Erik's Build Thread, 914-6 Conversion Options

[B3owulf]

This will be a build thread for my 914 build. The build is ongoing, I will post updates here and hopefully keep progressing! I posted most of these pictures before, just trying to put it in one spot for a continual thread.

The end goal of the build is to have a fun autocross car that is nice enough to drive for date night or cars and coffee. It will not be a concourse car or race competitively, just out to have fun.



This car was a stalled project that I purchased as a roller and a pile of parts. I purchased a set of wheels for my Cayman and the seller had a 914 in his garage. After going back and forth for a bit I finally convinced my wife to let me buy it. It came with a ton of spare parts and the first couple months with the car was mainly just figuring out what I had and what I needed.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952190.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952191.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952191.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952192.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952192.5.jpg)


Part of the deal was my wife got to pick the color. She picked Ravenna Green and it turned out good! I spent more than I wanted on the paint but less than I should have. It looks great from a distance, OK up close, and a PCA concourse nerd would throw me out.


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952193.6.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952193.7.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952194.8.jpg)

Found some cool wheels online and got the windows, door handles, hood, and trunk mounted up. Unfortunately progress stopped for a while after this due to work requirements which had me away from home for a while.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952194.9.jpg)

Got a few weeks back home and scored some more parts off of ebay. Got a wrecked 911, a 914 motor, and an MFI 6 cylinder. I sold the 911 and left the MFI engine with my helper to figure out.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952195.10.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952195.11.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1679952196.12.jpg)

Got back home 6 months later and was shocked to find my 2 year old had made no progress on the build. However, I had a huge pile of -6 conversion parts from Ben and others waiting for me so its time to get after it! I will keep posting as I make progress.

[mb911]

Let’s see it happen and welcome back stateside

[Cairo94507]

Welcome home. Very nice- looking forward to watching the progress too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[slowrodent]

Your helper looks stumped.... Trust me.. I am very familiar with that look (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
He'll likely try and bluff you for a while...

[B3owulf]

Made a little progress over the last couple weeks. Took on some easy stuff to get momentum again. Dug through my parts pile to find everything I needed to install the steering column, ignition, and turn signals. What made this challenging is that I was not the one who took it apart. Lots of referencing pictures and manuals and I was able to find everything though:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1681857164.1.jpg)
Roller had a factory wheel loosely installed with no signal or ignition
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1681857164.2.jpg)
Had a whole pile of steering column parts
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1681857165.3.jpg)
Found the ignition and turn signals in the tool chest of small parts.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1681857166.4.jpg)
Turned out good i think!

[B3owulf]

Also got the headlight motors, surrounds and lights installed. Watched Ian Karr's Youtube videos which were super helpful on this.

Motors were filthy but tested out good. Got them cleaned up and installed
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1681858325.1.jpg)

Got my little dude to help sand down the headlight surrounds, still needed more than a few layers of primer to smooth everything out.


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1681858326.2.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1681858326.3.jpg)

Happy with the final product:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1681858327.4.jpg)

Also added my new front trunk rubber, didnt get any pictures of that except the key part of adding the sticker to my tool box
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.postimg.cc-25879-1681858327.5.jpg)

[Root_Werks]

Looks like it's coming along nicely! Love the color!

I may have missed it, did you already do the six conversion? As in, oil tank ready to install etc.

[B3owulf]

I have not, I have the motor and the oil tank. Up next is tearing the motor down to long block to find out what it needs. I will probably start getting the oil tank in and putting together the fuel system while I wait for the engine parts

[Dion]

Nice steady progress. I like your sentiment: "Not a concourse car, just to have fun."
Refreshing to hear when we seem to be hooked on originality lately with the values rising.
Have fun . Oh and he looks like an honest helper!! :-)

[ClayPerrine]

Just an FYI.. the MFI is a good running system. But it is not newbie friendly to get setup correctly. It has a steep learning curve, and you need some specialty tools to get it setup.

And it is not cold weather friendly. Make sure you get a hand throttle to install in the chassis, as it is mandatory with MFI.


I have experience with MFI. I had it in my six conversion until I went with the monster motor.

[B3owulf]

Just an FYI.. the MFI is a good running system. But it is not newbie friendly to get setup correctly. It has a steep learning curve, and you need some specialty tools to get it setup.

And it is not cold weather friendly. Make sure you get a hand throttle to install in the chassis, as it is mandatory with MFI.


I have experience with MFI. I had it in my six conversion until I went with the monster motor.

Thanks, definitely a little intimidated by the MFI but I have been doing a lot of research and I’m fairly confident in my knowledge level. I am sure I will be on here asking for advice when it comes time to start though.

This whole project has been an effort to get out of my comfort zone and learn . MFI is definitely outside the comfort zone!

[ClayPerrine]

Just an FYI.. the MFI is a good running system. But it is not newbie friendly to get setup correctly. It has a steep learning curve, and you need some specialty tools to get it setup.

And it is not cold weather friendly. Make sure you get a hand throttle to install in the chassis, as it is mandatory with MFI.


I have experience with MFI. I had it in my six conversion until I went with the monster motor.

Thanks, definitely a little intimidated by the MFI but I have been doing a lot of research and I’m fairly confident in my knowledge level. I am sure I will be on here asking for advice when it comes time to start though.

This whole project has been an effort to get out of my comfort zone and learn . MFI is definitely outside the comfort zone!

There is a Porsche manual called "Check, Measure and Adjust". Find a PDF of it and read it over and over until you have it memorized. Then print it and have it with the car when you are attempting to adjust the MFI and follow it like it was the word of God and you will be beheaded if you make even one mistake.

You will also need to find a set of the MFI protractors that are almost unobtanium these days. My set was willed to my by the late Charlie Davis. Don't get the long screwdrivers used to adjust the MFI on a 911, they won't work on a 914. You will have to have a short screwdriver and an 8mm wrench to make changes on the pump.

You will need to have a way to get air from the heat exchangers to the MFI pump for warmup, or some way to change the mixture for warm up. There are cable setups out there for just this purpose.

And one last thing, check the throttle body shafts while you have the engine apart. MFI is notorious for wearing out the shafts due to the reversion pulses caused by high overlap cams. I would suggest that you take them to a competent machine shop and have the throttle shaft bushings replaced. Otherwise you will be chasing the MFI adjustments endlessly.

[ClayPerrine]

Here is a link on the bird board that has all of the MFI info combined into one thread.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911...urce-index.html

And here is a link to the Check, Measure and Adjust manual: https://pbase.com/slidevalve911rsr/911rsr_t..._docs_bosch_mfi

[B3owulf]

Thanks for the advice and links! I read check, measure, adjust several times now, it is what gave me confidence to stick with MFI instead of searching for a set of carbs.

I will hopefully start tearing the engine down to long block this weekend and post what I find.

[FL000]

The color looks great! Smart man getting buy-in and help from your wife and kids - now it is part of the family (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[B3owulf]

Got down to the long block, very encouraged by what I saw! Going to have to order some parts but definitely feel safe going forward without a full rebuild. Oil looked old but smelled and felt fine, no sparkles.

Before taking anything off I identified I will need the MFI pump drive belt, one throttle linkage, one throttle link is missing, alternator pulley and belt are missing, one TB trumpet is damaged. However all throttles move smoothly and no obvious external damage
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1682889169.1.jpg)

Under the cam covers everything looked clean. No loose head studs or obvious valvetrain damage that I saw.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1682889170.2.jpg)

Distributor doesnt look terrible but I think I will proactively replace it. Last thing I want when I'm trying to figure out how to get the MFI working is old worn out ignition components causing trouble.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1682889171.3.jpg)

Took me a while to figure out what this thing was. Component for a sportomatic shifter. Wont need that!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1682889172.4.jpg)

Fuel lines are junk but the pump itself looks good. The fuel in the injectors and hard lines was still fuel, not gunk. Still planning on sending the injectors off to be cleaned.(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1682889172.5.jpg)

No signs of pulled studs. Despite being dirty everything actully looks pretty good. If you see something I missed by all means let me know!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.ibb.co-25879-1682889173.6.jpg)

[914Toy]

Do yourself a favor and install Clewett Engineering’s crank fire ignition system.

[76-914]

Just an FYI.. the MFI is a good running system. But it is not newbie friendly to get setup correctly. It has a steep learning curve, and you need some specialty tools to get it setup.

And it is not cold weather friendly. Make sure you get a hand throttle to install in the chassis, as it is mandatory with MFI.


I have experience with MFI. I had it in my six conversion until I went with the monster motor.

Thanks, definitely a little intimidated by the MFI but I have been doing a lot of research and I’m fairly confident in my knowledge level. I am sure I will be on here asking for advice when it comes time to start though.

This whole project has been an effort to get out of my comfort zone and learn . MFI is definitely outside the comfort zone!

I like your way of thinking. Otherwise it becomes drudgery and the mind dulls. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Root_Werks]

15+ years ago I had pretty decent luck installing 911 engines in 914's that'd been sitting around a while. I did invest in a differential gauge. At least you could compare cylinders and listen for hissing noises out exhaust or intake.

You can also set the MFI aside for a while, have it gone through. Put on a set of carbs and see if the engine runs.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I had MFI on one 914 six conversion. It was pretty neat.

[brant]

Might want to run a leak down