914-6 2.7 Euro RS Twin Plug Project, sleeper 914 with a twin plug surprise Options

[davehg]

New member, long time lurker here. I'll be posting another 914-6 conversion project shortly, but posting a thanks for now for all the great info I've come across here.

I took the easy way into 914-6 ownership - I bought a completed car that was a track car whose PO had done the hard work. This car has a 3.2L engine, injected, with large riveted composite flares, and a pretty austere race-friendly interior with racing seats, roll cage, and little else - not even side windows or carpeting or panels. This car I refer to as the Outlaw - it's a middle finger to the purists and I absolutely love it.

But...I wanted a clean and pretty "cars and coffee" version. There's not a ton of value restoring the Outlaw. The Outlaw's body is fine, but it is purposely built.

I had bought a project from a local Porschephile who had too many nice projects (356, pre-73 911). his goal was originally to do a big Raby 4. He had stripped, prepped, and beautifully painted a really nice shell, and spent a small fortune getting the original bumpers and details correct. He had a set of mint Fuchs 14" wheels, bits and pieces from 2 interiors, and was really only missing the engine and some trim/interior bits. A deal was struck, trailer was hitched, boxes moved, and now it's my problem.

The conversion wisdom here seems to be to go big - 3.0l or more. But I have a big engine car. This is intended to be just a Sunday cruiser, no track time. Plus, I have access to perfectly nice prepped 2.7L that has case guards installed, a 911s cam, and the work mostly done, for a decent price, and it would sound just swell with PMOs. So I am heading this route. I am taking my time with the Pretty Car - not going to be concours but a great looking driver with super clean details, no flares, and more along the lines of an original -6 with a bit more oomph. I'll detail the suspension bits so it looks pretty on a lift, and I need to think through the oil cooling issues - it doesn't get super hot in the PNW but for a few days a year, and if I can avoid the expense of a front mounted cooler and running lines that would be just swell.

At least that's my current plan. We'll see where my budget leads. I have a good start - great primed and painted rust free shell, all the expensive body work complete, an engine lined up, and a clear vision of where I want to go.

Looking forward to the collective input and experience when I get started this winter.

[PanelBilly]

I run my 3.0 with just the cooler on the engine. Works fine so far.

What part of the PNW are you in?

[davehg]

I run my 3.0 with just the cooler on the engine. Works fine so far.

What part of the PNW are you in?

Just up the road from you near Issaquah.

I hear differing thoughts on the oil cooler. I snagged a vellios 2 piece tank on eBay before deciding I may not need it. Also scored all the gauges for a true 914-6 cockpit, including a tach! Bypassing the cooler will save bucks! I still need various interior trim pieces.

Pix of both to follow shortly.

[Mark Henry]

I run my 3.0 with just the cooler on the engine. Works fine so far.

What part of the PNW are you in?

I hear differing thoughts on the oil cooler. I snagged a vellios 2 piece tank on eBay before deciding I may not need it. Also scored all the gauges for a true 914-6 cockpit, including a tach! Bypassing the cooler will save bucks!

The cooler issue some are rabid about it, but you have to remember that they're often the southern boys who run their cars in some serious heat and bumper to bumper traffic. Or they're racers running high RPM constantly.
In cooler climates you may be able to run just a stock cooler. So it depends and you won't know till you get it on the road. My conversion is a mid/hi performance carbed 3.0, so far my temps seem normal, but it's a fresh build with only a month driving time and I haven't pushed it real hard yet.