911SC Engine - What to do?

[Steam Driver]

I have a 911SC engine that I'm in a quandary about what to do with. This is in my barnfind car that (in addition to it's other issues) hasn't run for about 10 -15 years.

It turns out that it is VERY much played with from the P/O's being an avid autocrosser back in the day. In addition to the exhaust issues (early heat exchangers, factory sport muffler, no cat) it has been backdated to '78-'79 specs otherwise; large port heads, large intake runners, no K-jetronic wiring harness (although I have that in hand now); and with a Euro ROW distributor (no vacuum advance/retard). I understand this was a popular thing to do back then. (Maybe still if one doesn't have to deal with the Draconian emissions law we have here in Hamilton County, TN) In addition it ALSO has a broken head stud.

So the questio is, do I repair the head stud and attempt to run down the parts to return it to '82 stock, or just say to hell with it, sell the engine as a core, and upgrade to a 3.2?

[mreid]

For the hassle and cost, you could update your current 3.0 to 3.2 specs and have a known entity.

[Steam Driver]

Well that's an idea I hadn't though of. I assume you mean run down the 3.2 intake system and ECU, etc. as well. Might it not be more cost-effective to sell this engine as is and get a 3.2 with all it's accessories? But you're right about the known entity.

[Nickshu]

No personal experience but all the harness swap out for a 3.2 would be more work than the engine swap. Others have done it before, however.

Honestly as I personally have a CIS SC 3.0 I would say swap for a 3.2 with DME unless you enjoy beating your head against a wall trying to get CIS to work right/reliably.

Or rebuild your 3.0 (or a 3.2) with Carbs and forget the injection.

[LakeCleElum]

Can you transfer the registration to a county that does not have emission testing? Did that in my state by getting a PO Box where my cabin is.

At the same time, I transferred my voter registration and Drivers License address. That made it all legit (sort of)....Just a possible option.

[Kemo]

I say...replace the head studs with OEM steel or Supertec, along with all the other "while you are in there" bits, and bolt her all backup with what you've got. CIS can be made to run quite reliably, although you might beat your head, as mentioned, to get it right. Once you get the CIS sorted out, it should be good to go for another 30yrs I would think the 82' engine with higer compression, with the big port heads, and the back dated exhaust would be quite nice. If you can focus your dollars at getting the CIS correctly setup, I think you will be very happy.

[47silver]

CIs is a simple system. A good vacuum and clean fuel and it will run with very little work

[awhnry]

Move to Marion or Grundy County ie someplace upwind and very rural.

[jeffery dalcour]

I'm turning my 1978 3.0 into a 3.2ss . Lots of options with this engine. Lots of info on this forum.
Jeff

[Kemo]

Originally Posted by jeffery dalcour

I'm turning my 1978 3.0 into a 3.2ss . Lots of options with this engine. Lots of info on this forum.
Jeff

that should be a hot setup

[K Sykes]

One other option is to go to EFI with megasquirt - with your exhaust and intake runners it could be pretty fast and you could also add ignition.. you could get it pretty clean from an emission standpoint and have a lot of flexibility.

Also, are you sure you need to get an 82 emissioned?

[RWebb]

what are the actual emissions constraints?

[Reiver]

Fix it. Back to stock is a good place to start from...I've had great fun with stock 3.0 both 930-16 and 930-10. Very solid and stout they are.
If you need a cat let me know, I'll just about give it to you...shipping.

[ARCSinAK]

Turn her into a 3.4, Twin plug high compression JE pistons 250 HP rocket 46 PMO!!

[timmy2]

BTDT... fix the studs and do this...
Full saga of my car is here, this EFI Bitz kit mod is around page 6 or so.

Finally, back in the game!

[rennch]

That's almost the same setup as my motor, fyi. I've got the smaller intake runners though.

[Steam Driver]

Thanks for all of the information. Someone asked, so here's the info on Hamilton County emissions:

1. It goes back to 1974 (!!!) - "Special" for this county.

2. They always look for a catalyst in place on cars that had them - that's a biggie with these guys.

3. Otherwise "sniffer numbers" are: CO - 1.2% or less, HC 220 ppm or less. That's for everything from 1981 until 1995 and the onset of OBD II.

I really liked some of your suggestions particularly the one about using my current heads and intakes with the aftermarket injection. Where can I find out more information on it, and do you think it would get me past emissions with a stock exhaust and gutted cat in place?

[Steam Driver]

As for the cat, I have a complete exhaust system with cat that I purchased right after seeing what I had with the car. (The reason I didn't know ahead of time is that initially all the tires were flat and I couldn't even look under it!)

HOWEVER, the HE's I have are thick flange and they won't go onto the pre-'82 heads which have short studs. So what I need is a set of decent crossover HE's with thin flanges to get it past emissions, then I'll probably refit the HE's I have.

[RWebb]

someone put $$ into those heads, so I would not go back to stock

be certain there is no antique or historic or other case by case exemption process

if not, then Tbitz is a cheaper EFI system;

I might try to find where I could get dual free-flow (low restriction) cats - you might talk with RarelyL8 about that

aftermarket EFI can be time consuming, but the potential for lots of power AND low emissions is there

I would not want to move further out for emissions - Chattanooga is a prime spot (for Tenn.) with many amenities

[awhnry]

Depending on the circumstances, you can register the car in Loudon County and leave it in my garage when you arent driving it. Unfortunately Chattanooga sits in a bowl with high ridges or small mountains to the east so that the prevailing winds push the various pollutants into the area with no escape. Having a large number of yankees and other types drive thru town on I-75 on a daily basis doesnt help things either. Knoxville suffers from the same situation and the locals attempted to correct the situation by lowering the speed limit on the interstate. Not sure what it does for pollution but it sure makes for a great speed trap.
It is my plan to register my '87 as classic if the locals are required by EPA to do more. How do the locals keep their old pickups on the road?