WTB: 81-83 sunroof coupe
 

Since the Targa is gone I'm looking for a black/black, red/black or red/tan 911 to replace it. If anyone has any leads, I would appreciate it..

Why just 81-83? Why not 78-83 or 78-89?

Increased compression = more power?

In my opinion there's not much difference in power between '78-'83. Too many variables. I'd suggest opening the years up to 78-89.

What's your price range?

There is no power difference in early and late US spec SCs. The power band is in a different location - later SCs tend to get on power earlier, but also run out of breath earlier. The earlier cars like to pull all the way to red line.

If you're looking at late SCs, I'd suggest opening the search up to early Carreras too. They're all about the same weight (yes, late SCs are bloated like Carreras. Please don't tell me how you're 78 Euro is light as hell - that's an early SC) and they make almost 30hp more.

You probably are correct in the HP increase not being enough to notice. Book says that the 81 thru 83's were 180HP while the 78 thru 80 were 172. It's that I got use to what I had and would like the same. Looking to spend around 12K..

The books differ; I’ve seen many that list the early ones at 180 too. I’m told and seen in Anderson’s book that the big difference is in the cam timing. Early SCs are timed a couple degrees different than later ones. Not dizzy timed but cam timed. Likely why they seem to pull harder at higher RPMS. I’ve also read that the early SCs have bigger ports or runners or something? Supposedly all 2.7, SC and 3.2s have the same cam profiles. Though timed different in some cases and let’s not forget the 3 vs. 4 journals. Again Anderson said the 3.2s split the difference in cam timing. 964 cams are suppose to be a good upgrade on the earlier engines but no one seems to do just that, so actual numbers seem sketchy at best.

Might be interesting to get a base line on DAS COUP with the SSIs and Ben muffler. They really seemed to help the low and mid range. Then retime cams to early specs. Lots of work for 3-5 top end HP but interesting just the same.


It would also be nice to find the real differences between the later Euro SCs (204) and US (180) ones. I wouldn’t think the half point in compression would make the 24 hp differences. Might be the combination of the CR, early CIS and cam timing but I have never seen anything concrete and haven’t the patience’s to go line by line in the PET. Most original Euros I’ve seen had air pumps and cats so what’s up with that?

I'm guessing you didn't see them in Europe. That would be the DOT's work and they forced the owner to put that crap on for federalization. Kind of like the guys who weld the black iron gas pipe in the doors to replicate the side impact beam of the US models.

I've always seen all SCs rated at 180hp, though, and heard the the early ones (78-79) have the bigger ports so they breath a little better.

Me too but they also had cats in Europe. The pipe thing is funny, will have to remember to look.

SC hp numbers are all over the place. Depends if in DIN or SAE rated and sometimes no one tells you which they are quoting. I never could understand, as DR points out, how the small compression bump for later ones gained 20hp either. Late year SC's were often quoted at 204hp.. suprisingly the same rating as the first US 3.2l motors (euro 3.2s were rated at 231din). Not sure where I am going with this one, other than to say I think you would be hardpressed to notice HP "gains" over the SC years, given the corresponding weight gain by having "options" become standard equipment.