3.2 Engine missing 1/2 the case - Help!!

[joeblow]

Guys this is likely one of the stranger posts at least for today

I started to pull out my 3.2 Carrera engine bits to send them off to the machine shop the other day. It has been apart in my workshop for at least two years during the restoration of my car. When I got about 2 mins into the process I realized 1/2 of my engine case was missing!! I looked everywhere for the large and hard to misplace case half to no avail. I looks like some bastard who wondered into my shop over the past two years made off with it (never leave your garage open while working on cool stuff like Porsches as every wanderer by whats to yak it up). I bet it is on his garage wall or something so he can show his ricer buddies or something his Porsche trophy.

So here I am with new cylinders, high compression pistons, big cams, individual throttle bodies and only 1/2 a case ARRRRRRG!

Also looks like he made off with one of my 3.2 ltr heads too!

So the crazy question....is there much chance in hell I can find a missing 1/2 of a 3.2 ltr case, get it to match up with mine and not spend an arm and a leg? I was thinking that somebody might have been the unfortunate victim of a rod failure taking out only 1/2 the case? I figure the head would be a similar situation?

Does anybody know of such a case half laying around ready for an unfortunate guy like me to pick up?

Thanks in advance guys for your help!!

Sneak peek at my freshly restored baby...

[Grady Clay]

Sorry.
You need a new case with matching halves.

I don't think there is any other way.

MM might be the experts.

Best,
Grady

[peppy]

Originally Posted by Grady Clay

MM might be the experts.

Best,
Grady

That's funny

[mamut]

It is posible using another half from other engine, you will have to do some line boring on it, then you will need some oversize on the outside bearings, which side you are missing??,cheers.

[RichHawk]

Heh, I have half of a 3.2L case.


Ok, I actually have both sides. but the right side (4,5,6) is pretty well beat up.
Which side do you need?


Richard

[rcaradimos]

My wife throws my stuff out.. Honey did you see my....NO!
Please just leave my stuff alone, it might look like junk to you but....
Kinda like how money is never in the budget for my Porsche.

[joeblow]

Originally Posted by mamut

It is posible using another half from other engine, you will have to do some line boring on it, then you will need some oversize on the outside bearings, which side you are missing??,cheers.

Thats what I figured...now to find the other side! Thanks!

[joeblow]

Originally Posted by RichHawk

Heh, I have half of a 3.2L case.


Ok, I actually have both sides. but the right side (4,5,6) is pretty well beat up.
Which side do you need?


Richard

Richard,

Now I cant remember, let me check when I get home...I will PM you if it is OK?

[john walker's workshop]

forget it! get a complete case. you will spend the same amount at a machine shop to match the two halves. no chance they will work without expensive machining. it's like mixing up connecting rod caps.

[fastfredracing]

You know what, before you go out and buy a new case, give it a week or two, and brainstorm, dig in some places you would not expect. You probably have it around somewhere. I hate it when things are disassembled for long periods of time. Even when you have things boxed , and bagged up, they get moved around, and start to migrate into the strangest places of the shop.
I thought I lost the cylinder head to a volvo last summer. For some reason, I moved it to the uppper garage( the car was sitting for about a month), and when It came time to put it back together, I could not find the thing for the life of me.
If it does not turn up though, take JW.s advice, and get a complete case, and you will have your old case for a cool wall ornament.

[Grady Clay]

joeblow,

Originally Posted by mamut

It is posible using another half from other engine, you will have to do some line boring on it, then you will need some oversize on the outside bearings, which side you are missing??,cheers.

I strongly disagree.

I think you will find no disagreement among anyone knowledgably and with a lot of experience. GET A NEW CRANKCASE.

I have seen people try and do this with 356 cases. They could have bought a complete NEW engine for the effort and expense they went to.

I think everyone with a 911 issue that I have ever talked to (over 40+ years), took my advice and didn’t try and mate two un-matched case halves. A lot had wishful thinking. Don’t waste your time even considering.

Is it possible to use mis-matched case halves? Sure it is possible. If one goes this route, I suspect they will be buying another complete engine, after spending a LOT of $$$,$$$.00 trying to make the mis-match work.

Numbers matching is not an issue installing a 3.2 in your ’73.

What to do?

Since you are also missing a cylinder head, I suspect it is most economical to buy another complete engine. Sure, you will end up with a lot of ‘spare parts’. The good news is you can pick the best parts for your engine and sell the remains.

Sadly this is an expensive and unnecessary faux pas. All engine cases should be stored with the case-halves nestled together. Not only does this keep matching pieces together but it also protects very sensitive mating surfaces and bearing support surfaces.

I’m sorry I can’t offer some easy solution. My MM (Mickey Mouse © Disney) reference is born out by several anecdotal stories on the Forum.


Why not put every Porsche owner in PR on the trail of your missing case half and cylinder head. How many Porsches registered in PR?

Best,
Grady

[Mark Henry]

Get another case as they are machined in matched sets from the factory.
The head can be matched up but you'll need to have them (or at least 3) flycut so that they are all the same spec.

I agree with waiting a bit and doing your spring cleaning a bit early this year.

[Steve@Rennsport]

Grady's advice is, as usual, priceless.

You need to source a good used case (new ones are now $9648) unless you locate the missing half.

[cstreit]

...not only that but have you seen the cost of oversize bearings these days?!! You can probably source a good used case for less $$ than even basic line boring and oversized bearings.

[rusnak]

Just go out and get it back. Cruise the neighborhood after dark with a strong flashlight and a machete.

[cbush]

There are two pieces of great advice in this thread that I have also picked up (the hard way) over the last few years-
- Don't match up different crankcase halves- you will have better results with a pair, and probably spend less. You could spend a lot for machine work and still not be happy.
- Always store crankcase halves lightly bolted together-the mangesium cases in particular will warp if you don't and require line boring

[joeblow]

Well guys I guess I have heard what I expected. Buy a new case (after a little more searching )...

Assuming I don't find it behind my toilet or something perhaps you guys could help me decide where to go next. Funds are getting short and the wife is not able to hear the word Porsche more than about once per week at this point so I need to get 'creative'.

I have a complete 2.7 CIS engine that was pulled with 60K on the clock. From what I know it was well cared for. It got the 11 blade fan and SSIs early on so it likely was not cooked and it shows no signs of leakage, pulled studs etc... I got it because the price was right and I was missing a bunch to put the 3.2ltr together like fan, alternator, misc. fittings etc... plus I figured I could sell what I didn't need to help fund the balance of what machine work and such I was planning for the 3.2.

Now it is the only complete engine I have. I also have a complete EFI system (WOLF 3D), individual throttle bodies (from Australia), 964 Twin Plug Distributer, Street Strip Elgin cams, 5 Carrera heads ;(, and of course a 3.2 crank & rods and high compression P & C set for the 3.2.

One of my thoughts was to just build the 2.7 without splitting the case and use the Carrera P&Cs, heads, cams, throttle bodies, and have the 3.2 heads Twin plugged either now or in the future when funds are better?

I know the Mag cases are not exactly on the top ten list of starting points but what do you guys think?

Of course I could just drop in the 2.7 for now and build te 3.2 later but I have tried to maintain my distance from CIS engines since they are some voodu priest controlled demons in those things! Sure would be fastest to get on the road.

ARRRRG! I am still POed about the case, I had this all figured out till now!

Any thoughts?

[joeblow]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Just go out and get it back. Cruise the neighborhood after dark with a strong flashlight and a machete.

Shhhhh...this is in the works....

[john walker's workshop]

the 2.7 and 3.2 are two different animals, and parts like heads, crank and rods, and P&Cs don't interchange.

[Grady Clay]

As John said...
More bad news:

The Carrera 3.2 heads won’t fit the 2.7. The head studs were relocated with the 3.0.

Your new P&Cs have the same issue.

The 3.2 (or 3.0) cams will not fit the 2.7 cam housings but you can install the cams together with the 3.2 cam housings.

The 2.7 can be converted to twin-plug and EFI.

The only gremlin in the 2.7 is the head studs. If the case has had inserts installed, the problem is solved.

A 2.7 with Mahle Nikasil P&Cs and a good valve job is a very nice engine. It is also lightweight, appropriate for the ’73. Add EFI and twin ignition, you have an extremely nice engine. You already have the 11-blade fan (hopefully 245 mm, 1.82:1). Do you have the ’74-> front oil cooler pieces?

This will give you time to drive around and search PR for the missing case half.

Best,
Grady