Earnhardt, Talladega, and Porsches

[Pstallo]

Growing up, I had a 66 Mustang and my Dad was a 'Ford man'. In our community (Gadsden, AL is just down the road from Talladega), boring out cylinders seemed to be a fairly common thing and could be done by local machine shops who probably had matching pistons laying around on a shelf.

I don't think I've read or heard about that being done to a Porsche.

Is it done at all? Or, is it taboo for Porsches?

(I also realize that I've never seen a Porsche with a Dale Earnhardt #3 sticker on the back windshield, but please humor me)

[Tippy]

The plating on the cylinders (Nikasils I'm referring to) is very hard not wearing down like the cheap cast iron of American V8's.

[tirwin]

Pstallo, I didn't know you were from Gadsden! I grew up in Anniston and my wife grew up in the shadow of 'dega. One of the worst jobs I ever had was checking vehicles going into the infield for stowaways. Let's just say what has been seen cannot be unseen and has a lot to do with me not being a NASCAR fan.

[Pstallo]

No kidding! After high school, I moved on the great wide world of Jacksonville, AL. My first two years of college were in the spent in the rarefied air of the vast libraries at JSU. (I was also a semi-conscious member of the house band at Brother's bar back in the day).

[IROC]

My wife was born in Gadsden and grew up in the big metropolis of Rainbow City..and I lived in Huntsville (Decatur/Madison) for 21 years.

The equivalent of "boring out cylinders" on a 911 is probably replacing the pistons and cylinders with a larger set (like the 3.2 Max Moritz conversion taking a 3.0 liter to 3.2 liters

[85911]

So, if larger pistons, in diameter, are installed, then the cylinders need to be bored, correct? What does that do to the Nikasils? Or, are larger cylinders installed matching the new pistons? $$$

[Pstallo]

Very familiar with Rainbow City, IROC! I've been in Huntsville for the past 5 years and really like it. I can tell you the traffic is a world better than Birmingham!

I wonder if they make a larger piston/cylinder set for naturally aspirated 3.2's.

[tirwin]

On pages 112 & 113 of Wayne's book on modifying and rebuilding engines he has a pretty good chart with the most common upgrades for various engines.

He has listed:
- 3.2 (or 3.3L) short stroke
- 3.2L Euro upgrade
- 3.4L upgrade

Basically the 3.4 is just 98mm Mahle pistons -- no case mods required. The 3.2 Euro is Euro P&C's that increase compression ratio. The short stroke is the same idea as the 3.0L conversion. Check out Fred Cook's 3.3SS engine build thread.

Pstallo, my dad and FIL both went to JSU. My grandmother lived just down the street from the college so I am very familiar with Jacksonville (and Brothers!). I've eaten many a burger from The Rocket. I have a lot of friends and family in Huntsvegas too. Next time I'm over that way I'll have to look you up.

IROC, you don't know how many times I've driven 77 through Rainbow City.