901 vs 915 vs G50
MFI vs CIS vs Motronic
2.0 vs 2.2 vs 2.4 vs 2.7 vs 3.0 vs 3.2
C.R. variance etc
Weight vs weight
AC vs non AC

All variations on an iconic platform that impacts the air-cooled driving and ownership experience.

Ten years ago I daily drove a non-AC US 84 3.2. Stock except a chip and a muffler.I guess I was still trying to pronounce my commitment and hold on to a level of engineering excellence I felt was exemplary.and energized my automotive passion. It was "ok". The Motronic was a dream. The 3.2 was relatively torquey, didn't spin like my 2.0 or 2.2 but rock solid. The car was not light but not too heavy. The car was so reliable. I just drove it and drove it with never an issue. Hard to fault as an air-cooled driver. But never really deeply ignited my passion.

But now my air-cooled cars are non-track toys. I like light cars. My track cars are pointable lightweights. I agree with Bill V. replace those I.Bs with F.G. In the late eighties for awhile I had a 78 Euro SC coupe with no options. That car offerd a blend of comfort and sportiness I found acceptable. Not providing a particularly high level of automotive stimulation but offered some level of a composed experience appreciated by an air-cooled enthusiast. So in 1990 I found another 78 no option Euro coupe. Not even a passenger side mirror. I installed a 930/10 motor with SSIs and 3.2 brakes. Not particularly fast, whatever that means today, but a nice fun responsive 911 with a nostalgic gutsy feel that is somewhat tossable and comfortable . I still have that car with bit over a 100K kilometers.

I also have a loaded totally stock US 78k mile original paint loaded SC coupe. Nice but from my perspective a bit of a tank. A very nice tank. The driving experience is air-cooled comfortable calmer and somewhat more subdued than that of the 78. Again my preference is light air-cooled car that can be tossed around when appropriate.

But what did ignite my passion was one of my LH cars that I still remember decades later...a 69 E. I was a dumb kid and also had a 66 GT350 with some torque and HP ish, but that little MFI 2.0 hammering up to redline on a summer's night delivered such a glorious sound resonating with every cell in my body that inflamed my automotive passion. I loved that connection There was a particular tight second gear left hand corner that I would accelerate out of that would force the left front wheel inches off the ground generating the most gratifying visceral experience for me and laughter from my car guy friends.. and then redline it up to third as the road straightened. That car was "hold on" tossable. Put that right foot down to the floor while cranking the steering wheel listening to that MFI feeding that little quick spinning 2.0 to redline while pushing every molecule in that car to achieve harmonious engineering accuracy....... What a car...

 

I had a 69e once as well. I miss it.

 

I have owned a G50 but now have a 915 with 5k on the full rebuild (done by previous owner). It frustrated me at first until I put in the Wevo rear coupler and replaced all the front bushings and cups. Now it is a complete delight and frankly more fun than my 997.2 MT. It is balky going into first sometimes and the non-synchro reverse is a pain, but a great transmission that makes you work a bit but what a great thunk going into gear.

 

This is how I feel about my 82SC. Stock 3.0 (that had a mere top-end refresh by the PO) but is still stock with CIS ...I "think" I recall the PO putting in 964 cams(?) that supposedly work well with a 3.0/CIS, along with SSIs and 2->1 Dansk that isn't that loud. What I did when I bought it was add lightness: Gutted the interior, AC, and whatever I could get my hands on (left the radio and stock door panels for "civilized" use, but that's nearly it. Beefed up the T-bars, refreshed bushings, and Bilstein greens, and she corner weighted at 2550. Nothing crazy or expensive; the result is freakin Glorious!!! Where my 993 is a pure driving pleasure from a sports car standpoint, my SC is a sheer hoot to drive! From the sounds to the tactile immediacy of all controls, it's a feast for the senses, and a visceral blast! Glad I commute the 993, to be sure. But the SC is this poor-man's guilty pleasure. I had missed the long-hood window of opportunity, but this gets me close

pssst, hey Hutch, check out my avatar and the left-front tire. Yah, I get it!

Edward

 

Edward... that's the way to have 911 fun.... loose some weight from that platform and stiffen up the suspension hit some corners and pretend it's the early seventies..

 

Yup, "add" lightness, tighten up the boingers a bit, and get a bunch o track time. It's hard to have more fun than that

Edward