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Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:32 pm

Hey ppl, me and my grandfather are restoring a 71 super with a 1600dp engine. We are going to buy 87mm cylinders and pistons for it. My question is, will this be a noticeable increase, and is going higher much of an issue with reliability? We want to keep the car as reliable as possible, not having to screw around with replacing parts, etc.

Thanks

Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:43 pm

It's up to you. Feel like trading 3 or 4 horsepower for 50,000 less miles before top end replacement?
Not worth it, only because of the thin walled cylinders. Warp due to heat.

BUT, just because a motor is bigger doesn't mean it is less reliable. You can have your case and heads machined for 94mm Jugs, and for about the same price, have 1914cc instead of 1600. Granted, you'll need a set of dual carbs to feed it, but it would definitely be worth the extra 3-4 hundred bucks.

Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:47 pm

Okay, thanks. Are the webers good carbs for this setup? We have a good carb on it atm, one of those centrifugal advance/retard pict34s.

Wed Jul 16, 2003 7:48 pm

BTW, having the case and heads machined would cost the same as buying 87mm cylinders and pistons?

Thu Jul 17, 2003 8:44 pm

One of the engine books pegged the 87 mm as adding 1.5-2.0 HP, at the expense of longevity!

Fri Jul 18, 2003 11:33 am

Go for thick wall 88's or 90.5's
Stay away from 87 "slip-in's" when rebuilding engines

Fri Jul 18, 2003 2:42 pm

Ive put 50,000+ miles on my 87's with no loss of power or compression.
it's a mild engine with a W110 cam and a Weber Progressive carb.