Poll: 6 conversion or Part it out

[red-beard]

Yep, I've been bitten by 6 fever.

I now own 3 914s. (I feel like I'm in a 12 step program: "Hi. I'm James. And, uh. And. I own a 914...)

1970 Factory 6 - Fairly original.

1971 1.7 with appearance group - good engine, bad carbs (2 bbl bug style), weird transmission (ponderous with a poorly done side shift conversion - and the need for a new 2nd gear syncho). Some rust, but mostly surface pitting. Pedrini wheels. Needs new carpets and cloth or leather seat covers.

1973 unknown engine with same crummy carbs, good sideshift transmission with short shift kit, flared fenders all around, aftermarket racing wheels, ss heat exchangers, Chassis stiffening kit installed, the car was stripped down the sheetmetal, por-15'd (2 owners ago) and repainted.

I bought the 71 with the idea to fix it. I picked up the 73 as a parts car, but it was too nice to cut it up. I have a few friends eyeing the 73 for parts (one wants the 73 body for the VIN, the other wants various parts, etc). I was also thinking that the main problem with this car is the engine. If I part it out, I'll keep the engine and tranny for the 71. But then again, I found someone who is willing to let go all the stuff below for $2500.

So....should I part the 73, or do the 6 conversion?

James

-. 2.7L long block w/flywheel 750.00
-. 2.2L complete motor less induction 750.00
-. 914/6 very rare drive shaft w/stub axle 250.00
-. MFI very complete injection system for a 2.4E 400.00
-. 914/6 rear right console rust repair new 120.00
-. 911 coupe doors (2), w/hinge, regulators and glass 250.00
-. 911 various pieces of CIS, fuel dist. and throat body 100.00
-. 911 MFI extra sets of stacks and linkages 100.00
-. 911 steel trailing arms (2) complete w/ rotors and calipers 125.00
-. 911 A arms set and center beam with struts, calipers and rotors. 125.00
-. CDs (2) w/3pins 80.00
-. 911 extra fan/alternator/housing assembly 125.00
-. 914/6 original primed engine grill, very rare, w/original decals 75.00
-. 914/6 original used 2.0L flywheel w/clutch 100.00
-. 911 set of front fenders ??? (1974) these I still need to claim from
previous parts car deal. 250.00

[Paul_Heery]

Personally, I'm never in favor of parting out an otherwise salvageable 914. If it's at all possible, I like to see 914s return to the road and offer others the pleasures of driving and the pitfalls of ownership. I've got a complete '74 in the garage that was being parted out. Right now, it doesn't run. But, someday it will make a good driver after a little TLC is applied. I hate to see these cars unnecessarily cut up. Maybe I should start the Society for the Preservation of the 914 .

I can't help you with your list of parts. That's foreign territory for me.

[red-beard]

Hmmm. 3 in the garage.

OK, next Poll question: How many of you have 3 or more 914s?

James

[J P Stein]

Ok.....Plan A.

Get rid of everything but the 6er. No sense diluting your efforts
with other cars. I had a 73 911 and the 914 conversion at the same time, so I know this problem. Both were runners, but I was spending ALL my spare time and money on em'.

Keep the 2.7 and a good side shifter for when the mo power bug hits. Keep the 2.0L & tail shifter when the bug bites. It's worth more stock should you ever want to sell. I wouldn't make any unalterable mods to the 6er.

Plan B.

Stop the madness.....sell em' all and get a Toyoda Camery or whatever

[red-beard]

Actually, the reason I'm considering the conversion on the 73 is because I don't want to do anything to the Factory 6. I'd like to leave it stock.

If I fix up the 71, it will be sold, quickly and cheaply. I'd like to make it a runner and then let it go cheap to some deserving soul. The problem is, cheap out here is not very much money, when you can find a reasonable 1976 2.0 for $4000 (I know a guy about 5 miles from here who has just that! With Original A/C).

Anyway. Since the 73 has a really good tranny, and the rest of the mechanicals are in good shape, I'm seriously thinking about the conversion. It's not like I'm throwing away a _good_ 4 cylinder.

James

[CHA914]

If you have the time and the want...convert the 73...sounds like a geat platform to start from.

thats my vote at least

OH...and I would like to say that I am a 914oholic too - 4 and counting :P

[AaronM]

That /6 is just in your way. I'll be happy to take it off your hands, in fact, since I'm in a good mood I won't even charge you to haul it away. My '76 2.0 could use the company. My vote is to not part out any of them. No sense pulling apart cars that can be rescued. If the cars just need some TLC, you ought to be able to find a guy who will buy them to fix them up.

Aaron

[rich]

My vote is keep the factory 6, sell the 71 as is. Let someone else sort out the transaxle and carb stuff, buy all the parts, install the 2.7 in the 73, and sell off the rest of the parts to us deserving souls. I have dibbs on the factory 6 lid!! My 928 motor will look so coool through the full mesh. The rest of you guy's just step back!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

A little news for ya--the only difference between the factory four lid and the factory six lid is that the six one might not have the weld-nuts on it where the rain tray goes. And that's it.

The 914-6 GT lid has the two mesh panels instead of one. I very sincerely doubt he's got a real one of those.

--DD

[GregS]

My vote - keep the /6, sell the '71 and the '73 (maybe keep the side-shifter). As someone else mentioned, it's so easy to get over-extended that you can wind up with so much that you have a whole lot of nothing. I was faced with a similar situation myself and wound up selling what was actually a very good 911 in order to focus on the 914. Pick one and go with it, especially if funding is any kind of a consideration at all. Just make sure the other 2 find good homes! My $.02.

[JRust]

I say keep the 6 and sell the 73 to me cheap. I'll do the conversion & be a happy guy. I also have a 73 2.0 that needs constant companionship. You could really help me out there
Good luck with whatever you decide. Are the flares on the 73 glass or steel?

[StormBringer]

Red Beard. I got a solution sell me the 73. I am in san diego and need another 914. That way I can have two and you can have two, and I can turn the 73 into a track only car with a 3.0 and you can have some cash to start on the 71.