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

[ClayPerrine]

I have had a 2.0L four, a 2.4L six and a 4.0L six in my 914. I am a self admitted horsepower addict, and in my opinion, every car needs more horsepower.

The 2.0L four was a great engine. It was light, nimble, and handled very well on 205/50-15s.

The 2.4L six was a good choice to move up. It was powerful enough with the MFI to make it fun to drive, and it didn't require any custom mods to make it fit. And contrary to the good Doctor's comment, if you are in Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, or any of the southwest states, you need an external oil cooler. Oil temps with the 2.4 were excessive in the Texas heat.

The 4.0L six is another beast entirely. It is like calling the engine room and asking Scotty for warp 9. Nothing beats how it pulls hard from 2,000 to redline. It is heavier than a 4 cylinder or a factory six, so while it handles good, it doesn't match the nimble feeling it had with a four.

If I were going to build another 914, it would get a 3.2 with Motronic. The power is reasonable, it will fit in a 914 chassis with no mods, and the DME makes it a joy to drive. Personally, I don't like a 915 transmission, but the Martin-Bott kit is really nicely made and the 915 will handle the 3.2 with no worries about breaking it.

But remember, this is YOUR car. Take the advise of everyone, and think about it. Then put in it what YOU want. I can tell you all about my 914, but it will not be your 914, even if you duplicate what I did.