Took on a corvette saturday...

914GT · 10-11-2004, 08:45 AM

Was taking my son to the motorcycle shop Saturday afternoon to get his dirt bike tire fixed. At the first light pulled up behind a new yellow Corvette in the left turn lane. License plate frame said something like 'Sorry officer, put it on my tab". Green arrow he takes off and I follow behind. He's checking me out in his mirror. Next light we both turn right. He stomps on it and loses me and I don't bother with him. But he gets another red light about a mile further up where an extra lane opens up beside him, so I pull up along side. Some gray-haired guy in his 50s or so. He obviously wants to show off what his fancy new car can do and spank my yellow 914. Well the light turns green, I start in 2nd like usual and let her rip. He's doing the same. I hit every gear perfect and was pulling ahead of him! My son said he looked pissed and shocked at the same time. Then he brakes hard and pulls off into a supermarket parking lot, like "i meant to do that'. Basically I think he was embarassed that an old Porsche 914 with a passenger was outrunning his expensive fancy sports car. Hopefully I ruined his day!

Alfred1 · 10-11-2004, 10:18 AM

Cool. Just don't get caught. I can't wait to get the VR6 in my car and then maybe eventually add one of these to it.

914GT · 10-11-2004, 10:48 AM

I don't plan to make a habit of it, for sure. That turbo looks nice but expensive too. I can build a kick-ass SBC for that money.

AZ914 · 10-11-2004, 11:44 AM

Way to show those damn gray-hairs....

914GT · 10-11-2004, 12:48 PM

Yeah those lousy gray haired people with yellow cars. Who do they think they are anyway?

I'm not gray, just blonde turning silver. And one of these days Jason it will catch up with you!

skline · skline's Garage

I take offence to that remark, I have way more grey than I care to talk about. I never had any of it till I hit 40. I guess it's all down hill now.

914GT · 10-11-2004, 02:04 PM

With daily use, your 914 v8 will restore your original hair color and make you look and feel younger.

AZ914 · 10-11-2004, 02:28 PM

Yeah.. my dad went from blonde to white.. I'm sure I'm not too far behind. I'm going to look like a damn QTIP...

Anyways, good story about the Vette. Was that one of them new fangled C6's? (BTW.. the new Vette looks sweeeeet)

schosh · 10-11-2004, 05:35 PM

Didn't Einstein have gray hair?
Probably would have driven a P-car if he had learned to drive.

914GT · 10-11-2004, 06:19 PM

No, it wasn't a C6. Those are really sweet indeed. My guess it was an '03 or '04. It was a good looking car but maybe that's because it was yellow and I'm prejudiced? Anyhow, I'm satisfied that my little car could show what it can do. But I'm behaving myself from now on I promise!

Bruce Allert · 10-14-2004, 08:53 PM

Good Job Man and thanks for the smile!
I've always wanted to do something like that

......b

3D914 · 3D914's Garage

Guy,

I just love to hear things like that. Glad to hear you're so happy with the V8.

I reviewed your work on the 2.0 - looks great. I've been outa touch for a while I guess, but are you planning to revert to and ari-cooled engine?

Enjoy!

914GT · 10-15-2004, 03:42 PM

hey Gerard

Yeah haven't seen you hanging out here for awhile. How was that car show in PHX a few weeks ago? No, not putting that 2.0 back in my car. Probably try to sell it on eBay once we run it on the dyno in a couple weeks. I like my V8 too much now to go back, but I would love to see that little 4 back in a car someday.

Took some pictures of my car this afternoon with the Fuchs on. Plan to get an alignment next week. Of course the car rides a little high in back with the 16s on the rears and 15s on the front. But since the wheels were free (just had to buy new tires) I'm not going to complain. Someday I'll find a couple more 16s.

John2kx · John2kx's Garage

Stories like these always bring a smile to my face. Careful when you try it with a Z06 or a C6. It will be close off the line and you'll more than like run pretty even until you approach 100 mph.......after that, he will be gone with the better gear ratio and additional hp.

Supercharged Saleen Mustangs are fun to run as well. You'll have no problem from any starting speed, up to about 130 mph or so. Pontiac Firehawks or SS Camaros fit in this catagory as well.

Wonder how I know : )

John

914GT · 10-15-2004, 07:02 PM

John, you bad boy ...

Alfred1 · 10-16-2004, 11:23 AM

The new Corvette has 400 hp and weighs 3179 lbs so a 914 would need somewhere around (400 hp/ 3179 lb) x (2400 lb) = 302 hp to match the Corvette's acceleration. A VR6 with turbo and intercooler could produce that much hp and the 901 tranny should be able to handle it.

914GT · 10-16-2004, 12:21 PM

So would the 915 tranny with VR6 or well-built SBC offer a good match to a Z06 vette even above 100mph? Not that I'd ever build something like that of course.

Alfred1 · 10-16-2004, 12:41 PM

I just saw a segment about the new Corvette on Car & Driver television and they said the engineers spent a lot of time in the wind-tunnel perfecting the Corvette's shape - it would almost certainly have an edge over the 914 at high speed both in terms of drag and, more importantly, lift. The idea of racing new Corvettes at over 100 mph doesn't really appeal to me - I think the fun part would be accelerating to that speed.

John2kx · John2kx's Garage

So many avenues with regard to 914 top speed, engine selection and gear ratios. The major obstacle for a 914 on top end is aerodynamics, as already mentioned. Let's face it, the car is not designed for speeds above 130 mph and that is pushing it in certain situations. I watched the new C6 vette cruise at 160 and hit 180+ mph easily last week on speed vision. The driver looked so relaxed. A true testimate to what 35 or so years of technology can do. There is nothing relaxing in a 914 at 130+.......believe me, I've been there : )

Bottom line is, the 914 with V8 power can hold its own with the majority out there. Just another case of power to weight ratio. And, for a heck of allot less $$$$$$.

John

dharder · 10-17-2004, 07:09 AM

I had a similar-but-different experience on an extremely twisty mountain pass when an Eagle Talon with some punk wannabe driving, pulled out in front of me just as I approached the top of the pass going downhill in my '73 2.0. I must admit, I got a little close to the back of his car to show my displeasure with him pulling out in front of me. He took off. When we hit the first 20mph turn at about 50, I could hear all four of his tires sqealing. My car was rock solid. At the second 20mph turn to the other direction, with me right behind, his car was sqealing even louder. He pulled over, let me go by, and tried to pull up behind me. It was bye-bye time. I didn't see him again till I got to the bottom of the pass and got on the freeway. A minute later he blew by me. I could only wave.

Boys will be boys.