Rebuild a 2.7L or 3.0L six motor, which is cheaper? Options

[boxsterfan]

Which /6 motor is cheaper to rebuild? 2.7L or the 3.0L?

1. Assume core motor is in good condtion and no crazy findings when you tear it down.
2. Assume you are building the motor for longevity
3. You are putting this in a 914/6 conversion (was /4)

[Justinp71]

If you want fast and less expensive subaru or LS1 is probably the ticket. But there is something really awesome about keeping it all in the family. Like a car that Porsche could have built if they wanted to (and I like chevy motors).

As for P&C's you can purchase JE pistons for less than $1k. There was older reports of them being louder (had piston slap, I think?) but the they have them in tolerance now. No problems with them on my rebuild. If your motor has nikasil cylinders you can rebuild them, if you have alusil EBS racing can rebuild and nikasil plate them like new for a reasonable cost.

[Mark Henry]

As for P&C's you can purchase JE pistons for less than $1k. There was older reports of them being louder (had piston slap, I think?) but the they have them in tolerance now. No problems with them on my rebuild. If your motor has nikasil cylinders you can rebuild them, if you have alusil EBS racing can rebuild and nikasil plate them like new for a reasonable cost.

Ok on cylinders, pretty close, but not 100%, so here's my .02cents

Nikasil
-sometimes you can just wash them with Comet cleaner
-sometimes you can hone them with silicon carbide (SC), this is not really honing, it's more de-glazing
-If you can feel a wave, where a ring ridge would be on a steel cylinder, they need to be replated.
-always check with a bore gauge, they are known to fish-mouth or bell-mouth.
-There are 6 different size groups, so you can't mix and match cylinders willy-nilly.
Replating costs $1100 to $1200
-you can plate nikasil or alusil cylinders, some say the Alusil core is better.
-on a 3.0 the 3.2 cylinder core (no grove) is a slightly better choice .

JE or Mahle pistons (I don't think KS but may be wrong)
JE are sloppy (tolerance) cold, they expand more
Mahle are high tolerance cold

Alusil
-mixed views on reuse,
-special rings,
-Dr Evil was successful rehoning them and knows the process.
-stock alusil pistons only, I believe these are Kolbenschmidt KS.

Yeh...,I've done a shitlaod of research on building certain /6 engines, built many of my own tools, bought wrong shit, bought right shit, spent way too much money....