V8 Conversion Completed, 1975 1.8L to Chevy 283 - Added Dyno Test Pg. 1 Options

[nick mironov]

My conversion took approximately 5 months of work to get the engine in and get the car on the road. Another 18 months for further work and improvements. Thanks very much to the 914 Club Forum and those who posted their conversion information and to those who responded to my questions, and special thanks to the club members who attended the V8 conversion meeting in Pleasanton in September 05 and shared their valuable knowledge with me.


If anyone is interested in seeing the car, I live in the Richmond District of San Francisco.

Project Specs:
1975 1.8L 914
Renegade conversion kit
Chevy 283
Vortec heads
Compcam 260H
New cam bearings
0.060 cylinder overbore
New rods and pistons (9.5:1 compression ratio)
New main and rod bearings
Replaced all gaskets and freeze plugs
New high volume oil pump
MSD Billet HEI distributor
Holley 4 barrel carburetor
Treated miscl rust with OSPHO and Por 15 paint
Herculiner truck bed liner in front and engine compartments
911 19mm master brake cylinder upgrade
BMW 320i front caliper upgrade to start with,
M-caliper upgrade using hubs by Mueller
Stainless steel flex brake hose upgrade
Replaced rear brake proportioning valve with TEE.
Rebuilt rear brake calipers
Pedal cluster bushings upgrade to brass (from existing plastic)
Replaced transmission shifter bushings
Replaced transmission seals
Weltmeister short-shifter
WEVO transmission mounts
9” Kevlar clutch
New Bilstein rear shocks and bellows/boots.
Electric fuel pump – Carter CRT-P4070 5 psi, 72 gph
New / custom throttle cable
HP mini-starter
2-gauge wire to starter
Ron Davis Radiator with two 13”diameter SPAL fans (Renegade set-up)
Renegade bypass thermostat system
VDO Water temperature gauge
VDO Oil pressure gauge
VDO Oil temperature gauge (original)
Tachometer upgrade by bigmarkdesign
Oil Cooler
Center console
Rear trunk strut conversion kit – Camp 914
Magnaflow dual-in dual-out muffler
Body work and re-paint
Power mirrors from Honda del Sol
Rear wing from Toyota MR-2
Interior seat and backpad kits by Autos International
Carpets by Morph
Towbar for flat towing with integral wiring harness
16" 4-lug Superlight wheels from Pack Racing Products
BF Goodrich G-Force Sport 205/55/16.

The dyno tests were done this 8/24/2008 at the Thunderhill dyno. At max rpm of about 6,250 the dynamometer showed a speed of 153 mph. On the track we got it up to about 125 mph. However, it threw a water pump belt a couple of times. I think that there is too much flex in the Renegade water pump mount, so I need to reinforce it.

At rear wheels: 263 ft-lb torque, 241 hp.
Engine: Assuming a 15% loss through the transmission, the engine would have about: 302 ft-lb torque, 277 hp.
Maybe more if the test was done on a motor dyno stand without water pump, alternator, and muffler.

Without air filter:


With and without air filter:

[nick mironov]

Added an oil cooler to the engine. I mounted it horizontally on the engine support crossbar and added a scoop to direct the air flow up through it and out the top engine compartment grille: