917 engine options

[Alex]

Does anybody know what options (year/makes/models/availability/.....really just any information that might be helpful) one can use for a 917? I know it's a flat 6 cylinder, but at this point in my research that's like saying to me that a cobra can use a v8 (i.e., very vague and broad and confusing to somebody with no mechanical knowledge )

 

[Cliff Beer]

Hi Efn,

Not sure what you mean you "know it's a flat six" - the 917 had a flat 12. Do a search here for 917 and you'll see both some pics and vid (same for YouTube).

If you're asking about a 917 replica then your choices are many....flat 6 porshce, V8, etc. The most economical and still somewhat original might be a 911sc engine with a 915 gearbox (or a 3.2 with a G50). I'd stay away from the 2.0 - 2.4 ltr 911 engines (too small) with the 901 gearbox. Definitely stay away from the 2.7 911 engine (unless you like pulled head studs).

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

All 911's use a flat six engine and the RCR917 will accept any of them.....turbo or non turbo.
Your budget and HP requirements will dictate which one you use but as Cliff has said the 3.0 and the 3.2 L engines are the most economic ...that said the 993 engines are becoming more readily available and not to bad on price for a drop in unit..

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Here is a really mean looking engine....
New Porsche Race RSR 3.8 Liter Spec Sheet

 

[Rick S.]

I've seen that one before and it is a great looking motor. But for 40K you could build a 3.4 twin turbo with wayy more torque & HP, but you do have a lot more plumbing to deal with...

 

[Alex]

All 911's use a flat six engine and the RCR917 will accept any of them.....turbo or non turbo.
Your budget and HP requirements will dictate which one you use but as Cliff has said the 3.0 and the 3.2 L engines are the most economic ...that said the 993 engines are becoming more readily available and not to bad on price for a drop in unit..

Can you fit in a V8 into it, or is it strictly flat 6 porsche?

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

YOU can do whatever YOU want ...but we only support the flat six...

 

[Alex]

Here is a really mean looking engine....
New Porsche Race RSR 3.8 Liter Spec Sheet

Holy poop, that is a lot of $$$ for not much hp. ... I guess there really is no replacement for displacement :lipsrsealed:

This requires more research (as usual) - i found my 996 911 to be quite gutless (by any standards) to drive. No sense building a monster car with a gutless engine. Ahhhh, but the gt40 with a monster engine, on the other hand, is more common than a 917, so I just don't know! :uneasy:

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Build an SL-C....uncommon and way too fast for a Canuk.....

 

[Alex]

Build an SL-C....uncommon and way too fast for a Canuk.....

But not as cool as a917 :laugh:

I was talking a bit with Erik at Carquip today - working out some rough numbers that seemed a bit more reasonable than 40k engines (hehe).

I guess it comes down to do I want to build something that's a bit more common but excessively overpowered again, or something more modest but that's almost 1 of a kind. Hummmm. Good thing the dollar hasn't hit par again yet, still got time to think :idea:

 

[Jack]

How 'bout a twin turbo Lexus V-8 in an SL-C, like the proto car.

 

[Alex]

How 'bout a twin turbo Lexus V-8 in an SL-C, like the proto car.

Honestly, I like the lines of a Mk2 Gt40 more than the SLC, so I'd be more tempted to go that route before a SLC.

But man oh man, that 917 is sure calling to me to build it :drunk:

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

Well you know what to do then......pick up the phone.

We have a pair of 917's at the shop....come on by ...but make it quick as one is leaving in a couple of weeks.....

 

[Donnie Barnes]

Which one is leaving?

EFNFAST, mine is one of the two Fran has at the shop. It's getting a 993 engine that'll be NA and hopefully near 350HP along with a 930 gearbox.

While I agree that a 996 is somewhat gutless, remember that the 917 will weigh less than 2/3 what your 996 weighed. That's a LOT. Plus when you put big rubber on the thing you just don't have to slow down NEARLY as much in corners. With "only" 350HP it should still be QUITE a beast on the track.


--Donnie

 

[Alex]

Well you know what to do then......pick up the phone.

Perhaps if the bank of Fran accepts Canadian dollar at par..........:greedy:

................otherwise I need to wait another month or two for the currency to depreciate a little bit more

Which one is leaving?

EFNFAST, mine is one of the two Fran has at the shop. It's getting a 993 engine that'll be NA and hopefully near 350HP along with a 930 gearbox.

While I agree that a 996 is somewhat gutless, remember that the 917 will weigh less than 2/3 what your 996 weighed. That's a LOT. Plus when you put big rubber on the thing you just don't have to slow down NEARLY as much in corners. With "only" 350HP it should still be QUITE a beast on the track.


-Donnie

That's a combo I discussed with Erik - 993 engine with a 930 box (although he suggested looking at another one of similar price, like a g50, which he felt would more than likely fit the chassis).

Unfortunately I've been spoiled by a car that weighs 2140 and makes 600+hp, hehe.

Still, I'll be the first to admit I don't begin to use anywhere even near 50% of my cobra's potential, so a large hp project equates to nothing more than an increase in my e-weiner size. So do I want to do that again, or do I want to build&pay tribute to one of the baddest cars to ever race. Right now I'm leaning towards the later.

 

[Fran Hall RCR]

930 box is the set up...not the G50.

Reason being that the 930 can have the ring and pinion flipped inside the box and maintain the stock engine trans interface ..no welding of extra mounting holes, no adapter plates and maintaining the ability to use ALL stock Porsche clutch and flywheel parts...this is not feasible with the G50

 

[Rick S.]

Donnie,
please don't wait too long to post pictures of your rcr917. Inquiring minds want to know more!

 

[Paul Osborn]

Here is a really mean looking engine....
New Porsche Race RSR 3.8 Liter Spec Sheet

Yes, "US $40,000.00" is really mean looking!:stunned:

 

[Alex]

Btw, are there any 911 engines that were decent hp performers, readily available, but most importantly, carb'd? Or, alternatively, ones that would be easy to convert to being carb'd?

 

[Jac Mac]

Get a couple of 911's & bolt em back to back, need a bit of lateral thought to hook it all up & you might have to send it down below the equator for that commodity, yeh I know Fran says it wont fit, but he says a lot of things he doesnt really mean and he did say ''' YOU can do whatever YOU like'''!!.