89 rebuild, stay 3.2 or go to 3.4?

[John Leaman]

I'm having my 89 Targa 3.2 rebuilt. 150k on the clock and a few issues ergo rebuild.
New pistons, cylinders, cams, timing chains and other stuff. I'm already at about 15k. Since I'm already here should I turn it into a 3.4??? Should that cost a bunch more and how much h.p. , torque gain should I get. Is it worth it?? I've used it as a daily driver for the past 5 years and plan to continue to until I forget how to shift.

Cheers
JR

[BURN-BROS]

Hi John,

having your existing cylinders bored and plated for 98mm JE pistons is a very cost effective way to go. It's definitely cheaper than buying new cylinders.

[rusnak]

You've got to make these decisions as a group (cams, pistons, compression, exhaust, etc), not piecemeal.

As for 3.4, you're considering an expensive 200ccs. You have to decide if you really want the extra displacement at considerable cost. I wouldn't go much above stock compression if you're going to do a lot of touring. If you raise the compression, then race gas is in your future.

On the other hand, you did go with the Trident, not the Seawolf, so maybe you're already leaning to the more practical approach....

[whiterabbit]

Yes if you are already buying new P&C then go 3.4 no question. Very little cost difference.

[Steve@Rennsport]

If you decide to make it a 3.4, be sure you use the "Max Moritz" wedge-dome pistons otherwise you will need twin-ignition to run on pump gas.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by whiterabbit

Yes if you are already buying new P&C then go 3.4 no question. Very little cost difference.

Not if you are talking about Mahles.

[sc_rufctr]

Keep it at 3.2... Stock everything. Except, maybe spend some money on a
Steve Wong chip, a nice set of SSI headers or 993 clam headers and a nice muffler. Monty?

Yes it's tempting to add cubic inches but if you want it to last another 150,000 miles then just rebuild it to stock.
A well tuned stock 3.2 motor is more than enough for daily duties and is very durable.

You can still burn your license in about 30 seconds in either your 3.2 or 3.4.

Now if it was a track car??? Entirely different story.

3.6 or 3.8 conversion with appropriate cams. ($$$$$) And that's just the beginning...

"PMO" ITB's, "Motec" engine management, I could go on and on.

[JeremyD]

I went 3.4 with my old engine - with the right cams - and a few other tweaks - you can have a great engine.

Remember though - building an engine is like baking a cake. Just adding a bunch of one ingredient does not make a great cake.

Specs:
Engine Rebuilt top to bottom at 57,000 (6/20/2005) 3.4 mahle 9.8 to one jugs
~ 1MM taken out of pistons for valve pockets
Single plug
Magnecor Wires
Extrude hone intake
993ss cams (Dougherty Racing Cams)
ARP rod bolts
Supertech Head Studs
Enlarged throttle body
Competition springs and retainers (EBS)
New reference sensors
New CHT sensor
New fastening hardware
New rocker shafts
New RSR Rocker Shaft Seals
New teflon lined Carrera fuel line
New Carrera tensioner lines
New oil sensor
993 Flipped Flange Heat Exchangers
MK 993 Bischof flange muffler
Steve Wong custom chip to pull it all together
Dyno tested on Dynojet 248c - adjusted to 244.3 RWHP - so 287 hp at the flywheel corrected. Nice flat torque cruve

Yes, I would do it again if I had a 3.2.

[jimbauman]

As a point of reference, you can sell your 89 as is, add 15K to what you get for it, and buy yourself a reallllly nice 993.

JB

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by jimbauman

As a point of reference, you can sell your 89 as is, add 15K to what you get for it, and buy yourself a reallllly nice 993.

JB

Except you're forgetting that an '89 with a blown engine isn't worth much more than 10k. That + 15k might get him a 993 with a blown engine.

[R_Builder]

Originally Posted by rusnak

on the other hand, you did go with the trident, not the seawolf, so maybe you're already leaning to the more practical approach....

That gave me my morning chuckle... thanks!

[Shaun @ Tru6]

For $15K you can buy 3 good, used engines. Why not just get a good used one? Would take one Saturday to plug another in.

[jimbauman]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Except you're forgetting that an '89 with a blown engine isn't worth much more than 10k. That + 15k might get him a 993 with a blown engine.

Good point... but maybe the issues he has with his current engine aren't that serious. Suppose he could get 15K, add the 15K+ designated for the rebuild, and then negotiate this baby down to 30K:

FS: 993 RS look Iris Blue Street/Track

It just seems the bang for the buck isn't there spending the extra money on a 3.4. A friend of mine built a 3.4, and it's really nice, no question (smokes me on the track quite handily!), BUT.... it just seems like an awful lot of dough when there may be more interesting alternatives. I guess it comes down to how much you love the REST of the car to invest that much in the engine.

JB

[pplkook]

Originally Posted by jimbauman

Good point... but maybe the issues he has with his current engine aren't that serious. Suppose he could get 15K, add the 15K+ designated for the rebuild, and then negotiate this baby down to 30K:

FS: 993 RS look Iris Blue Street/Track

It just seems the bang for the buck isn't there spending the extra money on a 3.4. A friend of mine built a 3.4, and it's really nice, no question (smokes me on the track quite handily!), BUT.... it just seems like an awful lot of dough when there may be more interesting alternatives. I guess it comes down to how much you love the REST of the car to invest that much in the engine.

JB

Come on Jim, dont give the 3.4too much credit, you do catch him in the corners.

-Jack

[whiterabbit]

Originally Posted by rusnak

Not if you are talking about Mahles.

Thats interesting, I am planning to go to 3.4 and a couple of builders were quoting roughly 15k for 3.4 and 13.5k for 3.2. I was thinking the difference wasn't a lot in the scheme of things. The 3.4 power is wonderful on the ones i have driven.

Personally I would way rather have an impact bumper 911 with a 3.4 or 3.5 than a 993 for the same cost. I think in 10 years the market will also make an excellent 911 with a 3.4 or 3.5 a valuable car. Just like a 911t with a 2.7rs motor has become.

[rusnak]

I'm not knocking a 3.4, not at all. If you were tracking the car, you'd want displacement. If you are going for mile after mile of reliability, you'd want a factory spec imo. The 3.4 Mahle Sports have always been much more than factory 3.2 p&c. I would probably stay with Mahle, but that's only my own .02.

[haycait911]

stay 3.2 and spend the extra money on EFI and crankfire.