3.0 P & C Upgrade
 

What are the biggest cylinders, displacement wise, that will fit on a 3.0 SC case? I plan on using JE pistons, and the SC heads and intake, but I'd like to kick the displacement up when I get the engine apart. As much as I like Nickies, I choke on the price tag. Engine is a 78, BTW
Thanks!
Pat

You can go all the way to 3.7L using your 3.0L case as a starting point. I've talked about this in the past.

To get this maximum displacement from a 3.0L starting point, you would use Mahle 102mm pistons/cylinders with a Carrera 3.2L crank (74.4mm stroke) with an aftermarket rod such as Carillo or Pauter.

The case spigots would have to be bored from the stock 103mm all the way to 107mm, which makes it quite thin.

Andial sells the necessary components for this conversion, but sit down when they tell you the price, it is not cheap. For this kind of money, the 3.6L transplant becomes more attractive. You would also have to figure in the additional cost of twin-plugging and the necessary machine work for a successful 3.7L motor.

It has been done, but may not be the most cost effective or reliable option available today.

Ralph

Just to be complete, here is a breakdown of common displacement "upgrades" for 3.0L motors over the years:

3.0L - stock of course (95mm bore x 70.4mm stroke)

3.2L - 98mm bore x 70.4mm stroke (no case machining required) AKA short-stroke

3.3L - 100mm bore x 70.4mm stroke (case opened to 105mm)

3.4L - 98mm bore x 74.4mm stroke (no case machining but also need 3.2L Carrera crank & rods)

3.5L - 100mm bore x 74.4mm stroke (case opened to 105mm and need 3.2L Carrera crank & rods)

3.6L - 100mm bore x 76.4mm stroke (case opened to 105mm, pistons need addl. machining, 964 crank w/ 3.2L Carrera rods)

3.7L - see my first post

Hope this helps.:)

Ralph

There is also one more option.

3.2L - 95mm bore and 74.4 stoke

No case work needed. The key is to find a decent 3.2 Carrera or 3.3 turbo crankshaft. 3.2L pistons and rods are cheap! You can use you 3.0L cylinders with these pistons.

I am building one of these motors right now.


Michel

pat: if your still building a turbo motor i would stick to 95 to keep as much metal on the cyl as you can...a 3.2SS turbo would be interesting...

what im trying to get at is there IS a replacement for displacement..
upping the PSI's... maybe if you built a stronger motor ..
the big $$ you could spend on P&L could be spend on big fancy head studs and rod bolts...and big oil pump ?EFI? best intercooler and oil cooling... ext


there are two ways to go here... just making sure you knew that..


take everything i say with a grain or salt.. im no turbo wiz kid..

With the '78, all you really need to do is raise the compression to 9.5 and add some cams to take advantage of those bigger free flowing/big runner heads.

Yes, this is for a low boost turbo application. Most of the attention is to be towards clamping the combustion cylinders and heads together solidly, hence the forged pistons. Good studs and turbo oil pump goes without saying. Just want to get an idea of how much displacement I can get without weakening the system.