What would you do?
 

Hi all, I have a 67 912 that I got with out a motor. Wondering the best route to go...a 912 motor, T4 or a 911 motor? Obviously it won't be a numbers matching car. I'm really thinking a 911 motor is the way to go. Give me your honest opinions. Thank you for all the great treads on this board.

Mark

912 motors aren't cheap anymore.....T4s are climbing. 911/6 is the best bang for the buck. All it takes is money.

3.0L or 3.2L 911 motor.

POLO? Not cheap, but über cool!

I have a 914 with a T4 2.0 and a 911 with a 2.7.

I'm not totally positive but I think the 914 2.0 has about the same HP as the 912 T4. But I can only tell you my comparison of the 914 vs 911.

The 914 has pretty good power but it is a very light car. My 911s has 200 hp and is also a light car @2400 lbs. The 911 has noticably more torque than the 914. You get a significant amount of pull in the 911 and that is the main reason I love driving it.

I don't know what's involved with putting a 911 engine in a 912 but it's going to cost you at least $5k. You also will need the oil tank and should include a front cooler. In addition, the 911 setup may require you to reconfigure your fuel lines for CIS setup.

I've seen many T4's 2.0 for about $1k but you could easily spend another $1k fixing it up, especially the injection system. The injection systems for T4 and 911 are completely different so you will need to learn the setup you go with - but that's a small learning curve.

I'd go with the 911 engine and I think that would increase the value of the 912 (light and fast) :)

Vern

Keep it simple. Go with a nicely built 616. What are your goals? Track car? Daily Driver? Show Car? Flip? Occasional driver? Keep in mind a 912 was designed to handle the 90 HP the 912 engine put out. If you go with a 3.0 you will have trans, brakes, suspension, mounting, and cooling needs to address (possibly wheels also if original 4-1/2" are still on).

I had a nice Raby type 4 (2316) on webers that dyno'd out around 170hp. 30hp more than a 2.4 6, and much lighter.

If you aren't afraid of carbs that would be a simple to install option that would run circles around some 911s.

Raby motors rival the Polo motors for price......

Classic Porsche Magazine is doing an ongoing piece on a 911 engine swap into a 912 chassis. From what I've read on it, the main thing for the conversion is cutting out the 912 motor pickup points in the engine bay, and then welding in the 911 engine pick up points (back and to the corners of the engine bay). It didn't look outrageously difficult/expensive (I consider outrageous having to cut out and rebuild torsion tubes).

Here is a link to their FaceBook page. I am subscribed and it's my favorite Porsche magazine.

A couple posts for the 912bbs. Lots of info on engine swaps into a 912 chassis in the Renegade section.

3.0L-911-Motor-in-a-1966-Porsche-912

912-Carrera

A 4 Cam in a 912???!! That is one expensive 912.... and one dedicated 912 guy

**EDIT**
I now realize it's a photoshop job.

I would go for the six. At least a 3.0 or a 3.2. You will have so much more fun with....MORE POWER! :)

I'd find another 4. With what you would probably spend putting a 6 in the car, you could buy a cheap 911.

Nobody's mentioned the gearing issues yet, either....

The 914 weenies do swaps all the time. 914world.com - A Porsche 914 Community / Forum / Club

I've done 6 conversions in 356s, 912 and 914.....I've even done a V8.

List your city...you may even have some one near you that can help.

EJ20 Turbo

IMHO do what your intuition tells you what to do. 4 or 6 cylinders, as long as
you do it right is what matters. Although a 6 will give you that grin that's
a tad wider. :D

If I am not mistaken, Excellence magazine had an article about a 912 with a 3.0L engine swap about two (2) months ago. It can be done, but it isn't cheap and lots of stuff to consider such as: transmission upgrade to 915 and the engine mounts needed an enhancement to fit properly. But well worth the efforts, since the 912 handles better...at least that's what the new owner said.

If you cannot find the magazine or the article about this, PM me your mailing address and I will copy the article for you and send it to you via US mail.

Good luck with your car and project!!SmileWavy

The 912 is a special car with it's own qualities and balance that you should not lose site of. Removing the 616 motor and putting in anything else will do just that. I have recently sold my 912 but will tell you that it is a fantastic car to drive hard. You will never win any stoplight races, but you will have an absolute blast driving it in the twisties and it will make you a better driver as you learn to use momentum and throttle to your advantage.

I would do regular mountain runs with my fellow early 911 junkies and at first I was content to hang in the back of the pack so as not to hold anyone up. As I learned and got better, I would jump right in the mix with them and had a blast.

There are things you can do to that 616 that will bump the hp and tq that do not cost much, yet will maintain the balance the car has while giving you a little extra kick out of the corners.

Another thing to consider is value. The 912 is the fastest appreciating early p-car on the market right now (why I sold mine). Putting anything other than a 616 motor in it will create a ceiling on the value of that car that will be less than a stock car.

Best of luck with yuour decisin. At the end of the day, you have to do what makes YOU happy and to hell wijth the rest of us!

Go have fun - Farrell

Thanks all for the replies. Sorry for the late thank you, just got back in town. Sense I don't have a motor at all, I'm leaning towards a 6. Any more thoughts one way or the other? Everyone be safe.

Mark

Although lacking the HP of a 911, the 912 is a special car. It's lighter and more agile, and you can actually have more fun in it making it go. IMHO, it is much more fun than a 914, the engine is more revvy and has a much better connection between your foot on the throttle and your brain! Keep it as a 912.