V-8 conversion, still can't shake temptation Options

[chrisg]

Probably typical story, but I've had my 914 for quite some time now. I haven't driven my 914 for quite some time now do to the pipe dream of restoring/freshening it up, and then way too much other crap getting on the way. But I'm really trying to make this the year I start the endeavor.

I keep coming back to being tempted into doing a V-8 conversion even after twice as many times of talking myself into leaving it a type 4.
Problem #1: I'm just not in love with the VW motor or the cost of having a stout one built.
Problem #2: I've never come across a thread post where a V-8 conversion owner is disappointed in having done it. They seem to always come to the same consensus that it is a reasonably painless swap, reliable, and very enjoyable end result.

Appeals: effortless torque, reliability, aural bliss (second only to an almighty -6), affordability

My thinking is that since I'm going to go through the whole car anyway (with a much desired 5 lug conversion) doing it to accommodate a (mild) V-8 swap, shouldn't be going off the deep end. And, it would kind of kill two birds with one stone and allow me to have a retro Porsche that handles well and is still light weight and a V-8 all wrapped up in one.

The point of this post? I'm still not convinced that it's not a "bull in a china shop". Does it retain the proper character of something you want to drive fast and have fun with on twisty back roads? Is the balance thrown off at all? Or should I just stop wasting my time going back and forth and commit to doing it?

[burton73]

Wow, what an offer from the kind, generous Oscar. After you have been in a V8 car or a 200 plus HP 914-6 it is never the same.

I had my 914 20 4 back in1979 and I had a 73 911s so I knew what a fast or at that time fast Porsche was like but when I bought a finish it off 914 V8 set up in a super deal that I could not turn away from. Anyway when I finished the V8 car (I was 26 or so) It was so fast I could not believe it and my 427-side pipe 64 Corvette buddy felt is was also so fast. Now his 427 Vette would pull you back in the seat when you where a passenger and I have been in lots of high torque cars. My car was a 283 with a 4-barrel. 200HP? Not much a compared to a 400 or so torque LS1 or hot 350SBC

There have been a number of cars that just needed to be finished or need what was to me no big deal back when I was young like 26.

My current v8 car I am very slowly building is a 4 speed Porsche 930 Turbo Trans With a 400 FP of torque aluminum head Corvette Eng., Boxster brakes, Bilstein rear, Koni up front, real leather seats, exhaust from a Ferrari 12 cylinder. I could go on and on but it’s not done.

There is a wrx turbo swap $10,500 on cars for sale here in the world that should be able to be finished off for not that much and you may even make some money on it. Depends what you do to it but with these higher horsepower cars but you will want to up grade the brakes and perhaps a bit more.

For me part of owning these hot rods is the excitement going from stoplight to stop light.

I think you need to pencil it out and compare and you may give it a try.

You may make some money if you do the work on it if you want to sell it if it does not do what you want it to do. I made a lot on my first 914-v8 Paid $3200 and put maybe had a total of $4500. With Primo Bk paint. This was 79 or so. Sold it for $11,500. I was very happy with that and I loved driving it and selling it.


Bob B

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