X-post from Rennlist: 911 owners perspective on 914-6?

[smokintr6]

I recently pushed my 911 slightly closer to being a "track car", and I am tossing around ideas for a street only p-car. I don't regret my recent modifications to my car, but at 10 miles per gallon & 40% race gas, I do miss having something more cost effective to drive.

I find myself in the position of having a perfect / dry stock 964 3.6 in the garage sitting next to a 90% rust free 1971 914. I have been planning on combining the two to make a relatively docile street car, but the more I have been driving my 911 this year, the more I realize I love the feel of the 911 chassis.

Who has any impressions on relatively powerful 914-6 conversions? I know if I ask the 914 guys they would say go for it, but I want to know what the tail dragger crowd thinks. If I go the 914 route I need a flywheel / clutch, drysump, modified rear hubs / axles, and I am almost locked into blowing up 901 trannys because I refuse to dump 10k into a transmission for a 914. Part of me wants to find a tired 911T coupe to be the custodian of my spare engine. I think the residual value will be higher, and I really only need a flywheel and front cooler to do it....and I have always wanted a long hood car.

I already have a 911 front suspension setup with modified 944 turbo brakes waiting, but this could be swapped onto either a 914 or 911.

What do you guys think. I would hate to go through all the effort to build a 914 only to find myself wishing it was a 911. I would love to drive one, but I don't really know anyone who owns one.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[algs911]

I have a '86 911. My brother-in-law is a 914-6 nut job (he's prolly reading this now). I've ridden in and driven his 914-6s. They were all 2.2 or 2.4 liters, so nothing with a 3.6 in it.

The 914s handle differently and feel different, even well below the limit. His were all set up pretty stiff, so they weren't comfortable at all. His felt like go-karts for the road. Very fun, but rather harsh. Very minimal (even with all the trim inside). It's rather expensive, in my opinion, to make a 914-6 "right." So much so that I believe a mid '80s 911 is much more (and better) car for the money.

Would I want one? Yes, but only for autocrossing. Overall, I think my 911 is MUCH more of a car than any of his converted sixes (sorry D.W., my bro).

Al

[lindbhr]

You might find interesting the current Excellence magazine series of articles about a 914 - 3.6 conversion. Also, I think Patrick Motorsports has done a few of these as well. Check out the projects on their website.

Good luck!

[ianc]

I had a 914 for years and loved it. The only things I didn't love were the non-galvanized body rust, the lack of power (2.0), and the stupid ebrake mechanism.

They are great cars and very fun. I would say with a properly set up 3.6 powered 914, you will definitely NOT be wishing the car was a 911...

ianc

[Dantilla]

Originally Posted by smokintr6

... a relatively docile street car,

A 3.6 powered 914? "Relatively docile?"

I have a 3.2 powered long-hooded 911, and nobody who has been in it has ever called it "Docile".

Sounds like great fun, especially since you already have the car and the engine. A few more bits and pieces, and you're there.

[Talewinds]

I'm not sure if I understand your quandary... So you want to make a daily driver, or, street use car, with a 914???

[smokintr6]

Thanks for the responses guys. I guess I do have a slightly different definition of docile. I want something that I could get in and drive to work everyday if I felt like it. That doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be slow . It just needs to have medium spring rates, some low end torque, and run on pump gas. I pulled the engine out of my mid year car in favor of a 350 horse RSR engine... It is just now pulling outside of my definition of docile. I have a pretty good feel for what the conversion will take to pull off, and I did all the work on my 911 myself. I was just briefly second guessing the choice of the 914 chassis. When I drive the 911 it comes very first nature to me. I'm afraid some of the "zen" driving experience won't be there in the 914.

[Talewinds]

Sell the 914 to buy a 911 roller for the 3.6?

[smokintr6]

And to clarify for talewinds... "street use" not daily driver. I enjoy taking cross country trips when I can, and it seems my current Porsche is no longer suited for that duty. Whatever I build will either be a long hood 911 or a 914. These are not "practical" cars by most people's definition, but it's all in what you compare it to

[smokintr6]

Sell the 914 to buy a 911 roller for the 3.6?

That's the quandry...

[Talewinds]

Saw a nice looking 72' the other day that looks to just require a "spit shine" for about $9k...
Is that what you're looking for an in a longhood?

[gtc]

Go for it!
I think that the only things 911s have on 914s are power and a little bit more comfort (roomier cockpit, better seats).
There is nothing zen-like about the handling of a 911 when compared to a similarly prepared 914.
Just my $.02

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Talewinds

Sell the 914 to buy a 911 roller for the 3.6?

Or sell the 914, buy a 964, and keep the 3.6 as a spare.

I have tracked a 71t, 87 911, 944 & 944 turbo, 77 3.6 conversion, 993 cup, 90 964 and a 964 Cup.... 964 & cup are my favorites.

[jurhip]

Originally Posted by gtc

Go for it!
I think that the only things 911s have on 914s are power and a little bit more comfort (roomier cockpit, better seats).
There is nothing zen-like about the handling of a 911 when compared to a similarly prepared 914.
Just my $.02

I say go for it and agree with the above except I find the 914 cockpit MUCH better than the 911. Compared to the 914, my 911 steering wheel angle is weird and I always need to sit closer to the steering wheel for the same level of control. Its probably a result of the seating position, but I find the pedal controls on my 914 easier to work as well.

Finally, as for ride quality, the 914 has a longer wheelbase and basically the same suspension. A properly prepared one will always outhandle a 911 for the same ride quality. Plus its balanced better. That "zen" feeling will not be lost in a 914.

The only plus side I see to the 911 is that they are probably a little quieter due to the fixed roof. It doesn't seem like this will bother you.

Many people tend to compare the "comfort" level of a 914 to a later model 911 (sc or carrera). They were similarly equipped to the early 70's 911's.

I love my '87, but if I had the same power and brakes in my 914, I would have never bought the 911. I just never foudn a 914-6 conversion that wasn't done too "racy" when I was looking.

[gtc]

Originally Posted by jurhip

I love my '87, but if I had the same power and brakes in my 914, I would have never bought the 911. I just never foudn a 914-6 conversion that wasn't done too "racy" when I was looking.

Heh, same here!

[Doug&Julie]

Originally Posted by smokintr6

...I don't regret my recent modifications to my car, but at 10 miles per gallon & 40% race gas, I do miss having something more cost effective to drive.

I find myself in the position of having a perfect / dry stock 964 3.6 in the garage...

I'm confused...why isn't the later part of ^this^ the answer to the early part of this? Lighten and lower that 964 and it'll rock as a street car. You'll spend far less than putting the 964 bits into the 914.

Not that I have anything aginst the 914 idea...mid engine Porsches rock.

[Grady Clay]

OK, I’ll admit to being somewhat of a 914 affectionato but an original (’68) 911 owner (and many more).

You are asking the right question: “What am I going to use the car for?”

My perception is a 911 is the quintessential cool street sports/GT car. It is a car you take your ‘other’ to dinner, drive to the Country Club with two sets of golf clubs in the trunk (SWB advantage). Yes, it can be a street world-beater. Yes, it can be a great race car … Porsche and all of us have proved that over and over.

I look at a race-only car as if it were a box of Kleenex. You buy and prepare a new box. You madly rip out tissue every weekend. You regularly refill the box. Periodically you rehab the box. Eventually you throw the box away and start anew. A 914 chassis fills this bill admerably.

Not to ‘dis-‘ my fellow 914 enthusiasts, these mid-engine 911-wanabees are GREAT race cars that Porsche (& VW) sold as street cars. There is a valued place for well preserved virgin 914s. Some are show quality and some are proudly driven. All drivers will benefit from a proper 6-cylinder installation. It is an ideal platform for anything 911. Think of it as a GT-1 that anyone can afford.

Best,
Grady

PS, I think I have owned almost 2% of all 914-6s built and the first 914 1.7 west of the Mississippi. ;D I still have the ’68 911 coupe I special ordered new and a few 914-6s.

[Talewinds]

Very well stated Grady.

[porsche930dude]

sounds to me like youve reached the end of the line with your 911 and you just need need somthing new to work on. I say go with what youve got . Iv never owned a 914 but i believe a well sorted 914-6 makes a cooler ride and more fun than most 911s

[BK911]

I don't think you can go wrong either way. Flip a coin and call it a day.