Engine question

[jfhamel]

Hi, i am looking to buy a 1967 912 and i was looking at the engine and i am pretty sure it's not the original engine and was replaced by a type 4 i have joined a picture of the engine and would appreciate if someone could help me.

Thank You

[WFBowen]

Just looking at the pic, yes, it's a typeIV. The fuel injection has been replaced with (probably) a Weber progressive carb and it looks like an 009 distributor. This motor could have originally been a VW bus motor (IIRC some had dual carbs) or a 914 Porsche / 912E Porsche motor depending on it's internal specifications. Checking engine numbers will give you a good idea of the specific vehicle it was originally intended for.
Take a close look at how the rear of the motor mounts to the chassis....if it's crudely done, I'd walk. If, however, the car drives well and there seems to be some nice fabrication of the engine mounts, engine cooling tin, exhaust, etc., it might be a good driver depending, of course on the price. Without it's original motor, the value of the car is greatly diminished.
The gearing of the 901 transmission is not optimized for the T4 motor, but there are always trade-offs with motor swaps.
Bill

[jfhamel]

Thanks for the advice, i have checked the mounts and i have been installed properly, the car has 108k miles and body is in good shape no rust and probably has been repainted recently and the interior is clean, how much do you think it's worth without the original engine.

Thank You

[WFBowen]

Sorry, I can't even guess to it's actual value without actually crawling around the car.....then there's the current economic troubles, etc., etc.
However, I can tell you that with that motor, the car is NOT worth more than 8k (IMO) unless someone took a mint, original 912 and transplanted that motor into it which is an unlikely scenario.

[fbarrett]

JF:

Depending on the car's overall condition and price, this could be a decent deal. You can always find and reinstall a genuine 912 engine (though it may not match number-wise, and it won't be cheap to overhaul) then sell the 914 engine or keep it as a spare. I've driven a couple of 912s with turbocharged 2-liter 914 engines and enjoyed them, though my car still has the original. In the unlikely event that the owner (or a known previous owner) still has the original engine--even if it's shot and apart--it would be a nice bonus.

Chassis condition (corrosion) is usually more important than engine condition; proper rust repairs are usually more expensive than mechanical repairs.

Frank

[76912E]

It's a Type IV engine, but not from a 912E. The S/N would start with 406.... if it came from a 912E.

Fran