Like a bat out of hell new 914-6 on the road

confused · 05-24-2003, 09:11 PM

Ok guys, those that have helped me on my posts for 914-6 questions, thank you so much. My 914-6 is now on the road. I built it completely by myself over 3 years.

Now I have built a big 4s before (2.4L with all the tricks) and borrowed a 914-V8 from a friend in the past. I know how those engine perform. But now I can truly say the 914-6 is THE BEST engine swap! This car is so F*Ken fast! But not only is it fast, it is so damn smooth and quiet compared to the other engine swaps. THere is little comparison, if you want more power in your 914 then go for a 6cyl conversion. The big 4s power just never seemed right to me and the V8 was just all torque. With a 3.0 6cyl the speed and power felt so much more like a super fast little porsche should feel. I was doing very fast 0-60mph times without realizing how fast I was going.

So I am sure some people want some details, so here are some: 73 914 with a '83 911 SC (stock) with new Webers, MSD-6AL, 1-5/8" headers Jet-Hot coated going into a stock muffler, stock 901 transmission, KEP conversion flywheel, new factory oil tank, factory style oil lines, 914-6 oil cooler, repro steel 914-6 sheet metal, Vellios front engine mount, 911 SC front end, stock drilled for 5 lug rear end, and a bunch of there stuff to make it work.

Now I know this engine isn't that special but for what this 914 has gone through in the past to make it go faster this engine is the best so far.
Future upgrades: 911 S cams, JE pistons 9.8:1 (I think thats what CR they are), maybe early 911 SC heads w/big ports, I know I will need an external oil cooler (but you can save lots of money here, a front mounted oil cooler isn't necessary, you mount it under the trunk or the passenger rear wheel well).
What do you guys think of my Slant nose fenders? Personally I think this car looks like something the factory should have created. What do you think? Oh ya ... yes the rear tires rub like crazy. I am switching to 15x8s this week with an even bigger tire, how you ask? Well I have a 1 day flare method where I can put 8" rims in the rear of stock 914 fenders.

Feel free to give me questions or criticism

scg · 05-24-2003, 09:23 PM

Quote:

This car is so F*Ken fast! But not only is it fast, it is so damn smooth and quiet

Quiet? You must've done something wrong!

The nose looks pretty nice...but I think one of your headlights blew off during one of your speed runs.

Amazing how they just keep pulling, isn't it? Enjoy!

confused · 05-24-2003, 09:38 PM

Quiet, I mean as in comparativley to the V8 or the big 4. The 6cyl isn't super quiet but it doesn't hurt my ears after a while. Will probably be easy on the ears during a long drive.

3D914 · 3D914's Garage

Congrats,

A local guy upgraded his 2.0 six to a 2.7 some months back and just loves it. One of these days I need to take a drive in one. I'm sure I'll be really hooked then!

Enjoy!

boxstr · 05-25-2003, 08:41 AM

The one change on my 914-6 that made for more noise was the addition of K&N watershield to the carbs. Stock air cleaner housing keeps the noise down, allot.
CCLINSIXVILLE

scg · 05-25-2003, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Quiet, I mean as in comparativley to the V8 or the big 4.

Wow, I can't imagine living with that kind of noise for long (V8/Big4). I have the K&N watershields. Sure, it's a bit loud with the top on and windows rolled up, but I don't drive the car that way much. It's actually quite nice with the top off.

I envy your future plans. With a 3.0, you should still have pleanty of low-end torque and 3500+rpm should be a blast.

I ended up putting my oil cooler in the front trunk. With all the heat under the car from the six, I can't imagne a cooler getting enough cool air under the rear trunk. If you go with the rear wheel well, are you planning some kiind of air duct?

confused · 05-25-2003, 12:00 PM

I know of two 914-6 cars with rear mounted oil coolers. First there is C. Thomas Woodford's Red Stripe ralley car: it has a simple external oil cooler system. The oil cooler is mounted in the passender rear wheel well. The lines come off a plate that goes inbetween the oil filter and the filter console. This method seems very easy to install as there are no oil lines to interrupt, I can keep my stock 914-6 oil lines. Tom told me that this system works great in his car (the engine is a ralley spec but it is smaller than 3.0 though).

The second rear mounted oil cooler system I have been considering is Rich Johnsons. Now this guy lives in HOT texas, he drives his car in the summer in over 90 degree weather. He mounted the cooler under the passenger side of the rear trunk. Now this method requires cutting into the factory lines and re-routing the oil flow. He has told me that his car does not overheat in the hot summer.

I have had quite a debate with some other Porsche mechanics on this cooling issue. i think many 914-6 owners like to spend way too much money. I was told by many that "any 6 cyl in a 914 requires a front mounted oil cooler". But in reality I have found they do not require a front mounted system. I'm not knocking this but I'm adding it up and finding that it will cost at least $1000 to mount one up front. Another problem is loosing room in my front trunk for a spare (this is a street driver car, I need the space). Then I talked with the head mechanic of the shop I used to work at and said he built a customer 914-6 race car with a 3.2 that ran at Willow Springs with no external oil cooler and it didn't overheat.

So I am going to wait for this car to get hot, then I will figure out what oil cooler I need. Probably will try the one Tom is using, simply because I can do it for under $400

synthesis · 05-25-2003, 12:58 PM

you mentioned 8" rims on the back. How in the world can this be done without big flares?

tia
dr

confused · 05-26-2003, 01:09 AM

You can put 8's on the rear of the car by cutting a relief on each side of the wheel well, cut both supports, then pull.

You have to weld extensions onto the supports and put some sheet metal in where the reliefs wer pulled out. I have dont this on a race car before, it comes out looking factory. I had a friend do this and actually fit 9's in the rear of a 914-V8

jabb · 05-26-2003, 01:46 PM

can u take pictures as you modify the rear fenders.

Good luck with the conversion.... same motor that I have...
its very smooth and fast.....

fetus · fetus's Garage

I started off with a 2.4 liter 4 and it died twice both times with about 15k on the odometer.
I'm now running a Euro 3.2
The 3.2 went in with no modifications to the car.

scg · 05-26-2003, 07:38 PM

Dang! 3.0's and 3.2's! Fastfastfast! And I thought a 2.7 was overkill...

...since my fuel pump & filter combo took up the back 6" of my front trunk, it seemed a natural to put the oil cooler up in the front 8" along with a spare fuse box for headlight relays (if they come up, I burn the paint off the cars in front), fog light relay, and fan relay (for when I'm stuck in no-go traffic). I don't really need the fan, but I'm paranoid....

fetus · fetus's Garage

I think anything above a 2.7 is awesome.
Or above 200 hp.
Before the 3.2 I ran a 2.7S Carrera engine with triple throat webers.
It was a US spec carrera engine which means it came with CIS injection and more aggresive cams. It sounded much better than the 3.2 and produced most of its power in the 6k range. The 3.2 is all torque and its much quieter than the 2.7 engine. The 2.7 ran a lot hotter and required an external oil cooler. The 3.2 rarely uses the front oil cooler. I miss the 2.7 but the 3.2 with the DME requires no carburetor tweaking or pumping of the gas to get it started. It also has an altitude sensor that automatically adjusts for higher elevation. The 3.2 always runs the same and with wife and kids I don't have much time for tinkering. I definetly miss the 2.7. My parents and friends coud hear me coming a mile away. We used to go back and forth inside tunnels just to hear the webers. I thought about putting Webers on the 3.2 maybe in another 20 years after the kids are gone!!

Mr9146 · 05-27-2003, 08:08 AM

73 is a great year for a 914-6 conversion.

confused · 05-27-2003, 08:18 AM

Anything 70-73 is good for a conversion. The 74-76 car doesn't handle the transplant as well here in Calif.

scg · 05-27-2003, 09:28 AM

Heh, heh... no smogging for '74's here in Oregon

Mr9146 · 05-27-2003, 12:19 PM

I've heard of 3.6 914s passing CA smog ... I'll stick my 2.4S, though. I like the way she sings.

Oh, and I'm not running any external coolers ... I've got a fast fan pulley on it and I barely see 210 on a hot CA day. Works great, steals a little bit of power, but it's worth it because there's less weight.

peter carroll · 05-27-2003, 07:50 PM

Still another request on pics of the rear quarter operation that you will be doing. This sounds like the answer for me. Thanks, Pete

campbellcj · 05-27-2003, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mr9146
I've heard of 3.6 914s passing CA smog ... I'll stick my 2.4S, though. I like the way she sings. Oh, and I'm not running any external coolers ... I've got a fast fan pulley on it and I barely see 210 on a hot CA day. Works great, steals a little bit of power, but it's worth it because there's less weight.

I agree that not everybody needs a front cooler (or a 3.6

) but last weekend, while running half-hour lapping sessions at 6000 rpm's in 100F heat, I was damn glad I sprung the bucks for a mondo cooler. The car never even hit 200. I was contemplating blocking off the cooler partially in order to get the temp UP a little bit.

confused · 05-27-2003, 10:46 PM

Any car can have a engine transplant in Ca, the thing is you must use a same year or later model engine then the car came with, also all smog equipment is requred too so you are forced to put that junk on.

I was driving the car today, it is so damn fast, I had to put the small 195's back on today to stop the rubbing during test drives. It doesn't seem to get hot at all. I am going to attempt a freeway drive this weekend. If it ever gets hot I will just shut it off and wait for it too cool down... then I will buy a external cooler.

It needs a valve adjustment and a fix of a couple oil leaks. I am going to try and take it to the Dana Point Porsche show.

I will post some pics of my rear fender job when I get time to do it all. I am going to use a friends autobody shop to do the work in, I may even get the spots repainted the same day or two. Since this technique was shown to me I will spread the knowledge. I will take good pictures. This is an easy way to flare the rear, saves from cutting the hell out of the fender in order to weld on those big expensive flares. There is only a couple cuts made and they are easily welded back up.

So, does anyone have 7's and 8's on a 914? I need to find some sizes and prices on a good set of performance tires.