Dantilla, here's a quote for you!!
"It's a shame that closed minds don't come with closed mouths."

LOL

Guess what? Thats exactly what it was designed to be, nothing more.

So much for the OPs thoughts that the vehicles aren't in demand or "valuable".

No, it doesn't make power past 6K RPM, its not supposed to. To make power past 6K RPM you have to call a guy like me and I'll still tell you that you should keep the power band below 6K RPM to kep the awesome driveability that the engine and vehicle have to offer.

The reason why a gear change makes a big difference is because the engine mmakes much more torque than HP. I've never had a problem with a 912E, even in stock form "around town". Yours sounds like it was mis-tuned the entire time you owned it.

Sounds like a lack or reaction time on the driver's part to me. I've never had a problem like that.

The 912E following always will be small, because most Porsche followers don't even know that Porsche made a 912 in 1976, they certainly don't know that the "E" in that 912E stands for Einspritzung for the very first electronically fuel injected 911 body style.
When people see my cars and say "nice 911" I quickly correct them, I own 911s as well but they have radiators so I let my Wife use them for daily drivers.

The 912E following is not just small, its dedcicated with many owners having 2,3 or even 4 of the units in posession at any one time. I own two right now and I have owned 3 at once in the past. The cars rarely break or need anything when properly tuned.

Unless you are a typical 911 owner that can't pedal the big wheel because your erection keeps getting in the way.


People really don't like being passed at a DE by a 912E, and yes it does happen especially when someone calls me. Give the car a solid 130-150HP and it'll spank the pants off of most 911s, especially in the handling department.
http://aircooledtechnology.com/image..._track_top.jpg

I understand that some people just don't like a 912 or an "E" because its a 4 cylinder example of a 911. Those people generally don't understand how weight impacts the balance of a sports car and where that weight is concentrated really impacts the balance of the car. I am glad you like 911s, I do too, and I like 356s and every other Porsche ever built except a 924/944. Fact is the 912E is a great platform for a well balanced, great looking Porsche that has great manners and more than enough power to br driven daily in the modern world.

When ignorance starts selling for 4,000 dollars a barrel, I want drilling rights on some people's heads in this thread~

Wow, this thread has turned into a religious war. Either you like them or you don't.

Larry,
that's just how strong the feelings are on the subject. If the cars were junk and the owners that had them didn't love them you'd not see such enthusiasm and love for the car.

Sounds like the 912E is awesome.

They made so few, it's a shame, but fortunately it is very easy to upgrade and convert a regular 911 to a 912E "replica" or "tribute" car. Dump that heavy and handling-killing 911 engine, replace it with an engine from a VW bus (plenty of Type IV engines kicking around), should pretty much bolt right in. Voila!

I'm really surprised this concept hasn't taken off. Can't imagine why.

From a bus? That'll really kill it. Low compression, lower HP than the red headed step child 914.....

Some 914s came from the factory with 70 hp or so.

Buses have less than that?

Anyways, as we all now know, it's about the 912E's massive torque, anyways. How does a bus engine and a 914 engine compare there?

Same Type IV engine. Buses had dished pistons lowering compression and few other mods to contribute to torque at the cost of HP and to add to longevity. Let's face the bus was a brick.

The 914 when woken up is a rocket. Just gets a bad rap as a VW. Just ignorance showing.

I've driven the 912E and generally liked it. When and if CA modifies the smog rules from it 1976 cut off date, the "E" will become a LOT more popular......what's left of them.

Funny you should mention this.. I provided 3 engines in 2010 for such projects and I have on my build schedule for this year.

One of those who just completed one of these 911 retrofits is online quite often. His name is Richard Grove and he is exceptionally pleased with how the car turned out. I'll see if he'll stop by with some comments.

Glad you brought this up.

I love 914-4s, and have had many of them. I've probably driven as many miles in my life in 914s as I have in my 911s. I daily drove 914s for probably 15 years. Usually they were just mildly hopped up 2.0 injected (Euro piston, slightly higher compression, etc.) versions. The Type IV engine worked well in the 914, IMO.

I am a 911 owner and I always knew what a 912E was. Guards red with black trim.....fantastic! Nick

The original use for the VW Type 4 Engine was the Type 4 Fastback and Squareback. These engines were utilized in those vehicles for four years before the first VW Bus was produced with the same enging foundation.

The engine when used in a 914/4 had some differences, to include cylinder heads and valve sizes. The 914/4 had a max rating of 100HP while in a VW Bus its maximum rating was 67HP. The ports, valve sizes, compression ratio as well as intake and exhaust sub-systems make the VW Bus engine and the 914/4 engine completely different in both RPM range and peak output.

The 912E spec engine was rated at 76HP and shared the characteristics of the 914/4 in most areas. The killer of the engine was the crank driven smog pump, thermal reactors and reduction in compression ratio over a 914/4.

It may be a "VW Bus Engine" but that foundation routinely offers us the ability to produce 150-220 reliable HP with an average of 10% more torque than HP. To attain this I only need to increase displacement 10-20%. These engines provide exceptional power and do so without the necessity of spinning 7K RPM, most make peak power at 6,500 RPM.

Don't forget, the "Supervee" race series used these same engines, but they were limited to only 1600ccs and in the early 70s they were making 180HP from that displacement.

have you managed 180hp yet

Sheesh... Did he call the original 912 series a fraud too?

JB

No, but the original series 912 used a Porsche engine, so there'd really be no reason to call it that.

Glad to see your responses. Obviously, the majority of my post was tounge-in-cheek. The 912 is nicely balanced. Driving it is kinda like a way underpowered 944.

Here's my frame of reference-

While I owned the 912, I also owned (and still do) my 3.2-powered 1973 911.

Driving the two cars, the differences are immense- The 911 weighs less, and has over twice the power. For driving pleasure (and adrenaline), there is no comparison. Balancing the tail-out antics with the throttle is so much more fun than merely scooting down the highway at 30+ mpg.

Porsche makes different models, for different people's choices. I simply chose a 912E, and determined it's not for me. For nicely balanced driving, I prefer my 944. It has more performance, a more comfortable driving position, and a much wider torque curve, and still gets 30 mpg on the highway.

I also prefer my ITS-class 944 for track duty- If I do something dumb, and roll it up into a ball, it was just a cheap 944. I'd really be hating myself if I wrecked the 911 on the track. A track 944 is so easily replaceable.

"...more than enough power to br driven daily in the modern world."- As long as you can get a head start downhill to catch them! :D

180HP these days is nothing for us to produce from this platform. I can do it from a 12% displacement increase in pump gas with a power band from 2500-6500 RPM

Yeah, all it takes is money.....

Ya maroons just turned this into a Jake Raby ad.....:eek:

we're kind of getting off into space here. anything can be hopped up. we were talking stock 912E originally.

the cost of your upgrades cancel out keeping the great fuel milage and reliability as opposed to swapping a cheaper boxer engine in.

:\