3.2 DME wire & install in engine compartment?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Has anyone ever done this? Can you do it? Instead of drilling a 3" hole in the left rear seat vertical, can you entirely wire a 3.2 DME in the engine compartment? Would be especially valuable for 69 to 73 cars.

[timmy2]

I think the extremes of heat, moisture and vibration of the engine compartment is what Porsche was avoiding by putting it inside the passenger compartment.
Most of the new EFI kits are installed the same way.

[daleflesburg]

I agree with Timmy2. I think under the drivers seat is the best place for it. Much cooler (temperature wise) location than the engine compartment. I think the engine heat could cause damage, or the factory would have put it on the drivers side of the engine compartment.

In my family (me and my sons) we have three 914s with 3.2 engines and a 74 911 with a 3.2. All of the DMEs are under the seats (914 on Passenger side) and (911 on drivers side). If you put a 3.2 engine in a 69 thru 73 car, you will NEVER take it out. A fantastic engine. My 911 weighs 2341# and is an absolute blast to drive, just turn the key and drive. No more spending half of the time fiddling with it.

[rsscotty]

Although we have built a few race cars with the ECU in the engine compartment, it is not my first choice even though the ECUs were weatherproof. On some jobs, you have limited choices, with some depending on the owner's preference.

The 3.2 Motronic boxes belong in the cockpit, if not under the driver seat, some other location that is dry. It is not all about keeping the ECU dry, it also has to do with the electrical connectors. They all are not the same as far as corrosion resistance. There is also the issue of what to do with the excess harness if you go with another location other than stock.

I recall a 964 Cup car that had the ECU mounted vertical above the floor on the bulkhead panel under the left rear back seat. This allows easy access and could be hid by carpet on a street car.

[mysocal911]

Originally Posted by daleflesburg

I agree with Timmy2. I think under the drivers seat is the best place for it. Much cooler (temperature wise) location than the engine compartment. I think the engine heat could cause damage, or the factory would have put it on the drivers side of the engine compartment.

In my family (me and my sons) we have three 914s with 3.2 engines and a 74 911 with a 3.2. All of the DMEs are under the seats (914 on Passenger side) and (911 on drivers side). If you put a 3.2 engine in a 69 thru 73 car, you will NEVER take it out. A fantastic engine. My 911 weighs 2341# and is an absolute blast to drive, just turn the key and drive. No more spending half of the time fiddling with it.

Actually, a better location is on the inside firewall mounted vertically so that the
vibrational stress on the ECM circuit boards is not perpendicular to them as when
mounted on the floor. All the later Porsches, e.g. 996 & Boxster, mount the ECMs
vertically.