Just got tooled by a V8?!!

[S Schroeder]

Thought you all might enjoy this. It's been beautiful in Colorado this week so I have been driving (yes Brian-driving ) my 914. I was on my way back to the office and came upon a nice looking, flared 914 on the interstate. We started to drive a little faster, not really acknowledging each other. We were at about 75mph. All of the sudden this car belched a little white smoke and left me literally like I had slammed on my brakes. My 2.0 may not be a rocket, but it is not slow, and has shown its tail lights to a few "fast" cars. I'm thinking that it is a built up six, maybe even a turbo. It wasn't loud, so I didn't think it was a chevy. I pulled off at my exit and it was at the gas station - I had to know what it was. as I approached the car it really was pretty. It was very red with polished fuchs and as I found out later, steel flares with all the neat GT bumpers and stuff. I asked him what was in it and he said it was a v8 and proceeded to open the decklid AND trunk. As I begin to lose a little interest (not a big chevy conversion fan) There it was - a 928 motor. Big Porsche valve covers encroaching into the rear trunk. Not only was this car fast, but the install was all class - it looked like it belonged there. Even the cuts made to the rear trunk had rubber edges that matched the trunk seal. He didn't have time to chat for very long and was on his way. This car had California plates, any of you west coast guys know the car or who he is? Very neat car.
S Schroeder

[John Rogers]

Got to watch those hot rods... I remember a few years ago when Ivan "The Iron Man" had a first generation VW Bus with a big block Chevy V8 in it, really well muffled too!

[rich]

I NEED TO KNOW MORE!!!!! cool! Anybody know who the 928 man is?

[bud]

Hi All,I would like to hear from you all, on the subject of the 914 v8 conversion! Any and all responses are all way appreciated.

[sixguy]

I know of one 914 V8 - 928 conversion. It
was done for the 1990 Monterey Parade
by Kraving Engineering located east of
L.A. The wheelbase of the car was lengthened by 12 - 14" to accomodate the
extra length of the 928 motor. If this was not done the transmission would have stuck out past the rear bumper. Steel
flares were placed on the car for bigger
tires but also to help with the realignment
of the wheel wells to the body. The overhang in the rear past the wheels was
minimal. It was a very nice job and they
told me that it was an incredible amount of
work to make it all fit and to look factory.
The transmission was a 915 with custom linkage for the tailshifter. I was told it was
very fast and the car at the time was painted Mexico blue. The car was featured sometime back in the Porsche Panorama. This conversion is not for the faint of heart!

[S Schroeder]

The car I saw had definately not been stretched. As per my original posting, I did not get a chance to crawl around on the car at all, but I did see some firewall modifications. I can't imagine that it incroached 12" into the cabin - maybe a different transmission was used. Either way, I really want to know more about this car. What issue of Panorama was the other car in?
Scott

[rich]

I havn't posted for awhile. Ive been really busy. I had the the chance to measure a 928 motor once. But I can't find my notes. If memory serves me I recall that the engine is 7" longer than the GM V8. the trans mounts need adaptors to be relocated rear word for either GM or 928 V8 swap. I remember making the observation about having to cut a small dog house in the rear trunk. I figured that by moving the cross member forward about 4" and fabing up a shallow dog house this would be a doable project. Probably not for the purist. Hmmm anybody got a cheap donor?