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Ballpark? Heaps!

There are however, options along the road.

For around $25k Autohaus Hamilton can re-build a 3.2 to run with better pistons, mild cams, uprated valve springs, improved exhaust system but still running the Porsche DME. This is the spec that is going into the Autohaus Hamilton Sales project car, along with sexy suspenders suspension bits.

For around $45k we can build you a twin-sparked, carb-fed 3.4 litre engine. You'll get big power, but the car won't start as easily as as the car I mentioned.

The engine that I mentioned was pretty much a 'no expense spared' rebuild, on the basis that the owner had had 25+ years of hard use, including sprinting it without ever opening the engine. Even the original Dilavar studs had lasted. The rebuild was rather considerably north of $45k.

Is the $25k quoted the cost of a standard 3.2 rebuild or are there... more... 'budget conscience' options.

:)

I just choked on my Vegemite sandwich!!!!!

If you choked on your vegemite sandwich, it may be because of the cost of Porsche engineering, or it may be because you haven't put enough butter on first. Also, James hasn't given you enough information.

Sorry, I've been busy, don't often post and have just been catching up on the latest forum news. I recognised James' description, above. The engine looks like this:

7333636612_4da855966c_c.jpg

I'm allowed to post the picture, because it is of my engine, now in the back of my 911. This engine is probably the first and only one of its type so far in Australia, with direct to head throttle bodies on each cylinder. I believe that Autohaus will eventually put something up on their website about this development, quite unique, with a Porsche GT3 plenum chamber on the inlet side for some kind of resonance advantage. You can see the detail in the picture, also the twin spark plug set up. What you can't see is all of the lovely goodies inside. If you want the best Porsche bits, they will cost you and you just have to face that. My driving of the car tells me that the trick stuff like the individual throttle bodies, Porsche plenum chamber and more sophisticated motec ignition really works but it is highly technical; you'll have to ask them for accurate information if you are interested.

What I'm pleased about, is that the new engine does stuff.

Like this:

7331436468_62a0ac558c_c.jpg

and it has lots, and lots of power. And lots and lots of torques. So much power, with so much torques and a slippery diff too, it can do fun things, like this:

7331434848_2628ccc7c3_c.jpg

James is quite wrong, the car hasn't been used for motorsport for 25 years, it has been used by me, since new (1984) which puts it in its 29th year. It is a one owner 1984 Carrera. (Only used by a little old guy some weekends.) James should know better, he is my son. He works at Autohaus Hamilton, having started their spare parts division a year ago because he and Grant want to offer their customers the best value and can source Porsche parts competitively, all over the world. I have nothing to do with the company and their servicing of my car predates his relationship with them by 25 years. He has Porsche DNA, can't help himself, so cut him some slack.

Although my 911 has always been fully road registered, it has by now probably done more track miles than road miles.

You can find specialised Porsche engine builders and in Australia we are blessed with some who are really very good. I entrusted Autohaus to build the new engine for me, because they've serviced the car for 25 years and in recent years have built some track and rally cars that have achieved excellent results. So I figured if Autohaus had kept my car together and running beautifully for all of those years while I thrashed the living daylights out of it, and if they were building engines and cars with demonstrably good results, they would know how to build me a superb engine.

And after 29 years of superb service from the one Porsche, with the engine never having been opened and the heads never having been off, I was prepared to spend up with the expectation that I'd get more good years. It was my third Porsche when I bought it; I was 38 (you do the math). I've often looked at new Porsches, and I love certain years and particular models but they don't offer me the thrill that this one does. So I'm getting the kicks for my spend, - it was less than a new one by a country mile, with no depreciation to worry about.

About your concerns regarding the cost, to be fair, James hasn't got the invoices although he knows I told Autohaus, "Just do it", or perhaps he is respecting my confidence. The 'big spend' also included a front to back refresh of suspension - new everythings, including brakes, shocks, torsion bars, motec, everywhere, everything. After 29 years of fun, it actually extrapolates out quite well. You get what you pay for.

Those of you with early 911's will know that they can be a bit cantankerous, for example, slowing down you need to declutch early or the ecu tries to take over with a big jerk. All of that is gone, the engine is like a turbine, tractable, amazingly smooth and torquey. Much easier than it used to be and more pleasant. Granny could easily drive it to the shops, except that I'm not telling her.

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Guest Nick987

Great read, and the 'fun things like this' pic made me snort latte out my left nostril. Worth it.

"...the engine is like a turbine..."

Nuff said.

That engine looks stunning. Almost a pity it is tucked away and hidden in the rear of your car. It is something I would love on my coffee table. I would watch it instead of the tube.

If ever I need a performance rebuild, I know where to go. I think I'll be like 'shut up and take my money!'

Boo for granny... : (

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Great read, and the 'fun things like this' pic made me snort latte out my left nostril. Worth it.

"...the engine is like a turbine..."

Nuff said.

That engine looks stunning. Almost a pity it is tucked away and hidden in the rear of your car. It is something I would love on my coffee table. I would watch it instead of the tube.

If ever I need a performance rebuild, I know where to go. I think I'll be like 'shut up and take my money!'

Boo for granny... : (

Don't feel sorry for Gran, she's been sitting next to me for the whole time we've owned the car and gets to share the off track fun.

As for a performance rebuild, I'm well pleased. You probably know that the best set up for our engines is downdraught webers because of the breathing, with one choke per cylinder. But they are cantankerous things. The set up the Autohaus Hamilton do is an individual throttle body per cylinder so it works just as well as Webers - better to the extent that the Motec system controls the mixture, idle speed, knock sensor, advance etc. It also has gps and can overlay my track statistics on a map of the track to help me improve my own performance. I'm not there yet, the pictures I've posted were taken when I was running it in and still being very kind. Even then I easily won my class on that particular sprint day.

so whats the final power and torque figures? i'm just interested to know what a 50k pluse engine re-build nets.

My plan is to still be able to use the car on the road and so I was just as interested in easy driveability, ready starting, and hassle free traffic performance. I plan to ship the car to Europe and to drive the great mountain passes, like Stelvio. That is personal bucket list stuff. Anyway, it now makes considerably more at the wheels than it used to make at the flywheel. My car is a 1984 235hp Carrera, with the 235 being at the flywheel. (It might've been 231hp?)

Running in on the dyno the engine produced a poofteenth over 263 horsepower. That is, 263 at the wheels! Which must be about 330 at the flywheel, compared to the old 230 odd. About 23% more than before. Hamilton's told me that the same set up could produce lots more power but it would've been with a lumpy cam making it less than a pleasure in traffic. We discussed it and I took their advice which was spot on in terms of making the car more pleasant to drive than it was originally, and with more than enough horsepower. I've not yet taken it to right up to the rev limiter; one of the very nice things that they fitted was a progressive change light that changes colour as it gets towards the red line. On the road it is hard to get the thing to light up at all and retain my licence; on the track I have seen it progressively change toward orange but never yet seen the red band.

As you may imagine, driving it is now quite awe inspiring. It has a major fun factor and I'm suitably pleased. I've had excellent advice and service for over 25 years and don't hesitate to recommend Hamilton's to my mates.

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Guest Nick987

"On the road it is hard to get the thing to light up at all and retain my licence;" I was working hard keeping mine over the weekend so know EXACTLY how you feel!

The speedos in these cars aren't speedos...as I tell my son who is a Lerner driver at the moment, the speedo is really an indicator of how quickly and for how long you will be losing your licence...the quicker the number increases and the longer it stays high, the more you will be waiting for your licence to be returned.

Wow! Coming to Melbourne? I would love to see this running...hear it...

And Stelvio...[whistles]

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Great story Sydr.

The engine sounds like it goes as good as it looks. Loads of omphh and still easy driveability...nice. The pics show heaps of fun factor.

I like the idea of shipping the car to Europe...there are loads of places I would like to drive in Europe, not the least being on the Autobahn. One more addition for the bucket list :rolleyes:

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terrific story and awesome photos. It truly is a work of art. Sounds like you got exactly what it was you were looking for which is even better. So hope you continue to enjoy it. Don't delay that trip to Europe go as soon as you can.....

Cheers and kindest regards

Chris

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"On the road it is hard to get the thing to light up at all and retain my licence;" I was working hard keeping mine over the weekend so know EXACTLY how you feel!

The speedos in these cars aren't speedos...as I tell my son who is a Lerner driver at the moment, the speedo is really an indicator of how quickly and for how long you will be losing your licence...the quicker the number increases and the longer it stays high, the more you will be waiting for your licence to be returned.

Wow! Coming to Melbourne? I would love to see this running...hear it...

And Stelvio...[whistles]

Melbourne is one of our favourite places, so you don't need to invite us twice. Somehow, and maybe you can explain this, Melbourne has better and more interesting cars than Sydney. And before you think I'm blowing smoke up your A..... , I believe that could be 'cos you don't have enough to do . . . .

Or maybe you have a better explanation?

We've been to Melbourne many times, although not always with the Porsche. The last time we had the Porsche in Melbourne, we had fun on the Great Ocean Road Adventure organised by Porsche Cars Australia. It was an absolute blast, 180 Porsches, great Ocean Rd closed for special sections, a superb event. Here is Grandpa taking Granny for a drive in your fair city . . . . .

7443524576_b09386f755_b.jpg

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Guest Nick987

OH. MY. GOD. Closed sections? Great Ocean Road??? Speechless...

How long ago was this?

That is my favorite road.

When I need the fix, I leave home in the dark to be exiting Anglesea about half an hour before dawn to be carving the road around day break. Top down, scarf and beany, my 3.4 resonating off the cliffs...aaaahhhh...

There are 2 visions of heaven for me right there...if ever I wage jihad against falcodore drivers and get taken down in a hail of boiling motor oil, I will be transported to a heaven with...

1. A Great Ocean Road without end and closed to oncoming traffic on a glorious blue sky 22degree, 15knot south easterly breeze day with a fuel tank that never runs dry...AND

2. A world inhabited only by Porsche cars and no other make.

What a sight to behold! Can you post more pics?

BTW...if ever you are down in Melbourne again, let me know and I will introduce you to some forest equivalents of the GOR you will absolutely LOVE! (prepping some vision right now I'll be posting soon, will let you know when up).

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Guest Nick987

Count me in!

I also love the Marengo > Glenaire run through the forest...

I got no probs meeting at the Shell in Belmont around 5am? Spend the day? Up to Apollo Bay for breaky, Skenes Creek Rd then a bit of the Wild Dog and Forest Rd (if sealed!) then lunch and a nice digestive Marengo > Glenaire before the run home?

Or less if you prefer, I'm not fussed.

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Well done...and an extra internet beer for Hugh for the type number.

Amusingly the CGT's 210bhp would nowadays only make for a moderately warm hatchbacks. Although modern hatchbacks - like pretty much all modern cars - are lardy things which cocoon the driver from whatever is going on.

Confession time: I still harbour a soft spot for the 924, even in its NA guise. A very trusting uncle let me take his then-new 924 for a drive with my then-almost new cousins. Heady responsibilities for a PFY!

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