How do you make a 3.2 drive or feel more like an early 911?

[rgv67]

For the past 2 years I've racked up 10,000 miles touring (and tracked) my '73 911T. Apart from the added CDI+ and slightly increased CR and cams, it is mostly factory specs (MFI, 915 tranny, etc.). I usually drive it hard, and like what they say, it gives me that visceral driving experience which I enjoy every time. It's a connected feeling not even my '95 993 cannot replicate.

Now, a mostly stock '87 Carrera 3.2 with G50 recently found me. Apart from the usual issues of this model year it is in ok condition. So, I drove it hard on the road and the track a couple of times and again, the experience does not even come close to that of an early 911.

This brings me back to my question, how do I make the driving experience of a Carrera 3.2 CLOSER to that of an early 911? Weight reduction program? ITB's? Exhaust?

Thanks in advance!

[proporsche]

Hi, yes as you said start with the weight ..remove what you can....
Ivan

[Superman]

Yes. Remove weight.

[Ctopher]

I have a 87 3.2 also and just recently drove a all stock 82 targa and was surprised at how much fun and peppy it felt. To me it was all about throttle response and rev. I’m a rev happy type of guy and after that stock 3.0 my 3.2 felt like a truck engine. Beside what other suggested with removing weight I would look toward throttle response. I assume ITBs would be a big change but lightened flywheel/pressure plate could also help.

[KTL]

And yes the MFI makes for a much more lively engine in terms of throttle response. A stock 3.2, especially a G50 with the massively heavy clutch, has pretty lethargic throttle response.

A 3.2 really wakes up with an ECU chip change, as well as a muffler change. The 3.2s with a 915 don't benefit as much from a clutch replacement, since the factory iron clutch is not super heavy. That said, there is a benefit from swapping the iron clutch for an aluminum one. Saves 3 lbs- iron = 12 lbs, aluminum = 9 lbs. Whereas the G50 iron clutch is a whopping 25 lbs. I installed a Kennedy Engineered Products (KEP) aluminum clutch in the '87 3.2 I previously owned and I believe it was a savings of 12 lbs. That's HUGE

[rgv67]

Thanks Ivan for validating.

Btw, no offence meant to 3.2 and 993 owners, I love the raw feel of the 3.2, the power & go-cart feel of the 993 and I think they are great 911s! I'm just exploring ways of replicating some of the known characteristics of the early 911s into the later cars. :-)

[steely]

I don't track mine, and I haven't any experience driving the earlier models more than the rare opportunity, but my 87 responded to a thorough tune-up (dizzy cap, rotor, plugs, cleaned injectors, pedal cluster bushings, rubber and vac line replacement, etc), new clutch master/slave cyls' and a suspension refresh. I think this stuff had been neglected on mine over time before I got it.

I can't speak to handling differences compared to older ones, but now at least it goes where and when I point her.

[Geronimo '74]

install skinny tires, remove swaybars..
old school driving!

[Ctopher]

Originally Posted by rgv67

Btw, no offence meant to 3.2 and 993 owners, I love the raw feel of the 3.2, the power & go-cart feel of the 993 and I think they are great 911s! I'm just exploring ways of replicating some of the known characteristics of the early 911s into the later cars. :-)

None taken, each car is unique and that is why we all have multiple.

[rgv67]

Weight reduction, improve throttle response, hard tune-up, skinny tires (I'm replacing wide ruf wheels & putting back stock fuchs), they all make sense to me!

[Matt Monson]

Add lightness. I own a 74 with a 3.2 and a Carrera. They drive like two totally different cars.

[Duc Hunter]

I have a 3.6 in a '75 shell with a light weight flywheel, and an '89 3.2 that is basically stock chassis. Both cars have SW chips, headers (B&B and Fabspeed). The '75 feels like its in a different league in terms of driving, turning, transition, etc. It has bigger tires too, so thats not your issue. My 3.2 is stock weight, so what.....2,800-3,000 lbs? My '75 is 2,350 with half a tank of gas and my 220lbs in it. Yes my 3.6 has a ton more torque, and a lighter flywheel....but its throttle response is about the same (both have stock AFM's). To me its the weight mainly, and the Carrera has a lot more factory sound deadening, power leather seats, full door panels....etc etc. Very plush. The '75 is a full RS interior, and light weight seats...so it sounds and feels totally different.

That said I would not strip out everything to drop a ton of weight. I would do a little, but its a very nice car as it. Also look at eh alignment specs for both. Set the new car up the same as your older one. This can really change the way the steering feels.

[roblav]

I've a couple hundred thousand miles driving pre-1974 cars. I had a 1984 Carrera and removed a bunch of weight from it, even put on Webers. It wasn't even close to the early car experience.

IMHO, the 3.0 / 3.2 cars need much perkier cams to get there. Then you need different pistons, different intake (ITB), and better exhaust.

[blucille]

I’ve driven/owned a variety of g50 cars, 915 short hoods and long hoods....g50 cars always feel heavy to me. Even with some go fast bits, motor upgrades, some lightening, etc....they still feel heavy. They can improve from stock, but I’ve never driven a g50 car that felt as nimble as a similar 915 car. Just my $.02

[Cory M]

start with chip, exhaust, lower weight

[75 911s]

Diet plan...

[GH85Carrera]

Or go drive a new 911. It wll amaze you at the performance but you will notice how heavy it is. Your 3.2 will feel light after that.

[wayner]

Carbs

Seriously

[Eric at Pelican Parts]

Definitely going to echo the comments on skinny tires and weight removal!

[wayner]

My fat tired 1973 RSR replica is a very different animal than my friends stock 1972
Mine is lighter but feels heavier