B16 in a 914

yagermiester · 12-01-2014, 04:52 PM

Hey. Has anyone heard of some one putting a Honda b16 engine into there 914? I am trying to do the research do do this conversion. Id like to hear what some of you guys have to say about it.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

The B16 spins the wrong way compared to our motors. You may be able to flip the R&P (it's actually quite easy to do!) in our transmission, but the gear sets will be stressed in a direction that they aren't really made to be. It probably wouldn't last for that long.

It may be possible to use the B-series engine and transmission together. The trans is made for the engine, and the gear ratios should be perfect for it. But the width of the package may be a problem; it may interfere with the suspension mounting points. If it does fit, you'll have to build axles to adapt things.

I think that the K-series engine spins the correct direction, which at least removes one hassle.

Cooling will likely need to be through a front-mounted radiator, much like the Small-Block V8 guys use.

Note that all of those inline-four engines have a significantly higher center of gravity than the flat-four and flat-six motors the cars came with. So the handling will be affected.

--DD

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I disagree with you Dave. The 914 transmissions are a "flipped" Ring and Pinion from the early 911. The issue is flipping them correctly and resetting the clearances. Everything else, except the rear cover and the linkages, is the same.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Yes, that takes care of having the output flanges spinning the correct direction. But the gear sets will still be spinning the opposite direction from how they do in the stock setup--either 911 or 914! I think that could cause problems...

--DD

david c. · 12-02-2014, 07:36 PM

I have had one of a fairly small number of stock B16A3 powered 1994 del Sols for about 20 years. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of it, one of those motors at full song is really something wonderful. That little motor will happily sing to 8200 or higher. I can only imagine how that motor would pull a 914, which is considerably lighter than a del Sol. Note that you can get JDM transaxles for these motors that have factory limited slips, and the similar (but more valuable) 1.8 ITR motors came alongside USDM LSD equipped transaxles. The 1.8 motors make more power and more torque but I personally think they do not quite sing like the B16....

mike mueller · 12-03-2014, 08:30 AM

I think the Honda "K" motors spin the correct direction for a stock 914 transmission....Good chance Kennedy Engineering has an adapter plate and flywheel setup for this combo.

Matt Monson · 12-03-2014, 11:02 AM

901 gears have been flipped as long as there have been 901 gears. The wrong direction thing is something Grady( may he rest in peace) really had an issue with, and was very vocal about. In practice, I've never seen a single concrete failure tied directly to the gears running the "wrong way".

And I manufacture gears for a living.

GregAmy · 12-04-2014, 05:39 AM

As a 914 owner/fan and owner/racer of both B18C5- and a K20Z3-powered race cars, I have to ask...why? These are different missions, different objectives, and you'll end up with a sub-optimal version of each.

I'll couch that with the caveat that I just don't see the point of Subaru or LS-powered 914s. It's kinda like the flying car: you end up with a bad car and a bad airplane, just to be able to do both...poorly.

This sounds like good motivation to build a K20-powered Factory Five 818...

mike mueller · 12-05-2014, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregAmy

As a 914 owner/fan and owner/racer of both B18C5- and a K20Z3-powered race cars, I have to ask...why? These are different missions, different objectives, and you'll end up with a sub-optimal version of each.

I'll couch that with the caveat that I just don't see the point of Subaru or LS-powered 914s. It's kinda like the flying car: you end up with a bad car and a bad airplane, just to be able to do both...poorly.

This sounds like good motivation to build a K20-powered Factory Five 818...

I disagree , it all depends on the skill and attention to detail.. one could also build a terribly executed Porsche engined 914 as well.

Matt Monson · 12-05-2014, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike mueller

I disagree , it all depends on the skill and attention to detail.. one could also build a terribly executed Porsche engined 914 as well.

Totally agree. The Subaru engine is a water cooled flat 4. It's a great match for the chassis, and better than the VW wasser boxer that would have ended up in the car if they kept making it. I know of some crazy fast Subaru swapped track cars. The swap doesn't mess with the balance or chassis at all if the builder knows what he's doing.

johnman001 · johnman001's Garage

If one did not want to "flip" a ring and pinion in a 901/914 box, one could simply use a 911 (901/915) gearbox and run it as-is. I suppose there could be arguments about old gears being stressed in the opposite direction, but an intelligent argument would be beyond the scope of the average gearhead.

As far as the engine swap goes, one can put anything in anything, and the results all are in the execution and the attention to detail. I have seen some real rough conversions and I have seen some that look very factory. It all depends upon craftsmanship and attention to the little things.

I'd be interested in following an "out of the box" conversion.