The Race Car, Phase 4
The PowerPlant

So, there I was, reading a post on the PorscheFans list about a 993 motor for sale.  It read "1997 993 Motor, 554 miles, like new, $7,500".   Hmmmm....  whats wrong with this picture?  Porsche charges $54,000 for that motor, new.  So I called the guy and it turns out it came out of a wrecked car, had no DME brain, no wiring harness, and basically was being sold as a "long block" with a bunch of "extra parts".  I negotiated a deal on it for $6,500, got them to give me a 30 day money back guarantee from the time I get it, no questions asked, in writing and bought it on the spot.  They trucked it from Ohio to California in about a week and I went to pick it up in my Ford Explorer on 7/13/98.  The shipping guy thought I was nuts.  It'll never fit back there.  Wanna bet?

The motor in the back of my Ford Explorer

7/15/98 Next I took a trip to the Porsche Dealer (Carlson) in Palo Alto to have one of their mechanics check it out.  It was missing 3 fuel injectors, the brain, harness, air conditioning pump, had a broken distributor, but other than that, it was brand new.  I considered using a stock DME brain but they advised against it since there are several sensors that wont be used on the motor when I stick it in my '79sc and therefore the DME will "detune" the motor significantly.  Add to that the fact that I cant even find a used DME unit ($2,800 new from Porsche) so its recommended that I use a Motec system (http://www.motec.com).

7/16/98 Next stop on my way home from work is to an old friend of mine, Paul Shank, at German Motorsports (510-659-1753) in Fremont Ca.  He did a compression check on it (#1=225, #2=230, #3=230, #4=225, #5=225, #6=225) and a basic test to see just what I'm going to be in for.  Everything seems to be ok, no strange noises, it turns over fine.

Paul, with the newest motor he's had his hands around.

We found a couple of minor problems.  One of the cylinders fins had been bent slightly which shouldn't pose a problem. An oil return tube had been bent and will need to be replaced - also an easy job.  The exhaust system was basically trashed but I'm replacing that anyway with a set of headers.  It appears that the exhaust took the brunt of the damage to the rear of the car which was good, because the core motor condition is all I care about.

Notice the bent fins on lower middle of the cylinder.
 

Just about every part of the exhaust was dented or bent.

7/17/98 Next stop is Jerry Woods Enterprises, The Legend in the racing engine design world.  I'm getting tons of advice from people ranging from top notch Porsche mechanics at the dealer, parts houses, custom engine houses, etc. and I need to boil it all down into what's going to be the best thing I can do for "my situation". 


The front of Jerry's shop.  I like it already.

I initially want to keep this motor stock.  It will save cost and it will probably produce about 300hp with little effort.  That's plenty.  For now.  Or at least for the next race.... Or until Scott Winders gets his butt out on the track... but I digress.
 
Jerry's recommendation is to use a Motec engine management system.  He thinks I could use the stock DME system but since I've called about 14 places trying to find one with no luck, my options are few.  I need a `97 stock DME unit because this engine has Varioram, a new addition to the late '96 and beyond Porsche motors.  His advice is consistent with most of the other folks that seemed to know what they are talking about.

Jerry Woods and Rich Walton. 
I think they like it.  Sorry guys, its mine.

A motor currently in development.  Nice stacks!

The advantages in going with Motec are many.  It's programmable.   It can drive the Varioram unit.  It is upgradeable - want a new module or set of features, call Motec and they give you the code to turn it on.  For a price, of course.

The biggest disadvantage I can see in going with Motec is cost.  It's expensive.  At least $5,000 just for the basic components (brain, harness), not to mention dyno testing, setup, programming, etc.  Considering the fact that I'd spend about $2,800 on a stock DME, wiring harness, etc, its almost double that.  But since I cant even get a stock DME, what other choice is there?

7/22/98 - I'm helping Pete Weber with his computer system and having him make me a W&W (Woods & Weber) Exhaust.  Here's one on the bench being built.  These exhaust systems are tuned specifically for this motor and will allow me to run at tracks like Laguna Seca which has a 92db noise limit.

7/25/98 Ken Shahoian and I tore down the motor to check the condition of everything and replace the rod bolts with Raceware rod bolts.  This is a critical step in the development of a race motor.  Rod bolts stretch at higher RPMs and can fail.

Ken with the motor. Somehow it keeps loosing weight...

Yup, this puppy only has 557 miles on it.  Amazing.

More to come, stay tuned....