Britt, your next one will be a SIX...

Watch the viddies in my club blog to tide you over.


KT

I don't know how to do subliminal font over here...so out with it!
get an X1/9!


ooooohhh.:o


KT

LMAO!

I saw a pic of someone's new /6 going into a GT replica or something, and it looked GoooOOOOooD.

Are the SIXES sturdy, like near-bulletproof run at 5k rpm all day sturdy?

b

It's the same...:o

It only works if the post is out the the gray field...daaaaww!

KT

uh, no....

2700 RPM. just shifting from 2-3...it was parked for a hour before going a mile to where it stopped.

Do you honestly think I'd be stupid enough to purposely break my engine? I'm not crazy like alpha...or wierd like SLITS (there goes my cheap parts connection)

LOL

i hardly ever run below 5k...whoohoo!


KT

i wonder if i'm really better off reliability-wise and longevity wise by switching to a SIX on my next 914?

b

okay, so i've been thinking...

should I go the VW route with some Jetta or something or should I go BMW?

I think I could get a cheap version of either that's "A-OK" by parental standards :rolleyes:

My dad tells me that I had to find out what exactly is wrong with it. Since I'm not keeping it, i'm not touching it at all.

b

sorry to hear this britt.

k

Britt,
I feel for your pain man... we've all been there with these cars. I remember when my '74 1.8 with the stock FI went out after 1 week of purchase. After a 2.0L euro spec rebuild which ran around $2500, and then $6K later the "professional" injection mechanincs still couldn't figure it out, i spent $800 on new Weber 40's and crossed my fingers that in 2 years the '74 would be smog exempt. While the car was in the air (on stacked tree rounds) I then added another $7K in suspension, cables, brake rebuilds, rubber, etc etc.

That motor lasted about 15000miles with one auto cross and one POC weekend at the Streets of Willow. Then, without notice, the crank snapped in two between connecting rod 1 and 3. $600 later with a counterballanced crank, bearings and seal kit, i was on my way for another 5K miles untill i ran out of gas, didn't realize it, checked the spark plugs and put the wires on wrong, drove it for 30 miles like that, then pulled the engine.

So does my long winded story have a point? Not really. Just don't feel singled out. Its a 30+ year old car that is all about the love and not about the money. Although it would be nice if it would retain some value, its just not the case.

To answer your above question, yes. Buy a six. Of course the 6 is more expensive in the beginning, but if you save up and cough up for a 3L with carbs (minimum), your going to find a whole new relm of life with these cars. After working on GPR's 6gt replica (and I just rebuilt a 3.2L engine for another replica for the owner of GPR) i will never touch another type 4 agian. Honestly, i'm being a snob. I completely understand those who love the type 4, and i'm not bashing you guys. Jake has done some amazing stuff with the type 4 engines and they make great power. But they will never have the power AND reliablity of the 6. Porsche wouldn't have spent billions developing the 6 if the type 4 had more potential. Dr. Porsche himself said something to the extent of: "If I would have known in 1960 that the 6 would have grown this much (the 3.8L RSR), I would have had my engineers design a much smaller engine."

The engine has a main between every connecting rod! If you've ever been in one, its simple, stout, and very effective. There are motors with more issues than others like the mag cases of the 70's, but hey, that was a learning curve for Porsche. And when delt with correctly, they are good motors. My friend has a 71T 911 2.2L and he rebuilt his a few years back. He spent so much in shuffle pinning, oil squirts, boat tailing, new parts, etc etc, that he could of purchased a good used 3.2L motronic engine. But, he wanted to keep the stock engine size for track events to stay in his particular class. Sorry for getting off the point, but its simply this, you need to figure out how much power is acceptable for you. Once you have that number, look at the stock 6 engine size that has that hp rating supplied by the factory.

The nice thing about the -71 engines is that the 901 trans was stock for those, so the flywheel isn't going to be as much of an issue. I'm not sure about the 915 trans supplied engines on the 72-77 engines, but i do know once you go 3.0+, the Kennedy flywheel ring and clutch disc start making the whole conversion hurt. But, if your going to do it right, its the way to go. When ever i've come across someone who had a bad 6 experiance, it didn't take long to understand why. With a few simple questions, you can get right to the reason... they cut corners.

Good luck with what ever you go with. Sometimes a little time away (and some saving) is the right coarse of action. It sounds like living at home, a project car, and school is a bit much right now. I was lucky to get out of school and find two good paying jobs and living at home when i got my '74... But then living on my own and finally making the 6 jump has been my goal for the past 4+ years now. Patience is a virtue, and there will always be another 914 out there.

The BMW 325i (mid 80's-ish) is never a bad choice.

Prost, Don.

thats a bummer Britt, I could use an alternator tin off that half of the 1.8L engine I gave you, if you don't need it. I could use it, well a friend could use it.

Now back to your questions. BMW always a good choice 3 series Will eat you alive in repair parts prices. I have run VW's all my life, current Jetta III TDI has 231,000 miles still gets 45 mpg, and puts outta bunch of torque. Yes it has some issues, shakes the bolts loose on stuff. But it has been very very good to me.
I friend has his son in a 325i mid 80s once he got all the wrenching done, the thing has been great for him. And the rear wheel drive makes it a fun combination car. He auto-xs it some weekends. I can't stand auto-xing my Jetta. Handles decently, but not as well as the miata or the BMW.

BTW, I hate to say this, you can get Miata's cheap, they are fun and practical. But do not have as much trunk space as your 914.

Let me know what you want to do with your 914 - I am always looking for new projects!!!

Make sure the towel you throw in has "PORSCHE" on it

Britt, save your money and work hard this summer. maybe you can buy a completed SIX conversion at the end of the year.


KT

Britt,
Dad said find out...so find out.

Pull the motor...fix it with free parts from US...

Put it back in..
Drive it.

The car will sell for more if it runs,,,,Mom..
Dad told me to do it...

then...I cant find a buyer ....Just keep driving it.

Rich

okay here's the deal and the plan.

My dad was able to pull together some sort of 'diplomacy' between himself and my mother. I have a charger on the car now, and was able to turn it over for a short period, upon which I have my diagnosis: cracked crankshaft or something of that nature. I could hear a crack-crack-crack when it was idling, until it backfired and died. Steven that tin is yours...pm me details on how we're gonna get it. I am PRETTY sure I'll be able to keep it, and during th summer I plan to get some good money in to finish my car.

Thanks all for everything you have done for me.

b

Ok Britt....I have several 1.7/1.8 crank and rod sets....what else you gonna do on weekends?

Also can prolly come up with a good set of used P&Cs (1.7L).

Won't sell worth a crap if busted....

britt - there is almost no chance broke your crank.......

keep working on it -

have you pulled your valve covers at least? anything look astray?
ala broken rocker? or rocker assembly came off.... etc?

Wow, that would be nearly a first to break a crank so I agree with Aaron that its something else. Pop off a valve cover and look. I have had rockers come off the pushrods til I went with the solid spacers. It can make a lot of noise!

Geoff

I bet you broke a valve and it punched through a piston. Ask me how I know. Stop starting it! If you have metal parts in there you are only gonna goof things up more.

1. Drain oil and check
2. Remove spark plugs and check
3. As AA said, remove valve covers. Oh, and check.
That will let you know if it is a valve or a seat. You can try to spin the engine by hand and see if your valves are moving. Most likely one will either be gone or immobile. (again, personal experience)

If I were you I would just drop the engine and swap it with the one offered. Simple, done, inexpensive, one days worth of work.

...but thats just me.