[DCAlbarran]

Originally Posted by Wayne 962

Here's what I'd recommend. Since you don't have information on the condition of the engine, I would get more info. See if you can find someone who has a chassis that has the engine out temporarily and see if you can "borrow" the chassis to install the engine so that it can be run. Shouldn't take more than an afternoon - you don't need to bolt up any axles or clutch cables, etc - just fuel, electrics and oil lines. Then run it after dumping some Marvel into it. Let it warm up and run a leakdown and compression test when it cools down enough to not burn yourself.

I'm a big fan of buying used motors when they are still in the car. The next best thing is putting one back into a car to test it. There are also ways to run the engine on a stand or on a pallet, but that's a bit more difficult if you don't have spare oil tanks, lines, ignition, and a fuel system lying around.

-Wayne

Some extra info: there’s a local guy who sells cars that has a ‘70 911E that is complete except for the engine. It is supposedly rust free, and has been sitting, but maybe I could see if I could get this motor into it and try that. Were I to sell this motor and buy another, my preference would be to buy one already installed, just like I would sell my 912 engine to someone who could drive it first.

Originally Posted by Cook&Dunning

How about selling the car to someone who is content with the 4 cylinder. Sell the spare motor. Add the $23,000 you were going to spend on a rebuild. That will give you a somewhere in the ~$45,000 - $50,000 range. Buy a nice 911

Selling the car would be a blow to the family, as this has become a fixture of the garage, and to be honest, I really do love this little rat, just want some more giddyup.

Originally Posted by 80targa36

To follow Wayne's point, I think you can swap your pallet motor & trans into your 912 without too much issue? Turn it over by hand some and then see what happens. Being just a crash motor that supposedly ran, you might be surprised...

23K is way too high. Years ago, i bought my freshened up 3.6 varioram for 12. Not gonna work well with a 902, but as a reference point.

Also, to be frank if you can't figure out how to get the swap motor running, maybe you would then decide a full swap with rebuild isnt for you. Finally, a bit of advice from a dad... you can keep the hierloom drivable for your young ones one day with the 4 cylinder. Let them take you for ice cream... something I can never do with my 300+ hp car...

I can swap it, but need motor mounts relocated, and an oil tank. I’d like to keep the 912 driveable as is for as long as possible. Also, although the prospect of doing a rebuild like this myself, I feel excited at the prospect, not overwhelmed. Yes, I’d love to see my kids driving this car one day.

Originally Posted by Trackrash

Maybe I'm living in the past, but you should be able to freshen up that motor for a LOT less than 10K. I would think $5-6K IF you do all the work.

That said, leave the 912 as a 912. If you want to keep the car keep it a 4 cylinder. There are options out there that won't require a new mortgage. Like a T1. They are easily capable of around 200hp.

That 2,2 E motor is one of the best motors Porsche ever made. At our (PCA Redwood) last AX there were two 2,2 Es. Honestly they screamed. Embarrassed a lot of new watercooled stuff.

Honestly a 2.2 E in a SWB car would be awesome, but I would bet you would ultimately regret putting a 6 in that 912, IMO.

Also, by putting a big bore set of cylinders on that 2,2 you can easily see 200hp.

I would look for a roller for that 2,2.

Here is a 912 with a warmed up 1750 that turned more than one TTOD. Unfortunately lost to the fires.

Love that car!