LS Swap - VDO Gauges

[wkrtsm]

My '68 could use an upgrade on gauges, and since I am considering dropping in an LS3 engine, I am wondering if anyone knows specifically which new VDO gauges to purchase that would make connection to an LS harness easier. I just checked with VDO and they said their connections are spade connectors/M4 studs/Molex - so what has to be done to an LS harness to make the fitment work? In other words, is there a particular after-market LS harness kit that could plug into a certain VDO gauge model? My thinking is to order new VDO gauges that are plug-and-play for a Chevy with an LS3 engine, but ones that fit in the 912 dashboard - which obviously would be easier than buying new gauges for a 912, and then say, by the way, I have a plug-and-ply harness for an LS engine.

[Hulley]

I'm curious as to why an LS engine in a SWB or any air cooled 911/912. If I were to go with a modern, liquid cooled engine, I'd probably go Subaru. wouldn't running coolant lines and a big enough radiator for a LS engine be a bit problematic?

There's a Youtube vid of a guy with a Subaru swapped 912, it's pretty cool. IIRC he mounted the radiators in the front wheel wells and ran the cooolant lines in the same fashion as the oil lines but on both sides.

[Ryan_Cunningham]

Originally Posted by Hulley

I'm curious as to why an LS engine in a SWB or any air cooled 911/912. If I were to go with a modern, liquid cooled engine, I'd probably go Subaru. wouldn't running coolant lines and a big enough radiator for a LS engine be a bit problematic?

There's a Youtube vid of a guy with a Subaru swapped 912, it's pretty cool. IIRC he mounted the radiators in the front wheel wells and ran the cooolant lines in the same fashion as the oil lines but on both sides.

Rennch? Solid videos and the dude has talent. I'm jealous of the amount of time he has to spend on his cars.

I know of two, maybe three Subaru swapped Porsches. There are far more 911s with Chevrolet SBCs and LSs which mean its a proven formula if he's interested in swapping for a modern powerplant.

[WFBowen]

I don’t know what condition your 912 is in, but considering the money decent cars are bringing, it seems there are easier paths to more power. High HP type IV motors are available and, of course, modifying the car to 911E or S specs is always an option. This latter option has the benefit of virtually every part availability and, most important, includes (for free) the results of decades of engineering by factory and expert aftermarket professionals. Of course, your car - your choice but IMO what you’re considering is tantamount to installing a 912 motor into a Corvette.
Either way, good luck with your project.

[cmpski]

Or a 2CAM4.

[Ryan_Cunningham]

Originally Posted by WFBowen

I don’t know what condition your 912 is in, but considering the money decent cars are bringing, it seems there are easier paths to more power. High HP type IV motors are available and, of course, modifying the car to 911E or S specs is always an option. This latter option has the benefit of virtually every part availability and, most important, includes (for free) the results of decades of engineering by factory and expert aftermarket professionals. Of course, your car - your choice but IMO what you’re considering is tantamount to installing a 912 motor into a Corvette.
Either way, good luck with your project.

I'd be interested to see an 86hp 4 cylinder Corvette if you could point me in that direction.

I get the distinction - Keep it in the family. But if he wants decent hp at a decent price, tell me how much 430hp in a Porsche motor would cost him. Please.

[WFBowen]

Originally Posted by Ryan_Cunningham

I'd be interested to see an 86hp 4 cylinder Corvette if you could point me in that direction

To my knowledge there are none and that’s the point of my statement, i.e., it’s not a viable chassis/powerplant combination.

That said, I’ll clarify my opinion of this project: As one of the older members of the Porsche community, I had the opportunity to own over 50 great sports cars over the years. MG, Jag XK, Big Healeys, Alfas and many Porsches. The two most valuable (in today’s market) were a 330GT Ferrari and a 289 AC Cobra. My all time favorite, however, was a 1959 356 Super sunroof coupe. Why? Because it did everything well and every system in the car worked flawlessly as part of the overall piece of German engineering.
With that in mind, cramming a big engine into the 356 would ruin that balance of engineering. Regarding this conversation, the OP has a SWB car that was never designed to accept a water cooled 430HP engine. It would be much better to sell the car and buy a BB/SB Corvette which was engineered for that powerplant.
Take a look at Chris’ (cmpski) SWB coupe. This is an excellent example of replacing the powerplant while respecting the overall engineering parameters of the original design.