Carrera Motors---Bill Russell

[JTR70]

Sorry we don't have the PM option at the moment guys. Bill(Welcome aboard!) I just sent you "vic's"(welcome too!) email address directly so you can chat privately. Best of luck with your search! Thanks Guys, educational discussion!

[Vic Triol]

Thank you kindly for the effort.
Been a 'lurker' for a long time.

It's a great forum. Thanks for all you do.
"Vic"

[Dakota]

Hi All
me again, here are a couple of dumb questions, does anyone know how many 547 motors were produced ,I have read that the 547 started life as the 550 Spyder motor and was then fitted into the 356 and was referred to as a Spyder motor until Porsche came up with the Carrera name, and as far as I understand it the 547/1 was a development for the 356 with the most obvious difference being the orientation of the oil fittings, so how many 547/1's were built and were there many spare engines produced? Now I realise these are a genuine rarity but are there many orphans with no cars to go to or is it kind of a musical chairs thing going on with the few available, and I am not going to ask anything crass like how much should one cost, my normal answer to the what its worth question is that its worth what someone will pay, many thanks Bill Russell.

[Steve Heinrichs]

781 including a number of specific derivatives and prototypes. About 22 spares depending on how one counts including about only two or so in the 90500-90959 group.

Steve Heinrichs

[Dakota]

Not many then.

[Dakota]

Hi All
here is a slightly odd question, does anyone know how heavy a 547 four cam is, with all the tin and carbs, and as a long block with no clothes on so to speak, this is to do with shipping, many thanks Bill Russell.

[Carrera GT]

Hi All
here is a slightly odd question, does anyone know how heavy a 547 four cam is, with all the tin and carbs, and as a long block with no clothes on so to speak, this is to do with shipping, many thanks Bill Russell.

Bill - I recall a statement once made that a 4-cam motor weighs about 100 to 110 lbs. more than a 356 pushrod motor. Now, who can then say how much one of those weighs? With that weight known - add the two together.

Hope that helps some way.

Michael Doyle

[Dakota]

Hi All
so who has gone to Laguna Seca then, I was wondering what is readily available to be bought as spares for a 547 four cam, such as gaskets and seals, valves, pistons and cyls or just rings and bearings, you know not really big bits more the general consumables in an engine rebuild. On the weight thing I found a weight quoted on Wikipedia that sounded about right in comparison to Michael Doyles information, I guess weighing bits of engine for all out weight is not generally a consideration whilst working on an engine. Thanks Bill.

[Trevor]

Hi Bill,

I see no one has answered yet so I'll give my opinion. I went in 2012 (going again this year) and I don't think Laguna Seca that weekend is set up as a place to buy/sell car parts. There are vendors there selling things, however it's books, paintings, shirts, etc. More of the automobilia, as I think it is called. It is probably very good to network though if you're looking for people who are in the business or own a car.

I don't often (never) hear of any DIY 4 cam guys that are building an engine in their garage. I think because of the value of the engines and the cars that hold such engines. There is a cottage industry of specialists that support the 4 cams. I'd suggest reaching out to people that are already known (Jacques Lefriant, Bill Doyle, Jeff Adams - and I 'm sure there are more that are not even on my radar).

That being said, I'd certainly love to see a guy buy a 4 cam engine and start a thread here about re-building it. Not a step by step, but more of an overview. Good luck in your search!

[jacques]

Hi Bill
From what i see the 4-Cams that show up at the premier events are extremely well prepared and if any problems arise they are left for display rather than chance any hasty repair. I still get tickled by what Al Cadrobbi did at an event in the late 90s he removed the engine out of a Spyder and did a head gasket change out reminiscent of the famous picture of the engine rotated on to one head. i asked him later and he told me the gasket was not blown he just wanted to do a demonstration.
Trevor
4-Cam engine restoration is kind of like redoing antique furniture. The resultant is good for museums and occasional use. I have been fortunate to take a more performance approach and i have to go to great lengths to match the original engineers/engine builders in preparing the racing versions for events. using the engines for normal driving to me is a waste.
j

[Carrera GT]

[Trevor]

Trevor
4-Cam engine restoration is kind of like redoing antique furniture. The resultant is good for museums and occasional use. I have been fortunate to take a more performance approach and i have to go to great lengths to match the original engineers/engine builders in preparing the racing versions for events. using the engines for normal driving to me is a waste.
j

I hear you! Although, I think Freddy's definition of waste might be different than yours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqxBo-tYt5k&list=UUZYsVa7eeHOkwS6aulVLiuA&index=31

[jacques]

Hi MD
I am a source for rebuild parts.
j