I thought I would start a build thread here since there are so many of you with solid input.
To start, I bought Wayne's book from Barnes and Noble and had buried my head in it for a few weeks before even starting the tear down. On top of that, I've been wrenching on cars for years, just this year I finished the rebuild on the type-4 motor in my 914 currently.
The type-4 is a 1911 with Weber IDF40's. Goes well for what it is but my wife's base model 2014 Volkswagen Jetta can pull away easily on the straights. Now, I understand that the build I'm proposing wont be a speed demon, but it'll at least be closer...
The car:
I know almost all of you are 911 guys, and the 914 has been looked down upon for awhile, but I'm hoping you can appreciate this even though it may not be your cup-o-tea.
I pulled the car from a garage in Minneapolis where it had been sitting for 20ish years getting pooped on by mice. In 14 months I've gone through everything but bodywork. New fueling from the tank to the carbs, engine, brakes, wheels, suspension, interior, exhaust... it was quite extensive. Running and driving now while I build the 2.2.
Here it is the day after I brought it home.
And a couple months ago at it's maiden voyage to C&C
Interior when it was about 90% done, I actually rebuilt both of those Heuer timers as well.
It was on the maiden voyage where I knew I had to do something about the engine. I drove down with my good friend Kris. He has a 911 with a pretty awesome engine build, I don't know the specifics off hand, but it's quick, and it sounds glorious.
Leaving a cloverleaf where we were both stuck behind a minivan, Kris guns it and pulls away hard, past the minivan and was gone. I'm already in a lower gear, ready to pounce. Gun it. Don't pass the minivan. Stay on throttle, creep closer to the van. Finally going past it and this person has no idea how hard this little engine was trying to get by it. Like they're sucking down a McDonalds cone and are completely oblivious. Hecking heck.
So, if I'm going to loose to a family hauler, I might as well do it with something awesome.
Engine:
Through Kris I was able to befriend Aaron from Flat Six in Minneapolis. Been down to drool a few times at all of the metal going through his shop and sent him a message. Looking for a six to put in the 914, nothing special, core quality. I like to rebuild stuff.
Turns out he had a 2.2T core motor, no idea the condition of anything inside other than it turning freely. Came with a set of Zeniths. When I went to look at it Jack noted that you could feel when it comes up to compression.
It was a core engine at a core price. It was a roll of the dice as to if this would be awesome or completely munched inside. nevertheless I needed a starting point and this was it.
So what is it? it's a 911/07 2.2 T motor, the one with 125hp or thereabout.
engine number 6117639
The plan:
Chatted with Aaron a bit when I picked it up, these have good valve and port sizes and I don't want to go to crazy so I'm planning an E grind on the cam, larger displacement in the form of larger pistons and bored out cylinders. Keeping the crank/rods if they check out. Then a general rebuild. Not cutting corners, but I am a mechanical designer with access to a full machine shop (excluding the CNC) I've been trained on the equipment too so a lot of it I will be able to do. Of course I will have someone else do the line boring and depending on fixturing I may have them do the cylinder base machining as well if I don't feel comfortable doing it myself.
Goal is around 150hp.