914 Engine Choices, Will buy 914, if I can build a monster Options

[DNHunt]

I'm really surprised we're being so hard on this guy. We've been very accepting of some pretty over the top mods before. We practically worship what Rick did with his 928 engine. And, GreekDriver's certainly not talking POS machinery. If he can pull it off more power to him.

I suppose he won't get everything he wants though. We are all hampered somewhat by the package as a whole. It's just we are more accepting of it's faults because we really value its strengths . No doubt we that love these cars are able to ignore things that more critical people won't accept. Many of us set about changing the items that we can and for the most part we are satisfied. GreekDriver just seems to want to do it all at once. I think that is where the problems will start. He's going to be undone by the rule we all tend to ignore. Only change one thing at a time.

I say good luck and keep us posted. I for one will enjoy see what you can do

Dave

[aircooledboy]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Sheesh. Easy up on the guy ladies. He is excited and doesn't know all we know about the obstacles of the major mods he is contemplating. There has been some great advice in this thread. We should stick to that. "Smiliest", remember? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

[vortrex]

dude you should do a 914 limo conversion, they autocross really well.

[soloracer]

GreekDriver: Go to http://www.kennedyeng.com and check and see if they have an adapter for you motor. They also sell clutch set ups for Porsche transmissions and are a good vendor. Many of the packages being sold by other vendors are using Kennedy Engineering stuff.

Go with the Renegade Hybrids radiator set up as it has been proven to work with V8's in Las Vegas. Be prepared to spend about $1000 on that alone. As for the intercooler forget about putting it up front. Front mounted intercoolers are great for a car with a front mounted engine. However, on a mid engine car if you front mount your intercooler you will have a massive intake tract for the air to go through before it gets to the intake manifold. The result will be tons of turbo lag - not a very desireable thing to have. Better to go with a rear trunk mounted, roof mounted or rear wheel well mounted intercooler.

In an issue of European Car magazine there was a 914 race car that was using a turbocharged audi engine and 6 speed transmission. He had to custom fabricate a lot of things but it you wouldn't have to buy an engine adapter and it would solve your "shifts poorly" problem.

Good Luck!

[Brett W]

Alright someone that thinks along my lines.

First: Find the cheapest 914 you can find, do not hack up the nice example.
Second: cut the front and back off the car
Third: build custom dual a-arm front and rear subframes
Fourth: find any motor that you want and weld suitable mounts on the subframes
Fifth: Call Roger Sheridan and order the one peice body kits to cover it all up.

For 10k engine check out: http://www.theoldone.com/articles/badtothebone/


Get the 1UZ engine from a lexus, add the suitable amount of cash and you can spin to 10k but it will not be cheap. If your car wieghs 2000lbs you don't need a bunch of torque to drive it around town.

[tdgray]

I'm really surprised we're being so hard on this guy.

I don't think we are being hard on this guy at all... just realistic.

He wants something totally different than a 914.

I don't always agree with you guys on mods. I think Chebby engines belong in a Chebby et all but you do what you want and I'll do the same. After all is said and done we all still love the cars so it doesn't matter.

That said I just think our young friend here is going to blow alota money and be disappointed and in the process possibly destroy a piece of automotive history. But again he doesn't have to listen to me or anyone else, but he did ask for an opinion.

Of course you know what opinions are like, right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[lapuwali]

I find it interesting that we have three people at the same time all interested in buying a 914 and putting some other engine in it and doing a lot of other mods to it, but have yet to actually buy a car.

Frankly, for Mssr. Greek, I think Brad's answer is the best one: buy a Boxster. By the time you gut one for racing use, you won't be up a huge amount on weight, and the total outlay for the power and brakes you'll have will be far less than what it would cost to add those things to a 914. It will probably shift better, too.

[DerekKim]

Are you saying that it's the same person?

[ArtechnikA]

Are you saying that it's the same person?

i didn't get the impression he was trying to imply that at all.

these things go in spurts, sometimes. for a while, turbo 914's were all the rage, and there were four or five in more or less active development. a couple actually got built.

i took it as a simple observation. i don't think it that unusual that several people can simultaneously want to get into 914's and go directly to modified cars or modification projects. the word is out that if you're interested in doing anything to a 914, this is the place you come to talk about it.

[DerekKim]

Ahh ok. Yeah I've actually been lurking aroudn these boards for a little while now. What happened is my mom and I go in a car accident and we needed the extra money so I let her borrow it from me and I gain interest off of it instead of some bank. She is also giving me 2k for a car. I would probably have the 924S in Tennesee right now had it not been for my new uncle who said that if the clutch went out on it it'd be like 1500 bucks. I was always thinking of either the 924 or 914 but kind of made up my mind once insurance came into thought in Cali. So I would probably have the car by now but I have to wait a month or more for a settlement.

[Sammy]

It sounds to me like you are describing a Honda S2000.
You could put one of those engines in a 914 (a dream of mine, 9500 rpm and 240 hp) but by the time you get done you will have spent a lot o'money on something that will likely not be as good as an S2000.
I say just go buy one unless you really like to tinker.

BTW a slightly modified yellow S2000 regularly takes TTOD at our AX. Them things run. They also make an aftermarket supercharger for them, increased bottom end torque and 330 hp, out of a 2 liter. I like.

[Mueller]

BTW a slightly modified yellow S2000 regularly takes TTOD at our AX. Them things run. They also make an aftermarket supercharger for them, increased bottom end torque and 330 hp, out of a 2 liter. I like.

yep, same thing happens up here, I think he's an instructor that brings his S2000 to the Marina Porsche Club auto=x and damn near cleans up every time....

[GreekDriver]

A 300+hp BMW powered 914 that is light weight is hardly destroying automotive history... IMO it's repairing it... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

What would I be dissapointed with? The 914 is a great handling car, with a beautiful design. I'd just be adding power. And there are over 100,000 with 98,000 having rust on them somewhere... This one has rust.

Anyways, I'm looking at the 914 again in about an hour, I'll report back with details.

I still can't believe there is no BMW powered 914, who would put a small block over a great BMW I-4? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[Aaron Cox]

leave the 914 alone... put a v8 in a 2002 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[Mueller]

I still can't believe there is no BMW powered 914, who would put a small block over a great BMW I-4

well, I don't know the exact numbers, but I'd have to say at there are at least 100 V8 conversions.....I guess all of them must be pretty clueless since they some how "over looked" this great BMW I-4 you keep bragging about (which they no longer make since there is something called progress (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

Sometimes practicality wins over passion , you have a lot of passion for this I-4 motor and there is nothing wrong with that, but at the same time, you seem to be clueless about the motor when it comes to the real world of how much it's going to really cost to get the HP level you want from it. I don't know, you say you want 300hp and to keep it affordable at the same time, I'm guessing it's going to cost you at a minimum $5000 for the motor itself and that is with you doing a lot of the work....of course the price comes down if using used parts such as the turbo and fuel injection.
From what I've read about it on the web, yes, it's a pretty good engine, but a lot has changed and for some people, they don't want a motor based on 1960s technology (I know, they used the same basic engine up to 1983)

[Allan]

Hell, just build a massive 500ci chevy full alcohol motor, put it in the front coupled with a 2 sp with a 9" ford rear end and take it to the DRAGS!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[GreekDriver]

I still can't believe there is no BMW powered 914, who would put a small block over a great BMW I-4

well, I don't know the exact numbers, but I'd have to say at there are at least 100 V8 conversions.....I guess all of them must be pretty clueless since they some how "over looked" this great BMW I-4 you keep bragging about (which they no longer make since there is something called progress (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) )

Sometimes practicality wins over passion , you have a lot of passion for this I-4 motor and there is nothing wrong with that, but at the same time, you seem to be clueless about the motor when it comes to the real world of how much it's going to really cost to get the HP level you want from it. I don't know, you say you want 300hp and to keep it affordable at the same time, I'm guessing it's going to cost you at a minimum $5000 for the motor itself and that is with you doing a lot of the work....of course the price comes down if using used parts such as the turbo and fuel injection.
From what I've read about it on the web, yes, it's a pretty good engine, but a lot has changed and for some people, they don't want a motor based on 1960s technology (I know, they used the same basic engine up to 1983)

1987 actually...

The engine will cost about 8k-10k with a turbo and intercooler. Thats with somebody else building, which would probably have to happen. But it would be able to put out WELL over 450hp.

The M10 block is good for up to 1500hp, it's proven. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) What I would do is get 8.0:1 forged pistons, an S14 crank and 92mm bore would turn displacement to 2.2l, some custom rods, extensive head work, valve springs, keepers and rocker arms, turbo cam, o-ring, copper head gasket, etc... You get it. There are similair setups putting down 750rwhp under 2Bar of boost... Go find me a V-8 that can do that and keep the weight low. BTW... I'd be revving to 8k-9k RPMS... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The M10 is free, I have a family member with a junk yard. I could do no work to it and put out over 200hp with a turbo, with a total cost of about 2,500, to 3,000 but whats the fun in that.

The M10 is still a great engine, I have no clue why BMW doens't still use it today. IMO, it's new I-4s aren't as reliable, and get worse gas mileage. At it's best the 1.8l SOHC M10 was putting out 127hp. That doesn't include its turbo charged 2002tii variant.

I didn't say they overlooked this engine.

The M10 weighs 186lbs.

Don't say it's not doable, it's been done. If it can't get done with 10,000 dollars, I'll put in more. I don't have many expenses.

[Aaron Cox]

sounds like a BMW BBS huh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) ,

1st question: where are you going to put this intercooler? radiator? exhaust? etc...

2nd: what the heck are you gonna do with a transmission, 1 901/914 trans is good for 200 - 300hp (maybe). 1500hp? hmmm.. no.

3rd: with all this power, how you going to keep it on the ground?

seems like you want to build a mid engine custom car under a 914 body (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

oh well... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[seanery]

Those motors are good. My buddy has an EVO spec 2.3 in his E30 race car. I think it dynoed at about 270. Bullit is where he hangs out and they service his car, too.

Now, while those are great motors, I'd still prefer a Porsche -6 in my car for numerous reasons.

1. Cost - 3.2 is readily available and the design work is done
2. No water to mess with
3. THE SOUND - aircooled flat sixes sound like heaven!
4. Support - easy to find people who have Been There Done That
5. More venues to race (non-porsche engines are poo-pood in most P-Car clubs)
6. 320 HP is plenty in a 2000 lb car

To each your own, just my 2 cents.

[Joe Bob]

He needs to spell out his last name before I think he's a troll.....except for my LAST name....it should be at least 3 syllables...