First post , First 914-8, Saying hello Options

[Sean_S]

Hello All !

My name is Sean and I've been lurking here for a few hours and figured I'd best register since I just purchased my first 914 V8 conversion.

I live in Coos Bay Oregon as a Los Angeles escapee.

In my former life I was a machinery dealer and thankfully this has provided me with a full machine shop (kept the cream for myself). Hopefully this will help with that trials of owning this conversion.

I also have a custom Lotus Esprit S1 and a Toyota FJ-40. I've owned and converted several FJ's to V8's so I'm comfortable with tweaking and re-tweaking. I may at some point convert the Lotus, but the engine is fresh so it will wait.

In any case, here is a photo of the 914 conversion. I haven't gotten into it yet, but basically it's a 5.0 EFI conversion...let me know what you think?

Also, I am interested in hearing from the V8 guys (and gals) about the performance of their cars and any 91(8) advice that a newbie must know.

All the Best
Sean

(IMG:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v500/twomarbles/914/DSC00714.jpg)

[Sean_S]

Felix,
Both the 914 and the Lotus have the stock trannies (can't remember the number on the Brit car).

Hard to say whether I'll go over 300hp on either...it's nice to fantasize. Even if I did go nuts on a custom build, I'd destroke it enough to keep the torque quite low and get the throttle response to be blink fast. 400HP with 250lbft sounds like a nice motor to me on either car. So many other cool cars make better platforms for cheap dragging fun. Without even having started this car I'm sure to be dissapointed with the rumping exhaust note it is sure to have. This car, and especially with this body style deserve something that screams over 7K and narely vibrates at idle.
On a side note, in town our speed limit is 45 at best and even 20 in some places. Believe it or not, my FJ40 with its built 327 and 4:10 rear will toast most Porsches and Asians between lights or up to that magic 45mph (yes that is supposed to be at least mildly funny). Gotta take the hard top and doors off for those hopped up cars though (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I read one...maybe two articles on the 915/930 tranny conversions...
I'm not sure that makes sense to me. Without being knowledgeable I'd sure try to stuff a ZF or Mendeola in there before I spent 10 grand on an upside-down modified turbo transaxle.

Nah, I think these cars will a pampered testiment to my mid life crisis...besides, the fastest car around is almost always gonna be....a motorcycle!

Cheers!
Sean (Ducati....Hmmmmmmm!)