2.7 experement

911quest · 10-14-2006, 08:14 PM

I have an idea that I would like to throw out there I have a 1977 911 I have about 6000.00 into it I would like to do a real life experiment to see if these cars (engines) are as horrible as people say(Internet). The car has 54,000 miles doesn't burn any oil never been apart has stock tensioner the car needs paint so it is my daily transport. Is there any interest for this kind of thing I would also be interested in others experiences

2.7RACER · 10-14-2006, 08:46 PM

The 2.7's have a poor reputation because when new, they were low hp compared to previous models, as well as overheating issues with the 5 blade fan, the thermal reactors and worse the pulled head studs at relatively low miles.
The 2.7's that have survived usually have time certs installed after an early tear down.
The 5 blade fans and the thermal reactors are typically scraped.
At 160/165hp they are slower than many cars built before and after.
That said, your '77 has survived, and you are enjoying the 911 experience for less dough than most.
If you live in a non-smog area, you can make the motor more potent and give the early and later models a surprise.
At 54,000 miles I would carefully watch the head studs if they haven't been reworked.
My '76 has spent the last ten years primarily as a race/AX car.
So most of the last years, it has spent it's life at 4,000 to 6,500 rpm, without any failures.
I have installed go fast parts successfully and picked up alot of performance.
Would I have bought a 2.7 knowing it's reputation? Probably not.
Is it fun beating 3.0's and 3.2's? You bet.

911quest · 10-14-2006, 08:49 PM

I guess I know the reasons for the failure but are they really that bad? All Iam going to do is change the oil every 3000 mile a see what happens I would like to think of this as a real world test stop and go traffic short trips etc.

Dan in Pasadena · Dan in Pasadena's Garage

Not sure you're going to accomplish much.

My '76 always-a-California-car, had its thermal reactors removed very early and an 11 blade fan installed. It currently has 126,000 miles on it and it does NOT have case savers. Shortly before I bought it the PO - a relative - had a new distributor installed and a rebuilt fuel distributor installed. A full tune up including valve adjust was also done. When I bought it I had the clutch done and Carrera chain tensioners done. The car runs great and strong. Now it does have some oil leakage - slightly warped cam towers I am told, but then again maybe not! - I have had the usual leak sources fixed.

Even though the standard line that California cars in particular are more subject to pulled studs, obviously it doesn't ALWAYS happen.

dd74 · 10-14-2006, 10:22 PM

The five-blade fan and thermal reactors are the true enemies of the 2.7. Depending upon from where your car came (especially if it was a CA. car), if you have the fan or thermals, you should replace with an 11-blade fan and the heat exchangers from a '74 or earlier 911 model. SSIs is one direction to go if you can't find the heat exchangers. Once you do this, you may as well get a nice dual-in-dual-out exhaust muffler like a Triad or B&K.

With these mods, you could have a horsepower increase of almost 20 hp., depending on the condition of your engine, which would put even the most anemic 2.7 (which had 8.0:1 compression) at about 170 hp - ten shy of the 180 hp the 3.0 engines have.

After that, stick a 7.31 r/p in your transmission, and you'll become very heady competition for 3.0 SCs and 3.2 Carreras.