Ludwig, the Mad 2.8

[Cornpanzer]

Made a big step forward in my latest project yesterday and thought I would share what I have cooking for 2010. If you read the "Short-Stroke Shootout" story in the October 2009 issue of Excellence, you could probably read between the lines that I have been kicking around the idea for a new powerplant for "Olivia" my 70"S".

I had a few reasons to want a new engine:

1) she is numbers matching and I drive the car frequently and hard. One of my biggest fears is that something catastrophic would happen to the engine.

2) the 2.2 has a lot of miles on it and needs some attention anyway. There are several minor oil leaks and the throttle bodies need rebuilt. Why not pull it out and stab something bigger in place?

The first two reasons are really "justifications" primarily used when my wife is around. The third is the real reason.

3) I have no self control. I know what a hot-rod engine feels like and I want it. Im not ashamed to admit it...when my wife is not around.

My original plans were to build a 2.5 short-stroke MFI based on a 7R case that I had purchased. I had a good set of core 2.4T heads, a very nice 66mm crank and a core 69 E magnesium MFI stacks and tb's.

Then one day I noticed an old Supertec built 2.8 SS for sale on the Pelican boards. It had spun a rod bearing and had been completely disassembled. The price was too good to pass up! After selling off the PMO carbs that came with it and a few other things I didnt need, it ended up costing me about $1500.00! (Sounds fantastic, but honestly all I was left with was a nice Turbo case, 5 good cylinder heads, misc hardware and a set of headers)

[Cornpanzer]

About this time I hooked up with Aaron Burnham (aka Burn Bros) of Rennwerks Inc. Aaron has been a huge help in pointing me straight with this motor. His help sourcing the needed parts at a great price and helping me with the direction that I want to go with the motor has been invaluable. Even more importantly is the componants that Aaron has helped me with. We have all seen pictures of Aaron's work on Kenick's throttle bodies and stacks, but photos really dont do his work justice. For a certainty, the motor was going to be MFI and twin-plug, so I shipped off my 69 E stacks and tb's along with a core distributor for him to work his magic. This is what I got back a few weeks later.

[MarkS]

Doing the same right now with my 67s. Stock appearing interior and exterior. 2.5 twin plug SS, JOS box with Quaife. #'s match engine, transaxle and in my case front suspension stored away. For the exact same reason's you are. Let my kids sort it out when the time comes.

[a911s]

Sounds great, Dave!

Congrats, you are gonna love it.

[RSwannabe]

Ahhhh, the siren song of the 2.8SS has seduced another poor soul onto the rock strewn coast of financial disater

Of course I'm jealous of your going the MFI route Dave. Mine only has lowly PMO 46's.

[Flunder]

Hey David,

Looking good but, what about Portofino with the wife for the big twenty??!!

[Cornpanzer]

You are not helpng Tom!

Get a look at that trans case yet?

[tomkirkcis]

I have never had the experience of a 2.8SS. My guess is it is a 66mm crank x ??? build. I have a 3.2SS car. Very nice motor but must be a different experience. I love high revving over square motors. What is a nice 2.8SS like?

Tom

[Cornpanzer]

Tom,
a 2.8SS is a 66 x 95 in a turbo case. I have only driven one, but it was very impressive. For more detail, check out my story in the Oct 09 Excellence

[Cornpanzer]

My original plan was to have all of the machine work done to the engine components and then assemble it myself. I wanted to be able to say that I did it myself. I am confident that I have the mechanical ability and attention to detail to do a good job, but as the receipts began building I realized that my first flat-6 build should be something more pedestrian, not a full-custom race motor.

At 8000 rpm, you want to know that every fastener was tightened by someone with years of experience. With that in mind, I put a call in to John Truman who is located just outside Cleveland Ohio. John is the guy who rebuilt the 2.2"S" engine in my car now...many years before I bought her. The engine has been wonderful, so why not keep tradition alive and have John build the Ludwig as well. (For those paying attention, you may have noticed that I accidentally called John "Fred" in my short-stroke story in Excellence - sorry John!)

John has been doing this for many years. He was the head engine guy at Stoddard Porsche back in their heyday. He was also a hired gun for many race teams over the years. Porsche even flew him to France to serve on the 924 GTR team in the early 80's. Up until two years ago he maintained a 962 which sadly was consumed in a storage fire.

A few days before Christmas, I delivered a car-load of parts to John's modest but well equipped shop.