3.2ss 3.4 3.6 or Turbo

[Geronimo]

I am pondering what path would be best to turn my go pedal into something other than a mild noise maker.

I have an 82SC with 110K on it, 2450lbs (soon to be lighter) SSI, 46mm PMO's it runs and drives great... But I know someday it will need a refresh, and I would love a bit more go if it makes sense.

I love the idea of a snappy NA build, but then I look at the costs for Porsche bits, and then begin looking at boost 1/3 the cost for 100% more power.

Maybe a 3.6 swap minus the sale of a good running 3.0 would make the best bang for the buck?

So I ask here for fairly non technical opinions on things I may run into or have not considered.

[pavulon]

Lots of variables to consider. Where will you drive it and how? What do want it to do? If turbo'd, can you live with some lag for a big boot when the boost shows up? Single or twin turbo? How much do you want to spend? Can your car accept an intercooler? What trans will you run? EFI, CIS...on and on. If you're looking for around town performance, I vote naturally aspirated. If you're looking for open road performance, turbo.

[greglepore]

I flat out love my turbo 3.2. Its low boost, so with a normal cr it has no lack of torque, just more top end. Around 350 chp. I did the conversion at around 125k and the car currently has 150k on it with no issues. While I enjoy the car, I'm respectful of low oil temps etc.

I suspect this would be as enjoyable as a 3.6, maybe more so, but I'd want to cost out the options.

[Geronimo]

Currently it is a street car, might see a track day now and again... but mostly it will live as a fun street hot rod.

It's currently running 46mm PMO carbs, but I want to go to EFi with any of the above options.

If I went 3.2ss or 3.4 or 3.6 I would want to go with EFI ITB's If I go with a turbo on my 3.0 I will get a stock 3.2 intake as I think would work best with the turbo set up.

Fitting an IC shouldn't be an issue, so many have done so in a variety of ways. I will be running a 915 trans... which in time might get a rebuild, or if I loose my mind I would hunt for a 930 trans.

Budget, I don't know. I want to get a sense of what the budget ranges would be with these options... I have seen huge swings when it comes to Porsche engine budgets. I think the cheapish would be the turbo, under 10K pretty easy from what I have seen. The 3.2ss and 3.4 are off the charts for the power, or lack there of.

The 3.6 might not be to bad, if you find a reasonable 3.6 and sell of a good 3.0, with a rebuild in time on the 3.6 to offset the initial costs.

Or I scrap trying to make a fast Porsche and just get a 2nd toy for the days you want to go quick.

[Jims5543]

I had a 1980 with a 1990 3.6 swapped in, had a 964 intake, cams, injectors, intake, lightened flywheel and Wong chip. It had standard exhaust except no mufflers just a cat converter. It sounded amazing. It also had the 915 trans and ran fine.

Tons of low end grunt and you would drive it on the street like a diesel, short shifting using the low end torque. Push the loud pedal down and she would scoot, I would not call it a slow car, I am willing to bet it was a 12 second car with the tune it had. I never 1/4 miled it because that was not the point of the car.

I would also get amazing MPG with it on road trips like in the 30 MPG range cruising at 80 MPH.

When I was shopping for a 911 I was disappointed in the 930's they all needed engine rebuilds at 80-100K miles. If the engine top end was not shot then the turbo was close to going. After looking at 3 930's I decided I finding a 3.6 swapped car, I thoroughly enjoyed that car.

I recently had a chance to buy a 77 911 in rough shape and my first inclination was to find a 3.6 to put in it.

[Geronimo]

I love turbos, and a lot of people here have done them with great success. But a part of me really likes the idea of a snappy 3.6L

I would hope a 3.6L with ITB's and headers would make about 300CHP right?

I think the gamble is that you can get a solid running 3.6, that could go a good few years before a rebuild.

[gtc]

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/911-930-turbo-super-charging-forum/880468-another-911sc-turbo-conversion.html

[stealthn]

I would have loved to get into a turbo when I sold my SC but I still wanted that raw drivers feel of a smaller car as my SC was a go cart when I was done with it, so I went with a Cayman S.
Sure it’s not turbo fast, but it feels fast and is super tossible at the autoX’s.

I did break down this year to get a highway cruiser/family hauler, and it’s a twinturbo

Next car will be a Cayman GT4 or a GT3...

[look 171]

Bob,

I have an 88 turbo with a built motor (old school technology) pushing just about 360 at the wheels with CIS with shorten ring and pinion so it will squrt when needed with almost no turbo lag. My 2010 Caymen S feels almost as fast, with PDK. I know it isn't as fast as the 930 when when in full boost, but that lil' Cayman is plenty damn quick once the Rs get up into the 5000rpm range. I say the two are feel pretty damn close. The Cayman will out turn it all day long roung' the turns. I think a lot of it is attributed to PDK with the extra two three gears.

[Geronimo]

That thread is sick, I think I have gone through it a few times. With modern turbos lag is mostly a thing of the past, and part of the fun is keeping it in boost.

The other side of me thinks maybe just add some 964 Cams to my car and leave it alone... for the cost of a swap or 3.4 build I could nearly complete a nice Cobra Kit.

It's hard, Porsche is the car I have always wanted, not I just need to figure out which version I want my Porsche to be LOL.

Stealthn, clearly your budget and mine are worlds apart.

[Rawknees'Turbo]

Originally Posted by Geronimo

I love turbos, and a lot of people here have done them with great success. But a part of me really likes the idea of a snappy 3.6L

I would hope a 3.6L with ITB's and headers would make about 300CHP right?

I think the gamble is that you can get a solid running 3.6, that could go a good few years before a rebuild.

I've gathered from your past posts that you like the idea of very rapid acceleration (something a stock, n/a 911 definitely lacks), and if so, there is no question that you should go with turbocharging - a boosted 3.2 will blow the ballz off of a n/a 3.6 (not talking about one built to hand grenade specs) in terms of, "ooohhhhhhh shiiiiiit!", acceleration.

A couple of people here have mentioned "torque", as if a turbo engine lacks that; boosted 911/930 engines are torque monsters, often with numbers equaling, if not greater than, their horsepower output (hence their outrageous acceleration). And turbo lag is basically non-existent if you choose a quality turbocharger (and tune the ignition and fuel injection accordingly).

[JeremyD]

buy a 996tt

[Jeff Alton]

IT all depends on what YOU want.

We have built a few 3.2 SS NA motors with twin plugs, cams, ITBs etc, same as 3.4/3.5 motors. We have built 3.8 964 motors with stock intakes and mild cams, 3.8 964 motors with cams, ITBs , exhaust etc.... Every single client was thrilled with his motor. They were thrilled because it was exactly what THEY wanted and articulated and fit their budget.

I have always loved an ITB/Carb/MFI motor for fun street use. Can't beat the throttle response and the power can be great. That said, last year we build up a 964 3.3 turbo motor with some mild cams, headers and a tweaked turbo. We run it at 17psi and it is a ton of fun. BUT, that car has a short geared 2, 3 and 4 in it that contributes to the fun. Don't overlook gearing in your equation. Drop a note to Matt at Guard Transmission if you want an education. Every time I talk to him I learn something.

Jeremy brings up a good point. A 996TT is amazing bang for the buck. Put a tune in it and not much can keep up with it. But, it a 996TT. Heavy, 4WD, GT style car. If you crave a lighter weight car with snappy throttle response, it may not be for you.

It is all about what YOU want to drive, and what fits into your budget to achieve that goal.

Cheers

[Geronimo]

Yea,

if money grew on trees I would do a nasty 3.8 Na build... I love the idea, but NA Porsche builds are apparently made of gold and diamonds and the $$ to HP ratio is just to stupid.

I can go turbo on my 3.0L for 4-6K and have the power of a 40K NA build.

I sometime asked myself if I could be okay with just a mild warm up on my 3.0 and put the money toward a Cobra kit or something really fast for the money.

If I could get my 3.0L into the 230-240HP range without spending a mint I might feel okay about that, I have SSI's and PMO's, adding cams, and in time a compression bump, and may 98mm P&C's might get me their within a "reasonable" budget, but i'm not sure that would make the car that much quicker.

I love the power offered from a 996TT, but it just isn't what I want, really like the raw feel more.

[Jeff Alton]

Your thoughts on the 3.0 will get you there. Plus, it will be a very fun engine to have in the car. Its not all about how fast you pull up to the next red light. Character is more important in engine to me...