WRX powered 914

[jmshepard]

I saw a WRX powered 914 in the Porsche corral at Daytona this weekend. How accepted are these type of conversions in the 914 community? It looked like the conversion was well engineered and executed. The thought of 40 lbs weight reduction and 3x the horsepower is very appealing. Opinions.
Jim S.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I know a few people who have 'em. I like them, but some people don't. The Porsche Club, depending on the area, may or may not let you play with them in a Scooby-powered 914. That would be a minus in my area; it isn't so much of one in other areas.

In general, 914 folks tend to be fairly accepting. And this is one of the most popular new swaps.

I really like the non-turbo Scoob swap that put the radiator inside the engine bay...

--DD

[jmshepard]

Could this type of car find a place in the NASA org?
Jim S.

[Joe Sharp]

A Suby powered car took best of show at the last German Auto Fest.

[Ghost Tracker]

I like 'em so much...I'm building one! But, for a couple of reasons, I'm not swapping in the WRX EJ20 turbo...I'm using a N/A EJ25 PII (sohc, 16v). It's cheaper, more straight-forward, has a wonderfully FLAT torque band & with minor mods (cams, intake, exhaust & ECU) gives a strong +200 chp. No, it won't scream at high revs like the turbo WRX STi engine (300+ chp) but for daily driving the low-end grunt suits me fine.

I'm spending considerable time at the Subie websites to increase my engine knowledge (they're talking about cool 914 swaps over there too) but the transplant uses the 901 tranny (stock ratios match the non-turbo EJ25 pretty well) and doesn't get to the 300 ft.lb. "scatter threshold". There's no weight increase. The Subie boxer 4 looks MUCH like the VW Type IV and fits well with no negative effect on center-of-gravity. Handling stays 914 sharp.

As far as conversions go...it's MUCH cheaper than the Porsche flat 6, MUCH lighter than the SBC V8, less tempermental than a Raby Monster Type IV, has modern EFI, with cheap, readily available parts and Rally Car durability. It requires no cutting-up of the car so returning someday to stock (if that matters to 914 owners) is simple.

And the SOUND, while non-traditional, is certainly unique and high-performance oriented. With almost twice the HP of the legendary 914/6 I simply can't WAIT to get on the road. And, if more go-power is required, after-market turbo systems bolt on another easy 125 hp for $1.5K. If the purist look down their noses, WHO CARES?!? My tail lights are all they'll see anyway.

[RandyLok]

I'm with you. The only point I want to ask about is your experience with a Raby motor being temperamental?

[PCA7GGR]

This weekend a 914er swung by my place to get one of my GT engine lids. His 914 had a non-turbo Subie 4 in it that had ben done by Renegade in SoCal. Very nice installation - especially the way they did the radiator setup in the front of the car.

[hardflex]

anybody have some pics of all this?

[PCA7GGR]

Here are some shots of the 914WRX that was at last years German Autofest.

[Ghost Tracker]

I somehow KNEW when I wrote it, that someone would call my hand about the Raby comment.

{*LEGAL DISCLAIMER} *I hereby swear that I have NO (zero, zip, nada) personal experience regarding Jake Raby's Type IV engines being tempermental. My only personal experience with Mr. Raby (d.b.a. - Massive Type IVs) has been the exchange of two e-mails. In those e-mails Mr. Raby was both openly courtious & completely professional. I admire his knowledge & respect his work, so help me God.

Jake's engines are primarily large displacement, highly tuned Type IVs. They are expensive and worth every penny. I can only guess that they require (at least) the same "care & feeding" as most stock Type IV engines. I DO NOT KNOW for certain. But, if I were to continue to guess...between 200 chp from a Type IV and 200 chp from Subaru EJ25 PII, the Raby would require; more technical attention, more experience, more expensive (unique) parts, more expensive (highly skilled) repair, and (generally) more
upkeep. The word "tempermental" was miss-applied. Perhaps my intent would have been better served by the word "tweaked". I certainly meant no disrespect.

I would be willing to bet that there's no fewer that 15-20 Subie swapped 914s running the streets right now. I know of five personally. I know that Subie fans are looking hard for likely 914 donors in barns, backyards & on e-bay Motors. If your trying to sell your 914, join their forums (NASIOC, RS25.COM) & list in their "Classified" sections. Or, better yet, pick-up a Subie engine and join the fun! This is the best swap since Brad Pitt traded Jennifer Anniston (sweet ride) for Angelina Jolie (OH MY GOD)!

[GWN7]

I have no direct experence with the subie swap (except for going for a fun ride in one), my local PCA welcomes me with my 300 hp SBC powered 914 and if they didn't, screw them, It's my car and I'll drive it with what engine I want.

In stock configuration a 914 is fun to drive, add 4X the stock hp and it's a blast.

[Tonyakavw]

I've been driving my Subaru conversion for a few months now and its a total blast. My upgrade was from a stock 1970 1.7 L type IV, to a 2001 EJ25 naturally aspirated Subaru motor. I went from probably 80 HP to somewhere around 170. It cost me just under $3k to do it. (I did a ton of fabrication and all the work myself aside from welding in a 1-car apartment garage).

Porsche purists don't like conversions in general and there are three major things they don't like about this conversion. 1. Its a Japanese motor and 'doesn't belong in a fine German automobile.' 2. Its not a Porsche engine, so it doesn't belong. 3. Its watercooled.

For the non-purists, its a highly regarded swap. You get all the benefits of EFI, low center of mass, an all aluminum engine, less weight, cheap parts, cheap to upgrage or replace, etc. Also you don't have the torque of a V8, so you don't have to reinforce the chassis, axles, or transmission (with a 300 HP turbo motor you might).

The EJ25 is what the Type IV motor would have become had they continued developing it. When placed side-by-side there is a definite resemblance in many of its features. Its probably the most natural non-Porsche engine conversion possible.


-Tony

[seventythree]

How about a different perspective:

A nice, rust free 914 donor at ~$5-7K + water cooled 200 hp conversion for ~$5K = ~$10-12K.

An early Boxster with 200hp for ~$12-14K.

Isn't this kind of like trying to re-invent the wheel?

My take on this is, if it's a basket case 914, do what you please. Otherwise, leave all those nice original 914's alone and simply buy an early Boxster.

[hardflex]

To each his own, I say. I think the Sub is a second generation VW motor. Makes sense to me.

[Tonyakavw]

Seventythree: My subaru converted 914 weighs 1888 lbs with 2/3 tank of gas, carpet, an interior, etc. Getting a boxster even close to that would be very tough.

Also I bought my decent nearly rust free 914 for $1k. I'm into this whole thing for well under $5k. But thats atypical.

-Tony

[seventythree]

Tony,
Scratch what I said earlier. I don't know what came over me.

It's just that I sometimes wonder about all the time I spent fooling around with my 914. At least in my case, the same time, spent more wisely, would have easily paid for a brand new GT3 outright! May be much more!!

[Tonyakavw]

Oh I agree. Had I spent my time making something productive I could have bought a Boxster. But then again I like fabricating things, buiding things, etc. For me its about the process as well as the end product. I probably would buy an Elise over a Boxster though. Although there is a pretty big difference in price between a used Boxster and a used Elise.

[jmshepard]

The Boxster may be an option, but the car must maintain emissions standards because of the ODBII computer. Hotrod a 986 all you want, but the ugly truth is that any mods that do not conform to emissions is a no-go in most States. The beauty of the 914 is that it is pre-1996. Even better is that it is pre cat. In most States it doesn't have to conform to any emissions laws.
I agree that the Boxster has tremendous potential as a fun car, but the ever present OBDII and the data gathering that can be done makes a Boxster a non-starter for me.
Jim S.

[Zeke]

Re: the Boxster issue. I've had 2 914's and own a Boxster. The big difference (all the other points notwithstanding) is that there is a lot more leg room in a 914. I don't know what the hell Porsche was thinking, but I hardly ever drive the box much preferring my 911.

And then there's the weight. While the box is a superb handling car. it's a lot of fun tossing a 914 around.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]