Project 914-LT1 Canadian V8 conversion, Getting Started with Engine Build-up Options

[ajracer]

Greetings Fellow teeners !

Now that the COLD weather has arrived with - 5 F temperatures and the snow has
just hit Toronto hard, so I thought it would be a good time to post a new thread and
share my excitement with getting started with my V-8 conversion and build-up of the
vehicle. Let’s say I am not new to automotive, but have been in hibernation for over
twenty years. Porsche's are new to me; but German engineering is not since I used
to race formula vee (VW powered) many years ago in Atlantic Canada.

I should also mention that I am not a mechanic or ever received any "formal" training
in mechanics, but I have been around karts, motorcycles, hot rods and race cars for
more years than my 31 yr. old teener. I have build up a few Chevy small blocks and
always had good success, never any problems with good old faithful since they are
a strong and reliable engine made in the US of A, or Canada of course ! I have more
recently spent two years restoring and a complete build up of 1972 Super Beetle for
my beloved daughter. So I have been rehoning my skills in bodywork, welding, painting,
engine building, mechanics, etc. Now after acquiring a very nice Porsche 914 from
Florida that belonged to a deceased family friend, I thought this would be a good time
to bring the teener to my garage and begin this challenging CONVERSION. See for me I
get the Best of Both Worlds with a P-car and a Chevy engine ! What more could a guy
want ?

Anyways I should start my thread discussion and info for others than might be interested.
Like every conversion we all have different ideas of what we want, how
we thing it should be done, what we "think" might need to be replaced, upgraded,
purchased or re done with modern or better materials and or technology ! I will share
more about this as time progresses and my thread grows; like others some things will
follow the "suggested" course taken by most within the V-8 conversion scene; But
other things and ways will be unique or different, for many reasons and maybe just
because that's the way I think is best in my eyes.

So off I go with the basic info and some of the reasons I got here. The 914 is in very
good condition according to my inspection and the key areas as suggested by the
knowledgeable ones. The car is a 1974 former 2.0 liter with a custom added roll bar
setup, which when I last looked tied into the rear suspension and side longitudinals.
The car is complete and together except for the Engine and Transmission; the purchase
also included Rod Simpson Conversion Kit with many parts, installation manual, parts
supplier list, etc; also included were a couple sets of HD rear springs, fiberglass GT
flares and rocker panels. Pictures of the car will follow after I complete the engine
build-up, then I will bring my baby in out of the cold for some tender loving care (and
a photo session) The body does require some minor body work and paint, but that
will likely not follow until the conversion is completed and car is sorted out and driving.
A good project for next winter being the bodywork.

Engine is going to be a Chevy Camaro LT1 (1995) 350 cu.in. with aluminum heads, and
other light weight components. The engine was dismantled before Christmas and sent
off to the automotive machine shop for necessary work I required, while I purchased
the new rebuild parts from my supplier friend in Halifax, NS. (wholesale purchase of
course) Got the engine pieces all back from the machine shop about two weeks ago
and thus have slowly started the rebuild assembly process. According to my engine
guy, with a little work on the heads, pistons, etc. it should make about 375 HP with 350
ft.lbs of torque. Hopefully it will perform nicely in a 2400 lbs. Porsche ! Check out the
attached photo of partially completed short block with yours truly !

Until next time have a great day and keep to those New Year’s Resolutions !
Quit drinking, Quit smoking, Quit speeding, etc !!!!! Forget it who am I kidding !


PS. What does a 914 drive like with 375 HP ? I don’t even know what a 914 drives
like since I have never honestly even been in one, before I bought mine (sight unseen)
Someone said something about it handles like a dream, and great G-force if you have
the guts to push and hang on tight !

[ajracer]

Greetings teeners !

Looking at the photos of the WCC in California makes me a little 914 home sick; seeing all the great machines and the uniqueness each person brings to their vehicle It is really great to have another family to belong (914 club family). Trust everyone is doing well and looking forward to a great summer season with their teener. I am personally hoping to get things moving ahead quickly and ion the road this summer before the snow flies again in Toronto later this year.

Seems we ALL run into more work than planned, and the old 914’s always need that extra TLC just like our families and other we hold close to our hearts. Well here’s an update on the project and where things are TODAY !

-Front Wilwood racing calipers, medium pads, home made spacers 5mm, new 911 koni struts/ boge housings, 944 rotors, new bearings, new brakes hoses, ball joints replaced, etc everything is tight and solid and should be ready to roll on the front suspension.

- Rear suspension requires a little more work but to date, new koni rear struts, high ratio springs, new axle bearings, modified control arms (for 944 turbo calipers), caliper shims, five bolt hubs, large 911 stub axles and wheel spacers. In addition welding in place of steel support and side braces along the rear part of the “longs’ where they meet the outer control arm mounts, every little bit helps, right ?

- Coolant lines and radiator set-up has begun and moving along. What a slow process of measuring, calculating, gently bending, measuring, re-measuring and then more gentle bending of the coolant lines. In my case I decided to use thick wall Aluminum tubing, since I thought it would be better and relatively easy to work with ! NOT so sure about the easy to work with part, even though I secured an professional pipe bender from a friend to help persuade the pipe. After seven hours with a friend any myself we got the dirt rotten “pipes” to go OUR way and they fit rather nicely up into the under carriage. In order to help prevent the hoses from coming off )under pressure) we decided to thread each end about 1 – 2” then I will seal and double clamp them to hopefully never move again. No welding of the aluminum just lots of bending and trial fitting. See the attached pictures, look quite good to me; then again we tried our best and this is it ! The radiator is a new three row high efficiency unit with corvette end tanks, and Toyota twin fans systems, with built in thermostat switch electronics (yet to be checked and make sure works at the temperature I desire for my Chevy) The actual radiator unit is about 30” x 18”, it will be a snug fit and make use of most of the front area of trunk enclosure will be a complete aluminum arrangement with the venting out the “bottom” as well a removable top sections to allow easy access to the hoses, temperature sensors and anything else that might be necessary from time to time. (See attached trial fitting of radiator.) Hopefully I may even have a little bit of storage space in the front.

Next I will need to finish up the Radiator installation and then move to the engine compartment in preparation for the engine tranny combination, hopefully within the next few weeks I can do a trial fitting and get some ideas if further modifications are going to be necessary. Progress is coming even though slow at times. Have a great day