/6 conversion, would you do it again? Options

[peteinjp]

When the P.O. built my car he stuck with the CIS pistons to keep the compression low (single plug, rs cams, MFI about 220hp) and with a high efficiency engine mounted cooler the oil maxes out at 230f on hot days pushing hard or in traffic.

How hot is too hot was discussed a bunch in this thread.

Still considering options but I've decided to live with it as is for the time being.

Even though I have one /6 I'm considering building another. Its a fun ride!

Pete

[930cabman]

When the P.O. built my car he stuck with the CIS pistons to keep the compression low (single plug, rs cams, MFI about 220hp) and with a high efficiency engine mounted cooler the oil maxes out at 230f on hot days pushing hard or in traffic.

How hot is too hot was discussed a bunch in this thread.

Still considering options but I've decided to live with it as is for the time being.

Even though I have one /6 I'm considering building another. Its a fun ride!

Pete

Pete,

I consider 230F a maximum oil temp for short periods only. I will try running without an external oil cooler and see what happens. Thanks for more positive comments in the YES column

[dr914@autoatlanta.com]

no way, cannot find all of the parts easily, parts are way too expensive, and try to find a mechanic to do it!!!! NO WAY own a nice fuel injected four cylinder and buy a 911 to complement it

Somewhat getting my a** kicked trying to get a conversion completed. We have a decent chassis and a fresh 2.7 that has made the rounds from Ollies and Eksten's. Still running a small business and often prioritize kids/grandkids when it comes to free time. It is coming up on two years and currently attempting to work through oil lines, exhaust, do I need an external cooler or not??

All the guys who have done them, would you do it again?

[ClayPerrine]

Somewhat getting my a** kicked trying to get a conversion completed. We have a decent chassis and a fresh 2.7 that has made the rounds from Ollies and Eksten's. Still running a small business and often prioritize kids/grandkids when it comes to free time. It is coming up on two years and currently attempting to work through oil lines, exhaust, do I need an external cooler or not??

All the guys who have done them, would you do it again?

Absolutely,

The 914 should have been built with a six, and a better one than the 2.0L T motor it came with. It is a far better handling chassis than a 911, and way more fun to drive.

Fitting a 911 engine is not a trivial matter, but fairly easy. The chassis was designed for it.

And it makes the car so much more fun to drive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[930cabman]

Somewhat getting my a** kicked trying to get a conversion completed. We have a decent chassis and a fresh 2.7 that has made the rounds from Ollies and Eksten's. Still running a small business and often prioritize kids/grandkids when it comes to free time. It is coming up on two years and currently attempting to work through oil lines, exhaust, do I need an external cooler or not??

All the guys who have done them, would you do it again?

Absolutely,

The 914 should have been built with a six, and a better one than the 2.0L T motor it came with. It is a far better handling chassis than a 911, and way more fun to drive.

Fitting a 911 engine is not a trivial matter, but fairly easy. The chassis was designed for it.

And it makes the car so much more fun to drive. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

And I was having a ball with our 2056 with twin Webers.

Can't wait to have this baby going, with everyones help here, it will be coming closer.

Thanks all

[mepstein]

George - if you need help finding the parts, Just let me know. 95% of it can be found from the vendors on this site
Maddog motorsports for engine mounts
MSDS for headers
914-6Werkshop for oil tank, engine tin and more
Lots of other small but needed parts from the many other vendors and enthusiasts.
Not everyone can afford a real six but with the parts above, they can make one similar to what Porsche made, in their own garage.
There are shops across the country that can do the conversion but many successful diy.
Restoration Design and Dansk set real metal flares if you like the GT look.

no way, cannot find all of the parts easily, parts are way too expensive, and try to find a mechanic to do it!!!! NO WAY own a nice fuel injected four cylinder and buy a 911 to complement it

Somewhat getting my a** kicked trying to get a conversion completed. We have a decent chassis and a fresh 2.7 that has made the rounds from Ollies and Eksten's. Still running a small business and often prioritize kids/grandkids when it comes to free time. It is coming up on two years and currently attempting to work through oil lines, exhaust, do I need an external cooler or not??

All the guys who have done them, would you do it again?

[campbellcj]

I really love my -6 conversion as well, much more than the stock 2.0/four and big-bore four I had previously. I'm not sure I would do it again from scratch these days vs. trying to find a good starting point or finished car. Even if you have shops do a lot of the major work, it's still a huge project management effort, cost and wait.

Looking back to be honest I sometimes wish I had not modified my car to such an extreme degree as it was probably 80% as fun in its lower-powered narrowbody config back about 20 yrs ago, and the flares and other changes incurred a lot of added cost and compromised it more heavily towards track-usage. Bigger tires are a tad more expensive. But it's a total blast and could fairly easily be reconfigured back to more streetable hot-rod.

Re external coolers - I would do it but suppose it somewhat depends on your locale and usage. I've had a large one up front for 20 years as my car was set up for tracks like Willow Springs with >100F ambient temps in summertime. (I have a dyno sheet from a POC event there which shows 104F.)

[targa72e]

Do it again, Absolutely. In fact I am building a second as my "keeper" with what I learned and can do better second time around. Keeping first until second is done ( I need an example of how things go together as my second car is total stripped (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) .
I would plan on a cooler with a 2.7.

john

[JmuRiz]

Somewhat getting my a** kicked trying to get a conversion completed. We have a decent chassis and a fresh 2.7 that has made the rounds from Ollies and Eksten's. Still running a small business and often prioritize kids/grandkids when it comes to free time. It is coming up on two years and currently attempting to work through oil lines, exhaust, do I need an external cooler or not??

All the guys who have done them, would you do it again?

2 years isn't so bad, I'm going on 15 on mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) I'm sure it'll be nice when/if it ever gets done. In hind-sight someone like me should have just kept me really good running 2.0 (carb'ed with a mild-hot carb cam) and enjoyed it. Final house project is starting this spring and the kiddo is almost 10. As I say every year, this might be the year (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)
I have all the parts, so that hard part is done.

When it's all said and done I'm sure it'll be a blast having a classic car that is modern car quick (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[930cabman]

Getting more unanimous by the minute, thanks again to all contributors. This a project management job, getting all the parts/pieces to flow together. More than one respondent has mentioned the word "blast" when describing the driving sensation. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

Our 930 is cool, the '75 911S is cool, '75 914 2056 is cool, Alfa spider is cool, but this is sounding the most cool of all.

thanks for all the help

[Root_Werks]

I would do it again. Heck, I bought an already converted 914-6 because I didn't want to build one and wound up redoing everything anyway.

The only caveat about building another conversion is I wouldn't convert a nice 914-4 anymore. Good 914's are out there, but getting harder to find.

[914dave]

Would do it again. The performance is outstanding with the 3.2. I do un the front oil cooler. Never gets above 200. That’s summer time in traffic after a long run. I even installed an electric fan to pull air thru when in traffic. Pulls the heat right out and will run at 190°.

[mate914]

Would do it again. The performance is outstanding with the 3.2. I do un the front oil cooler. Never gets above 200. That’s summer time in traffic after a long run. I even installed an electric fan to pull air thru when in traffic. Pulls the heat right out and will run at 190°.

Car looks good Dave. Hope to see you this summer.
Matt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)

[worn]

[l, but this is sounding the most cool of all.

thanks for all the help
[/quote]
Because it is.

[Tdskip]

Is it worth it, sure.

Just remember to double the time and cost expected to get it just right.

Ok, Ok, that is slightly mellow dramatic but you get the idea.

[SKL1]

Have had mine since 12-70 and did the suspension, brakes, sway bars, etc back in the mid 70's when you could easily get the parts at your local P+A dealer (and a 20% off coupon won at a local PCA event helped!)... sold my real 6 in early 2000's and regretted every day since but I was never getting rid of my first car so knew eventually I'd put the engine in it to complete the process.
Have the 2.4 ready to assemble- hopefully doing a repaint and will install the engine mount and get body ready for the oil tank this year as I'm not getting any younger!!

[davehg]

I’m on my second 914-6 conversion, the first was already converted but needed a tear down and rebuild. Surprisingly that only took about a year, whereas the second took five years start to finish and is just now nearly complete.

I sometimes think the journey of the build is more engaging then the finished car but I’m a glutton for punishment.

There are few other cars that are this fun.

[930cabman]

More details:



1. considering a heat shield between the header/oil cooler
2. -16 oil line fitting is 1/8" from header, dimple header?
3. Large 1/2" or so gap from top of engine tin to rubber gasket

It must end somewhere

If I was doing this for a customer the hours rack up quickly

[jims914]

This is my 75 914 for 42 years. 3.2 engine, A/C ,programable injection, front oil cooler,
915 trans, C2 F&R brakes, 911 dash, 911 seats, 911 console, ect.
PHX Flight concord winer.

[mate914]

More details:



1. considering a heat shield between the header/oil cooler
2. -16 oil line fitting is 1/8" from header, dimple header?
3. Large 1/2" or so gap from top of engine tin to rubber gasket

It must end somewhere

If I was doing this for a customer the hours rack up quickly

1. No
2. No
3. Don't worry about that yet.

I like to wrap or sleeve the oil lines from the oil cooler connection back to the oil tank. I have never done it near the oil cooler exit. Keep that open.

Matt