Help, What should I do (or, how hard is it to put a 3.3 in a 914?)

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

As many of you may know, I'm having a 3.6 twin turbo put in my 930. Latest update is that the pistons are two weeks away, most of the other parts are ready, and it doesn't take to long to assemble. So in other words, it will come soon. The question arises, what to do with the 3.3? I realize that I may have thrown all sensibility out the window when considering the 3.6, however there is still the sensible course of selling the 3.3 (I have a buyer from Texas) or buying a 914 race car that my mechanic knows of and beginning a project in my garage that involves me staring at my 3.3 and staring at the 914 for long periods of time until they somehow merge. So what is your opinion? I know it's nuts, but is it completely nuts? How hard is it to shoehorn a 3.3 turbo into a 914? Is it possible?

Please don't have me committed

Turbo · Turbo's Garage

You owe it to humanity to do this conversion. Please start staring soon

.

Jeff
89 930

orbmedia · 02-27-2002, 06:11 PM

I'm pretty sure it's been done but it's not an easy conversion because all of the plumbing for the turbos, wastegates, intercooler, etc will have to be fabricated. There isn't too much room in the 914 engine bay for this stuff.

Yargk · Yargk's Garage

I figured the plumbing would be the problem. I think one of the people with Clewett engineering (dealer of electromotive stuff) has a 400 horse turbo 3.3 914. I wonder if all of that CIS junk will even fit or if something cleaner is required. I'm still going to sleep on the idea though. It's so easy to get carried away with these cars.

Efrain68912 · 02-27-2002, 06:33 PM

From one college student to another...I notice the possibility of mucho horsepower and minimal weight. On the racetrack, that would be a major kick in the pants.

Why not?

finadict · 02-27-2002, 06:42 PM

I hope you have a spare 930 tranny, no way the 914 box holds the torque when the boost is turned loose. The rest is just plumbing, a tig, a pipe bender, some tubing and a little quality garage time. Would create a great ride.....

paulhagedorn · 02-27-2002, 06:50 PM

Owning a 914...I would say you are crazy!
It would sure be a blast, yes, but easy, no. The biggest pain would be general maintenance after the damn thing was in the car.

I would love to see it done, but unless you have a good year to play with or more money than you have sense, I wouldn't start the project. I would say the rear trunk would have to be cut into to get it done, but not totally sure.

Good luck, though!

pwd72s · 02-27-2002, 07:08 PM

Anything is possible. But this ton of $, work and tears? Just might be worth it...just to see the expression on some rice boy face....the rice boy used to blowing the doors off 914's....

RarlyL8 · RarlyL8's Garage

Keith -

I've been throwing around the same idea. Started a thread on it a couple of weeks ago over on the 914 board.
I'm going to have a spare 3.0L SC engine that begs for a turbo, EFI, and a new home. I've looked at all the race stuff, figured I'd need a partial tube frame car so it wouldn't self destruct.
After all the research I'm not sure about it. Very big commitment in time and money. And I already have a car I love. I'm going to build the 3.0L after my 911 swap, then we'll see.

Kind of funny having engines looking for a car to live in. Usually the other way around.

Kurt B · 02-28-2002, 01:35 PM

Damn that sure would be fun. Esp if the 914 was kinda ratty while the body was fixed up. Maybe even set one of the bumpers off a little, so it was hanging down making the car look a little crooked.

Old paint. Chipped and worn.
A license plate that says "Please don't hurt me."

Drive around the local areas. Then rev it a bit at a light, say where Joe studly's got his new Camaro.

Then Buurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, screech, Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

The last thing he'll have on his mind as he turns a corner and departs is
"Please, don't hurt me."

orbmedia · 02-28-2002, 01:53 PM

If all you're looking for us the ultimate Q-ship why not mount a Chevy V8 into the teener. There is alot more general experience doing this and you could fund the whole project my selling the Porsche turbo motor.

jabb · 02-28-2002, 02:51 PM

Plumbing fro the turbo would be tuff but it could be done with some fabricating. The other option is Tube frame the back of the car..... Then you have all the room you need.

Tube framing might be good you could push out the fenders and put some nice wide tires for all the power....

Don Wohlfarth · 02-28-2002, 02:58 PM

"Please don't have me committed" Yargk.
Everything will be alright as long as you stay on your medication.

If you're trying to make a small fortune out of a large one this project would help.
Don't fool around with a 914 tub. By the time you finish relocating the suspension points and making it a tube car you can buy a chassis from Roger Sheridan along with his f/g body. Then you'd have room to have everything fit.
I've had several overpowered 6 cyc 914's including my current one, an all glass, semi tube, with a warm 2.8, and everyone of them has been a handful to drive.
The best one word of advice I can offer is don't.

campbellcj · 02-28-2002, 11:03 PM

There is a guy who races with POC with a 930 turbo engine & trans in a highly modified 914. The car was at the Tribute to Le Mans race last summer. I don't know him or even his name but I'm sure somebody does (Otto or Laura?)