Honda V-6 in the 914, engine options Options

[tomrev]

Thought I'd put up a few photo's of my current 914 project. I had a six from 1984 to 1998; started with the 2.0 T, then a 2.0S, to a 2.7, and finally a 3.0, with RSR pistons, Solex cams and a few other tweaks. She was a blast to drive, and I drove her to work, and vintage raced her for many years. About six years ago the 914 urge returned, and I built a few V8 cars, one with a LS, the other with old school SBC. They were both cool, and super fast, but just didn't sound right, so I began thinking of another six. Once the price shock passed, I knew it wasn't going to be a Porsche six, and started learning about some alternatives, and settled on the Honda 3.5 V6 from the Pilot, etc. They are all aluminum, variable valve timing, compact, light, and dirt cheap, and make around 250HP, and Ft. Lbs, a nice level for a 914. And happily, Kennedy makes the adapter kit, so that part is out there.
After a trip to the junk yard to look at, and measure, it seemed close enough to bring one home, and really start playing with it. I am aware of one other 914 with this engine in it, but it's a solo car, with out a trunk floor, etc., so one problem fitting it in. I have a nice 20K original car, too nice to start cutting up, so if the engine wouldn't go in, I'd give it up. (The car was a V8 car almost from new, don't panic!).
The engine is very compact, but the intake spreads out over the gearbox, and would stick way into the trunk. Fortunately, the intake can be flipped 180 deg., and by cutting off the throttle body, and re-welding it onto the side, the engine becomes nice and workable. It is a tight squeeze, but fits almost like it was designed to be there.

[Chris H.]

Yeah this really messes things up for some of us Tom (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . We WANT THAT! Was a little worried about that side mounted intake. Sounds like it breathes fine.

Looks great. Congrats on getting it up and running.

Did you say you got the engine harness done somewhere? How about the ECU? Who did that work for you?

[tomrev]

[quote name='Chris H.' date='Feb 24 2016, 02:53 PM' post='2307445']
Yeah this really messes things up for some of us Tom (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) . We WANT THAT! Was a little worried about that side mounted intake. Sounds like it breathes fine.

Looks great. Congrats on getting it up and running.

Did you say you got the engine harness done somewhere? How about the ECU? Who did that work for you?

In stock form, the TB flows into the outer air box on the intake, so by moving it to the side, it still enters a common box, and seems to be a non issue. I researched the dune buggy shops that are using the Honda, and found a couple who will clean up the stock harness. Settled on Don's Buss Box, a guy in Az. who builds gearbox;s for buggies, and will supply a modded late 90's ECU, and go thru your harness for $850. He in turn has another buggy shop do the harness work, based out of Wa. It was done cleanly, and allowed me to concentrate on the welding / fab end of things, which I like best, and then just change the chassis wiring to mate up with the Honda parts. It only needs 6 wires to run, and control's the fan and fuel pump, as in a stock setting.