3.2L swap on a Carb car. Need suggestions

[2mAn]

Hello Everyone.

Considering picking up a carb car that has a dead motor and rather than investing into rebuilding a 2.0 (not numbers matching) I am looking at just buying a good, used 3.2L and swapping that in.

My experience tells me that, at the very least, this requires adding an electronic, high pressure fuel pump. Good chance the tank is rusty too, so I'm wondering if I can kill two birds with one stone by buying a replacement tank designed for a 74+ car.

Do the tanks have the fuel pump inside them, or are they external?
Is there any surprises I have ahead of me in dealing with the wiring?
Will the tach and ECU need any changes/ conversions also?
Anything else I should be prepared for besides doubling my initial, starting budget?

Thanks
-Simon

A pic as a gift for joining us, not the car I am considering (unfortunately)

[almostordinary]

You're going to need the full 3.2 wiring harness, DME relay, fuel lines, oil cooler upgrade, not so sure on the oil tank, definitely a 3.2 external fuel pump, likely new fuel lines all the way through, no clue on the transmission... is this a 915 transaxle car stock? Sounds like a really fun project. I'd also lean on the experts on whether the 3.2 fits the older motor mounts or if you'd need to do some major fabrication on that end as well.

Good luck!

[Tyson Schmidt]

Swap in a late tank and an aluminum front crossmember so the fuel pump can be mounted right behind the tank.

Hardest part is running the fuel lines through the tunnel. I'd buy new 3.2 Carrera fuel lines for this.

[MattTHEpainter]

I've done the swap into a '69. Fairly straight forward - for the Fuel system contact Lenn Cummings for the pump, lines, and adapters.

[917_Langheck]

No need for a DME system on the 3.2 if running carburetors or other efi setups.

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by 917_Langheck

No need for a DME system on the 3.2 if running carburetors or other efi setups.

^^^ Yeh, this. Since originality goes out the window, I'd be tempted to update to a modern ECU for laptop tuning in real time, cam sensor for sequential injection, modern injectors for better price/availability/spray pattern, COP for hotter/longer duration spark etc.

Originally Posted by 2mAn

Will the tach and ECU need any changes/ conversions also?

Early tachs expect a high-voltage signal, tachs on CDI (and later) cars do not.

John Bell (jbell959 on Pelican) can rebuild/replace the internals (believe he upgrades the driver board to Bob Ashlock's tach adapter, also available as a separate box externally: Tachometer Adapter).

As you don't need to convert the # of cylinders, you could try just wiring the coil side of a relay in the signal path; many guys doing ECU conversions or updating ignition on various early (late 60's/early 70's) cars (not just 911s) with similar technology instruments report that collapsing EMF on the tach signal will generate a big enough spike to trigger older tachs.

Originally Posted by 2mAn

Anything else I should be prepared for besides doubling my initial, starting budget?

LOL, "budget"

Originally Posted by 2mAn

A pic as a gift for joining us, not the car I am considering (unfortunately)

Yeh, that's a beauty...

[PeteKz]

"Anything else I should be prepared for besides doubling my initial, starting budget?"

Add a zero.

[Locker537]

A "good used" 3.2 is not cheap.

Older car, I'd want to keep it carbed!

[J-Mac]

I owned a 75 Carrera with a 3.2 1986 implant. Done before I bought it. But I do know it had the whole 3.2 engine management/wiring/computer system installed. I pulled the engine and had it rebuilt with 964 cams. Now wish I never sold it. Great fun around Laguna Seca.