we have too many friends missing. This party was to honor my late friend Danny Collins.


EDIT
EDIT
EDIT

A great Kurt Meier story.

In August 1974 I was at Porsche and invited to be ‘guest crew’ at a Nuremburg race. It was hot. After the race the crew all went to the bar in the middle of the paddock (only in Germany). Of course no one told me about the alcohol content of German beer. Needless to say, with my raceday thirst, I over-indulged.

Kurt Meyer pored me into my rental 1300 VW and drove me back to my hotel and put me to bed. The next day I learned of his kindness.

Best,
Grady

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

My advice to everyone – don’t get old.

I just went to a party with guys who we have played with Porsche for 40+ years. Damnitall … we have too many friends missing. This party was to honor my late friend Danny Collins.

Best,
Grady

Grady,

Thats the one thing that no one warns you about. Getting old means you go to more and more funerals, all the while fighting against a body that gets more and more cranky by the day.

Still, its better than the other option...

Joe A

PS Any of you guys know Serge Dubuc at the factory in Stuttgart? I was helping the PCA in Berlin and he was a big asset of ours with the Factory. Lost touch with him 10-15 years ago...

[Grady Clay]

Yet another Kurt Meier story.

On that same trip Kurt let me drive the ‘variable CG Porsche' on the Weissach track. After, he took me through about five locked doors and swore me to secretary. Remember, this is August ’74.

Ooo.
There was a complete, running 928. Ooo.
Ooo.

I had never seen a Porsche like that.
This was TWO years before its introduction.

To this day, I’m sorry I didn’t ask Kurt the embarrassing question: “Will the 928 out-drag a Corvette from a stoplight?” I should have asked that question right then. Porsche history might have been different.

I think there are some pictures when I walked out on the pond with the introduction of the 928 at the San Diego Parade. No one else had the guts. Kurt gave me a ‘nod’.

All this silly stuff.

Best,
Grady

[bavaria911]

Grady,
It is the night before I head off to Walter Reed Med Center for my double hernia surgery, wow what a great thread -- the best in years!

Can't wait to see close-up photos and read more of the 4 cam motor when I can get to the computer Friday...hell Thursday night!

Vr,
Scott

[Grady Clay]

Just to keep everyone up to date:

This involves a pushrod Speedster SCCA racer, a 550 Spyder, an Elva-Porsche and an RS-61.

Big deal Porsche history.
All started by a little post on Pelican:
"What kind of engine do I have?"

Best,
Grady

[Nine17]

I've had the pleasure of conversing with now-aging gents who owned such cars back in the Sixties and Seventies before Earle and the Earl's (Steve and March) events drove up demand, making what was once simply interesting cast-off junk so very valuable. I'm glad that we weren't being hoaxed (yet again) and that the story behind this motor is both interesting and heart-warming. Please keep it coming.

[donald summers]

I think I need to get in touch with Grady! I know what kind of engine I am working with but have questions

[ossiblue]

Originally Posted by donald summers

I think I need to get in touch with Grady! I know what kind of engine I am working with but have questions

Holy Moley! This thread just keeps getting better and better!

[Grady Clay]

Donald,
Welcome to the Forum
You will find a lot of help here.

Post the numbers from the engines and the Type numbers.
That will go a long way with identification.

What is the history of each?
What chassis were they originally delivered in?

Lots of fun history, I’ll bet.

Is the one on the right a ‘mock-up’?
The white ‘cylinders’ may be spacers?
I don’t see the pulley end of the crankshaft?
The heads look relatively intact.

More pictures please.

Best,
Grady

[cab83_750]

So now we have a member with $200,000.00+ worth of engine. Ossiblue beats Uber. I need to see my grandpa and see if he has 4 of these.

Wow! Awesome thread.

[ljowdy]

Actually, Ossiblue isn't the owner, he just copied the photo.

Donald Summers is the original author of that post.
So, Donald Summers beats out Uber for best quantity of Type 547 (4) cam engines

[AUS911SC3]

Any development on this engine identification ?

[paulgtr]

so what's the latest news?

[Dana Norris]

I don`t want hijack this long running thread but! I lived in the Denver area from
1983 to 2002 ( Broomfield ) and used to visit a small shop that specialized in
Porsche cars ( as I owned a few while I lived there ) This shop was on Arapaho
Road in Boulder Just before the railroad overpass and K Ts BBQ, the owner
was a nice guy and would let you wander around the shop, anyway, long story short he had 3 or 4 Twin Cam Motors there, one was in a 50s or early 60s BMW
Motorcycle frame R50 or R60 , anyone remember this shop? I can not remember the guys name for the life of me. Dana.....

[group911@aol.co]

Originally Posted by Dana Norris

I don`t want hijack this long running thread but! I lived in the Denver area from
1983 to 2002 ( Broomfield ) and used to visit a small shop that specialized in
Porsche cars ( as I owned a few while I lived there ) This shop was on Arapaho
Road in Boulder Just before the railroad overpass and K Ts BBQ, the owner
was a nice guy and would let you wander around the shop, anyway, long story short he had 3 or 4 Twin Cam Motors there, one was in a 50s or early 60s BMW
Motorcycle frame R50 or R60 , anyone remember this shop? I can not remember the guys name for the life of me. Dana.....

Tom Conway, Carquip. Still there

[Grady Clay]

Guys,

Here is the engine as it was a “Garage Find.”
Note the coffee cans full of oil and parts.
There are several pushrod engines.
One of the transmissions may be a type 718 (Spyder).




Oh, by the way.
There also is a complete 1957 Speedster.
I don’t know (yet) if it is/was a Carrera Speedster.

More coming this week.

Best,
Grady