2.7 engine from 1974?

[Vincent1980]

Hello All,

First I'll introduce myself, I'm Vincent and I'm a big Porsche enthusiast, looking to buy my first Porsche. This will be a project car. I restored a classic MV Augusta motorbike from 1958, two years ago. Now i'm looking for a new project.

I have found a 911 2.7 from 1974. Now i have read a lot about the 911 from this period but i'm a bit lost about the distributor. On all the 911 engines its placed next to the fan, but on this engine its placed on top between the carburetors.

I hope somebody can tell me if this is a original configuration of somebody's own creation?

Thanks you very much in advance.

[zedsn]

This is a performance upgrade and if working properly is pretty nice to have. My 2C.

[Charles Freeborn]

None of the intake or ignition is stock. It's had the distributor removed and an electronic ignition of some sort with individual coil packs installed. This could all be pretty cool, or you could have a total mess on your hands. Start with the serial number of the engine, compression and leak down tests, see what you've got and go from there.
If it is a 2.7, read up on (do a search) "time certs" and "head studs". Then determine if yours has had them done. If not, you're in for some pretty costly modifications - given what's already been done.
Good luck, could be a diamond in the rough.
-C

[al lkosmal]

That is an Electromotive Ignition system (HPX?). These are very nice systems, eliminating the dizzy and using a toothed wheel/crank pulley to fire the coils. some of these units control both fuel and spark (for EFI), but i believe the unit shown on your engine is ignition only.

Providing Unmatched Engine Control & Ignition Solutions For Over 25 Years. | Electromotive

regards,
al

[Jack Stands]

With the proper cams and Pistons, these engines are good for over 200 hp while still being street able. You might want to check Henery Schmidt's Supertec website and the information in Bruce Anderson's book (Porsche 911 Performance Handbook) for good information. Wayne Dempsey's book (Rebuilding 911 Engines) deals with rebuilding this engine in great detail and is a must read if you're delving into the engine.

[Eli W]

A lot of us who have modified motors have electromotive ignition running on our cars. Like it was said before when it is set up correctly they are a great ignition system. I have one on my twin plug it is a reliable choice and a lot cheaper than a 2k dollar twin plug distributor.

[porschetub]

I would seriously ditch your fuel pressure regulator and fit a holley low pressure, PMO unit and suitable quality unit....the one you have is not.
The ignition system is great as mentioned and a fairly high price new so have struck gold there.
Search on here and you will find a lot of info on the pitfalls of the 2.7 engine,if you don't have the ability to check this engine ,find someone in your area that can,many on here can point you to a good independant Porsche shop that could preform a pre-purchace inspection in your area......this is the most important job BEFORE you buy.
Good luck.

[Vincent1980]

Thank you all very much for the information, i have read alot about the 2.7 engine's i will check all the waeknesses of the car.
Bruce Anderson and Wayne Dempsey's books have helped me alot!

So if this system is working good its a good option to keep it on the car?

Would it ad any value to the car or would it be better to return it to the original state.

Thank you all very much, its a great help.

Vincent

[T77911S]

there is a lot of corrosion on the chain boxes and fan/housing. it looks likes this engine may have been sitting and /or run quite a bit. i would be cautious about the miles and condition.
leak down and compression would top my list.
carbs can sound awesome and give great throttle response but worn webers need to be sent off and rebuilt properly. there is a guy here that does an awesome job.

a worn out 2.7 can make a sale hard to complete. 911's are going up in price but with a 2.7 in need of a rebuild really hurts the car. with him wanting a hi price because its a "porsche" and you trying to price in a rebuild makes it tough. add in what else you may be able to get for a little more money. finding a 3.0 in the same condition might be a better option. also consider the chance of having pistons and cyl. that are reusable.

[Driver_X]

Fwiw I purchased a 74 with a tired 2.7 a few years ago. It leaked oil (from many places, was able to easily fix some leaks, others I had to live with) with webers (one carb had some shaft play so it never idled perfect but never stalled) and I drove it 5,000 miles/yr for 3 yrs before I replaced it with a 3.0.

Car started right up (even when it was 14 degrees, I was curious so I tried it and it started 3rd try) and only left me stranded when the MSD died. Ironically the most modern part of the whole car. I would have continued with the 2.7 but a Trans issue forced my hand and I got into the "might as wells" so I put in a 3.0 and reused the webers. If the rest of the car is ok, and the price is right. I wouldn't see the 2.7 as a negative. But you could be darn sure I would use the 2.7's reputation as a bargaining stick :-)

[unclebilly]

That is a sweet setup and is what my chump 911 runs. I have mega jolt instead of electromotive.

This is way better than cis and if tuned properly this will be better than a stock 3.0L.

Given the carbs(I am on my phone so I can't tell if they are webers or zeniths), the electromotive,and the backdated heat - the ducts have been replaced with early metal ducts, I bet more has been done.

Most 2.7 naysayers have never owned one, only recited the collective BS they have read on the interwebs.

[Eli W]

Just to add to the 2.7 engine thing, the biggest problem by far with them was the later thermal reactors. The best way to kill an air cooled engine is to kill it with heat, and that is what Porsche did when they were trying to figure out how to meet air quality standards.

A 74 2.7 would not have the thermal reactors.

[unclebilly]

^^^^^ This.

It is funny that the 'worst' engine was the 2.7 yet the best engine was the 2.7 RS.

The differences?

Cams, Pistons (same compression ratio as the 2.7s), exhaust was same as the 74, distributor curve, and MFI instead of CIS, and the intake ports were 36mm instead of 35mm (or was it 34?).

You can easily turn any 2.7 into a 2.7RS with pistons, cams, a recurved dist ( or go distributor less), backdated exhaust. Oh, and go with carbs or EFI.

[Charles Freeborn]

Yes, heat is the killer. If it doesn't have a front fender oil cooler, put one on.
-C

[unclebilly]

Oh and a trombone cooler won't keep up to a 2.7RS engine at the track.

[Jack Stands]

I'm glad that I'm not the only person that sees the irony of everyone dissing the 2.7 but praying at the 911RS alter. Properly built up, it's a great engine.

Granted the 3.0 is a very strong engine, but limited by the stock CIS pistons and cams if you want to increase performance. Also, all the Dilivar studs should be thrown away, so a 3.0SC also has its issues to deal with when rebuilding. After all, these are close to 35 years old at this point.

[T77911S]

why start with a weaker block. besides, you have to buy pistons to build an RS, why not replace the CIS pistons. dont get me wrong, i think a 2.8 would be an great motor, but if someone was starting from scratch, why not find a 3.0.
the other thing that equals it out is the carbs. either way a lot of $$$ would be needed for either engine.

i had a 77s with a 2.7. i also had a 3.0 i was going to build along with putting a factory LSD tranny in the car but i sold it all and bought a 930.

[Vincent1980]

Thank you all very much for the information.

I whent to look at the car, but unfortunatly the car was not in the sape i hoped for and the engine was not running.

So i'll look for another one.

But again thank you all for the information, Great forum for people like me who still need to learn.

Greetings,

Vincent

[T77911S]

what was the price

[71scgc]

Pics of the Agusta or it didn't happen.

Carter