Geo

I won't repeat all the good advice here, but will just make a few comments.

1) For SCCA IT you can only have your valve seats ground to the stock specs (3 angle I believe).

2) For SCCA IT you can shave the head to increase the CR by 1/2 point (only legal way to increase CR other than replacing with US market 10.2:1 pistons). For this you will need the shop to cc the combustion chambers and do some calculations to figure out just how much you can remove.

3) You don't need an adjustable cam gear to return the cam timing to stock. All you need is an offset key which is the only way to do it legally in SCCA IT, and BTW, the offset key can only be used at the crank.

Good luck. Take pix. Lots of pix. I'm planning on rebuilding my engine hopefully early in the new year.

TD in DC

Thanks George.

I plan to take lots of pictures and do an in depth writup.

TD

M758

TD..
I have been away a while, but figure simply stock headwork should run about $200 -$300. Just labor now parts. You really don't need to get in to fancuy stuff to make hp. It is a DE car and better to be stock for later IT, PCA or 944 cup racing.

Also don't shave the head. Just make sure they get it flat. I have seen more than a few 944 spec motor that have had headgasket problems after shaving the head to boost compression. They gain maybe a 1-2 hp and usally blow a gasket in 5-6 weekend or less.

Most have switch back to more stock heads overtime. Remember you are doing DE. The key is not 1-3 hp, but reliability. That is what will give you the MOST enjoyment.

Geo

Joe,

Any idea what causes the HG to blow?

my84-944

I agree.
After looking for a local shop to do mine, I found it was less expensive to get a rebuild from Ian at 944-online. 200.00 would not even cover the core for one of these things, and the warranty is nice comfort food, since the rest of my car went out of warranty like 18 years ago.

M758

Not really other than it seems common on shaved heads.

I think it has to do with the need to for more octane and timing.

I forget which way it works, but take it little off the head and the cam moves down a bit which has minor timing change. We are NOT allowed offset keys to "reset". Could be that, but I don't really know.

What I do know is that I run a "flatted", but not "shaved" head and have never had an issue with headgaskets. Even run 91 oct pump gas.

I don't think any spec car has popped a head gasket where it not either old (may be original) or the head was "shaved" in a serious way to raise compression.

HughA44s

TD, PM sent.

spazegun2213

Sorry to dig this thread up, but I'm abotu to do the same thing. I would like to deck the head and block, and change the pistons to the 87-88 high CP pistons.

I do have a question about this. If i raise the CR on an 83, what would I have to do to get the HP out of the engine?

M758

The 87 engine has the 9.5:1 pistons. Only 88 has 10.2:1 pistons. I have 9.5:1 pistons in my currnet race motor and have complete 88 motor with 10.2:1 pistons as a spare. I ran for a time with 88 motor, but did not notice enough a performacne difference so I have been running my 84 block motor for a while. When it needs bearings I will put the 88 motor in but feel I just for HP.

spazegun2213

so are there could i possibly just swap the postions and bee good? as I said its a 83 motor, and i have not read that they changed anything in the motor other than the CR.

thanks

M758

You should be fine just as you are. At least in 944 spec you can be fine with the 9.5:1 pistons.

MM951

my shop can do it too

35+ years of racing experience (not me, the owner!)