What's the best $$ spent for my performance on an SC
 

I don't wanna track this baby but would like to add some performance. Not into weight loss in the form of replacing steel with FG. I was thinking of SSI's in place of my OEM heat exchangers and am having issues with exhaust fumes in the cab anyway.

Is that a decent upgrade for performance? I've always heard it was. I know it's no SMOG compliant in Ca but I live in a small town and know the smog guys who don't even look....or read this forum...I hope..

What other work needs to be done to change the HE's to SSI ? Guess it would be a good time to check for broken studs too..?

Yeah, yeah, I know...the search button is my friend...:rolleyes: Just spoon feed me please ;)...Just this once...

SSI's with a nice backdated Dansk Sport SS exhaust (or many other exhaust that others will mention) is probably the most common and easy upgrades on a SC. It makes a difference. Its also nice looking. Not a terribly hard job if you take your time.

For power, SSI's and a good sport muffler are your best bet. While your at it, ditch the smog pump (which you won't need/can't use anymore) and the electric boost fan for the heater system (heat will still work).

Remember you need the correct oil lines.

Also for your reading: Pelican Technical Article: Installing SSI Heat Exchangers on your 911

I wish I could tell you how much they help... my SSIs and an M&K go on next week :).

Alternatively, Bilsteins and Turbo Tie Rods will do wonders for the handling. This was the 2nd thing I did with my car (1st was brakes which was more of a rebuild/replace than an upgrade), and boy what a difference.

Don't forget 964 or Webcam 20/21 cams.

but do you want more power first?

or would you rather have better feel of the road first?

& is the car bone stock right now?

what tires are on it?


re power/smog - if you have the bucks just swap in a 993 motor

or look around for some high flow, dual-stage cats & see if they are CARB cert. & chip the motor

If you need the top end rebuild anyway then replacing your cams is a great call... just stay within the limits of CIS pistons and the CIS system's tolerances.

If not... well... you're getting a top end rebuild to replace the camshaft, might as well check the springs, rockers, etc.

Good Luck

Thanks to you all so far. So far, knock wood, I don't need an upper end rebuild but I do know about the cam when the time comes. I forget the exact model of Michelins I have but they are 7/8's. I do have turbo tie rods. Also the usual SC upgrades: Carrera oil cooler, chain oiler, MSD, AC delete, blah blah. I was just thinking that the SSI upgrade would be noticeable. I have the smog pump belt off but the pump is still there...just in case, and it passes SMOG just fine.

God knows I'd love to do a 3.6 but that's major bucks... Moses was coooool enough to let me drive his at Thunder Hill a couple years back...big time woody then :) Thanks again, Mose...

people who have done a chip and SSIs as a package seem to think its "noticeable"

I wonder if it adds much more than just the SSIs

it was my understanding there is no chip for an SC. have i been misinformed?

Can you chip an SC with CIS ?

No.:rolleyes:

Only Motronic Carrera 3.2

oops - my mistake! - was thinking he had a 3.2L for some reason

beyond SSIs then:

replace the CIS stuff with an aftermarket EFI - Megasquirt is what some have done for the lowest cost

I think those things have a barn door air meter - didn't somebody make a hot wire sensor replacement?

Suspension work (stiffer t-bars, fresh shocks, late Carrera sways, fresh bushings front and rear, monoballs, and good alignment)

You don't have a visual emissions inspection in CA?

You'd never get by with doing that in Denver. They open the hood and look for the working pump on a '78 and '79.

They check the Cat.

Then they check emissions.

That's all.

well, that is the risk he is taking

if he gets caught by a roadside sniffer, it could be pretty expensive

a good procedure would be to compare the cost of 3.6L motor swap with the fines, penalties + cost to convert the car back to stock

the difference, if positive, can be compared with the fun factor/$$ of a nice fat 3.6L - the thing will burn up the road with that puppy

Mark, the best and cheapest "performance" upgrade I've made on my 76 911S with a 78 SC 3.0L engine was to replace the rear bell crank bushings with the brass ones available through our host. Responding to what I felt was deteriorating performance and throttle response, I found the original nylon bushings were missing and I was getting only approximately 2/3 throttle. I installed the brass bushings and proper throttle return spring and I now have a rocket! I would recommend everyone check out this issue, which I think often is overlooked. BTW I'm in Browns Valley, if you are over this way I will be glad to help you check this out and give you the benefit of my experience regarding the install, which is easy but takes some patience.

Best performance investment is seat time at AX, DE and DS.

Tires are next, as EVERY performance part on the car works through the contact patch between the road surface and the tires.

For power and engine smoothness, SSI's are significant.

Beyond that, my advice would be suspension. I believe suspension is more important than engine power, but admit that it's nice to drive a 911 with tuned exhaust because of the increased engine smoothness.

Ths SC cam is a great cam.

You can re-time your SC cam to 77 euro specs. No need for a C2 cam. It dose not flow any better where we needed it, it just moves the power band to a higher level. It also lowers the 'effective' compression ratio at the expense of low end. Thus, if one is going with a C2 they should bump the compression to compensate or it should be going on a bore and stoker build of something larger than a 3.2.

Just my opinion.

Exhaust and tuning. Get the AFR's as close to 13.2 to 13/1 at WOT as possible and set the timing on a dyno with a good tuner.

Smaller 23-24" diameter light weight 15" 7&8" Fuchs can help to. Get as much weight out of the car as possible. There is 50 lbs in the front trunk with the spare, jack & tools. The SC AC is heavy. The 3.2 Carrera has a much lighter AC bracket and pump if needed. Seats are big. Rear seats and rear rubber bumperetts add up. Just trunk, AC delete & sport seats can take 200 lbs off.

True enough, I'd be taking a chance. Like I said, we have a very small town here and I know the smog guys at a few places. They NEVER check underneath but I do re-install the smog pump belt before I go in. I can pass smog w/o the belt though. I had a cat but replaced it with the Fabspeed pre'muffler only to find out :rolleyes: that the PO had gutted the cat anyway. Of course I kept it just in case.

As for roadside sniffers I've not ever seen one but I guess I coulda' driven right by it w/o noticing. Do the SSI's really change the values they sniff for that much ?

I have PM'd Fred to look into what he discussed. Never heard of that issue before.

Wheels and tires are 16" 7/8's with Michelin tires....215/50/16 front and 245/40/16 rear.

Thanks again guys SmileWavy

I just finished getting a top end rebuild on my 83SC and I also did an AC delete, heaterback date, and SSI's with a M&K 2in1out. The difference in VERY evident! The car accels faster, stays cooler (enginewise) and sounds awesome (not a performance thing ut nice nonetheless). I decided to go without the cam upgrade as I use my car as a daily driver and can't see myself having any use for more HP/torque for the way I use the car. Thats not to say I wouldn't do it if I did alot of AX or DE's.