Cross roads between a big /4 and a big/6, Share your experience Options

[Montreal914]

I am at a cross road in my narrow body restoration project. This is not an original build, but rather a sleeper 914 with nice elements. The chassis will be reinforced with an inner kit and outer RD clamshell.

The car will be converted to 5 lugs using the right 3" 911 struts/hubs and drilled rear hubs. The braking system is Alfa Brembo calipers in the front and 914-6 reproduction rears with appropriate 19mm MC. Sport Bilstein all around and 140 rear springs. Front 19mm and std rear sway bar.

Wheels will either be Fuchs 15" x 6" or 16" x 6". I have no intentions of shoehorning 7" wide wheels in the back, no fender stretching.

My engine options are as follow:

I have all the nice bits to build a 2.3 4 cylinder (HAM heads, Nickies, rods, crank, block with large studs, Tangerine headers, yadi yada...). I would setup a modern EFI to it and should conservatively get 150-160 HP out of it.

I have an opportunity to get a 3.2 Motronic 6 cylinder, 200+ HP.

I plan on using a 901 gearbox and I already have the Tarett heavy duty CV/shafts kit.


Although it may seem obvious that the desired option would be to go with the six, again, this is a narrow body with 6" wide wheels. My concern is the drastic amount of power and the additional mass on this car's configuration.

A while back I remember reading a comment from Pete Stout @horizontally-opposed , where I recall him saying somethnig like he felt the 914 has a better balance with a 4 cylinder engine, but he was willing to make that tradeoff to have the sound, smoothness and pleasure of a 6 cylinder. That being said, his beautiful car (reference narrow body in my book (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) ) is equipped with a small 2.2 six.

I have some engine weight data that looks like this:

4 cylinder: ~321lbs
2.4 six cylinder: ~400
3.2 six cylinder: ~485lbs

I have never riden let alone driven a 6 cylinder powered 914, but I do have 10 years of daily California canyon driving mine (4 cylinder 2056). I know how the 4 cylinder car feels and I can probably picture how it would drive with a large /4.

I would like to hear what people have experience with their narrow bodied 3.2 conversion (I am sure there must be some), and what they prefer, their old 4 or their new six.

I appreciate and value all of your comments! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Thank you,

Eric

[technicalninja]

Get 16" wheels!
Way more options for tires.

I think the point the car really needs flares and bigger tires is 200+ RWHP.

Your 3.2 is the top of the narrow body limits IMO.

Don't overlook 7s for the rear. Some will fit ok, and some will require slight rear fender rolling.

I bought a set of fake 16X6s but I also scored a pair of used real 7s from Mepstein.

The "fakes" are very high quality, but their surface finish is slightly different than real.

I can tell fake from real at a glance...

With the extreme cost of a good 4 cylinder (Nickies and shit) I'd lean towards the Porsche engine over the VW.

It will ALWAYS be worth more in long run.
You have de-NARPED it properly.
It will sound 1000% better!

The rest of the car has been upgraded properly for a 6...
Just do it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ninja.gif)

The Porsche engine STOCK will run circles around the fully modified VW.

Did you buy the MB911 tank/sheet metal deal?
You should have!
I'm not planning a Porsche 6 and I did anyway (might need that tank for what I'm planning).