Value of 3.1 SC-L engine
 

Just wondering what my 3.1SC-L long block would be worth? For those that don’t know these engines, this would be 1 of 250 engines Porsche modified from 78-79 from stock 3.0 engines with 97mm turbo cylinders and custom Mahle high compression pistons. These engines also had the Carrera tensioners before they came out on the 84 3.2 engines. Considering selling to switch to another power plant. Anyone have an opinion of value?

What were these 250 engines put in?

cool and rare motor. only have seen 1 forsale and it was in a long hood.

Euro 78-79 SC
See article
https://www.excellence-mag.com/issues/180/articles/point-one#.XDNDyIpOmhA

I believe it's hard to value because if you don't have the original car to go with it, it's sort of a historical oddity that may or may not interest people. It's not a MFI 2.7RS and it's sort of one of those things you may or may not mention to someone like "Hey, I've got a rare 3.1 in here."

For me I would probably price it 30% higher than a normal. But that's me. I don't see the market, and most would probably buy it just to get a good running engine and the whole historical significance thing would be an added bonus.

Besides what Salpardise said,
Is the engine NOS, used but low miles or wore out and core.

More information is needed to give any guess.

Is it the one in your signature?

3.1 engine, 3.2 liter heads, carrera intake, Microsquirt V3 ECU, K27 7200 High flow turbo, Tial F41 wastegate, Ford EDIS. .7 bar. 402hp 360tq

OMG, are they serious with this quote from that article?!? :eek:

“The 911 SC is as good as it can be made,” opined one Car and Driver scribe. “Porsche has massaged, refined, reworked, and improved on it until the car is as near perfection as it can be.”

That’s hilarious. :D How anyone could think that the 911 SC was the epitome of Porsche is beyond me. That ‘scribe’ needs to get their head examined for some loose screws rattling around in there.

It's what's called hyperbole turned up to 11 with a cherry on top.

But you gotta remember that journalists, dealers, and owners in general were still recovering from their mid-year hangover.

I think you’re letting your bias trump reality here.
https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g15381162/fastest-cars-1970s/

In the 1970s a 911sc was fast. And a 930 was only 1/10th a second faster to 60.

These cars are worlds apart in performance, especially beyond 60 mph. I’d bet that 1/10 difference is wrong as well, I find that very hard to believe. Here’s an article focusing on just Porsche specific models - the hp, top speed, 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. They put the difference at 1.3 seconds for the 0-60 time. I’d put money on it that these numbers are far more accurate than a measly 1/10 of a second, the 3.3 turbo has almost double the hp over the SC, there’s no way it can keep up to 60 mph. That can’t be right.

https://www.supercars.net/blog/porsche-0-60-times/

Yes, I’m biased, but for good reason.

I'm curious in what world 300 is double 188. haha The 930 was also 300# heavier. It's not that fantastic. It just warrants maintaining some perspective. Back then anything under 7 seconds was quick.

Ultimately, I spoke up because it was kind of a douche move to start in with that stuff on someone's attempt to value that engine. You don't have a clue what the engine is worth, but since it's not a 930 engine it's not worth much, eh?

I said “almost” double, which is accurate. Literal much?

I have no idea what the engine is worth, but I wasn’t sh|tting on the guy’s engine, I never commented on its value. I was merely commenting about a quote from an article that he linked that is a bit on the ridiculous side.

Yes, that would be the engine in question. Obviously I said long block for a reason. It still has the 97mm cylinders and forged pistons. The heads were regular run of the mill 3.0 heads that it came with. Maybe it’s not worth any more than a standard 3.0, but I would imagine that someone would find the value and the oddity that the block is stamped 3.1 instead of 3.0. My engine came from an original SC-L car that someone may want to make it, or another SC-L whole again. That would be almost impossible to find since they only made 250 units. It’s still a great running engine.

I don’t agree with Sal’s 30%, but I could see 10-20%, so a couple or few thousand more than a regular 3l lump.

I see no extra value because of the 3.1 stamping. Generally speaking Hot rodders care about performance and do not put much weight in nostalgic numbers on a block. The build of your hot rod engine, dyno #,parts etc. is what will sell it. Yours sounds like a nice build. Go with that.

Pic of the stamp? You say 3.1 instead of 3.0 however a normal SC is not stamped 3.0. I’m guessing you are referencing something like 930/03 3.1 like the article suggested?

I don’t agree with this. If this motor is truly a 1 of 250, then it is clearly worth more than a standard SC motor. Anyone not willing to pay a premium for it just isn’t the right buyer. Rarity carries premium, yes, even if it’s just an engine. And with only 250 of these versus almost 59k SC’s, that equates to a nice premium for this motor.

In the end the old classic car story keeps coming back to me. I am of the very firm belief that the Porsche hobby is still catching up. If it were a rare Ferrari engine that they only made 250 of, or even an old Alfa or Jaguar engine that they made 250 of, then it would immediately command a premium.

But as most know rarity doesn't always equate into value. Something can be rare and not be worth anything - or worth more.

If you were to hold onto it and keep it, maybe during the next Porsche surge in 2028 or something, then maybe it would be insane. We shall see.

The value of this is as a complete motor, or more for uniting it with the car it came out of.
Otherwise its just another case and a few parts.

Reality = Any future price surge is a long way off, and with +2c close, prolly doubtful.