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

[Eric_Shea]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with Bob.

The "Deep Six" and "7R" is "the" wheel fitment for a narrow body super car. the offset on the face is identical so the 7 in the back looks just like the 6 up front. We have the same tires on the above car that I have on my RS pictured below. 205 up front and 215 in the back.



The stroker 2258 builds have amazing hp. All with modern EFI. The new intake is wrapping up. We'll begin testing next week. Sneak Peek here first.




All this coming from a dye-d in the wool flared six guy. I'm looking forward to my 2.3 Narrow Build (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[mepstein]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) with Bob.

The "Deep Six" and "7R" is "the" wheel fitment for a narrow body super car. the offset on the face is identical so the 7 in the back looks just like the 6 up front. We have the same tires on the above car that I have on my RS pictured below. 205 up front and 215 in the back.



The stroker 2258 builds have amazing hp. All with modern EFI. The new intake is wrapping up. We'll begin testing next week. Sneak Peek here first.




All this coming from a dye-d in the wool flared six guy. I'm looking forward to my 2.3 Narrow Build (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

That's really cool.