914, need stats, and upgrades

[boogerboy72]

im about to turn 15 and get my permit. im restoring a 73 1.l7 914
i know there not exactly fast. can any one give me some info on torque, and top speed. also if any has dome some mods to it, not the v8 crap, let me know, id like to get it to run wihtt he big boys, ie eclips and other imports.
thanks for your help
clay

[Loan Dog]

Booger... You might start by checking out all the tech articles right here at Pelican. There's more info than you could possibly absorb from now till you get to be an old geezer like me and alot of people around here. Also remember, your 914 is a completely diferent animal than a ricer. They build them things to go fast only in a straight line. All Porsches are made to HANDLE while going fast. You're not gonna take a 30 year old 4 cyl car and build it to be like something with today's tehnology. Very few of those ricers can run with a well set-up 914 on an autocross course!
Stay tuned, this is the place to learn alot!
Don

You also better be careful what you call crap around here - if you knew what was involved in a V-8 conversion, and how potent those bad boys are, you'ld bite your tounge.

[David McLaughlin]

Yeah, what he said except...

You can "hang" with an Eclipse and such IF you do that V8 crap or a big six. Not very cheap though. AAMOF, you could buy an Eclipse for the cost of a conversion.

You have a nice car, learn about what it can do and not what it can't. If you try to drag race with it, you'll be embarassed and probably facing a tranny rebuild.

Just my $.02

[Loan Dog]

Your $.02 worth is worth alot more than $.02, Dave!

[Jim Smolka]

If you want to win street races, a stock 914 is not your car. Unless you are a good wrench and have lots of $$$. If you want a big 6 cyl 914 (3.0 -3.6) be prepaired to spend around $20K.

Now if you want a unique car to enjoy driving, then a 914 is a great car.

[Andyrew]

Well, imports arnt big boys, unless you consider "rice" big boys... I used to hang around the muscle boys crowd, and i know those v8 boys, for me it was eather a vintage mustang or this. If you want something fast talk to Jake Raby, that is if you cant do it yourself and you have an extra 3-7k. The v8 option will get you probably the same respect with the "big boys" as with going Jakes way, but with lots more hp. Personally if i had the money i would eather go with a 350 chevy 350hp or so.. Or the way you could go, stroker kit, 2.3l or so(more relable than a big bore) water injection, cooling, and most importantly turbocharged.. Now what kinda price limit do you have here?

Oh btw, i turned 16 a little while ago, no license yet due to no job..

[Zeke]

I, for one, think I sorta unnerstand what he means by *v8 crap*. I think that is kind of a way to show some respect for the original design. Am I right, booger? Are you thinking that leaving these cars with more or less a stock block(that includes a six since they came with them too) and not installing an engine that was never part of the cars design is the best way to go? If so, you get my vote. There's a lot of ways to tweak the stock motor.

[handyher]

If you want to run with the big boys get the rice burner ! If you want to spank the boys - stroke a 440- now if you want a nice ride- 914 is the way to go.

[John2kx]

Booger,

I was 15 many years ago when I took a ride in a friends 914. The "handling" is what stayed in my mind for years until I was able to buy my first Porsche.

Top speed will be in the 100 mph range and more than enough to keep you from obtaining your next license. I'd enjoy your car for what it is and not worry about winning street races right now.

John

[Kevin Powers]

get your car running well. drive it for a bit, then upgrade to a wider tire if you're running 165's. if you're looking for stop light action get something different. before your pour a bunch of money into a new powerplant get everything else up to snuff. you are going to have opportunity's to spend money as fast as you can earn it. make informed desissions. i.e. scott's corbeau seat hassle. i'm not picking on you scott, just an example. please do not be offended.

kevin

[mike95125]

These cars, to me, are similar in feel to the gocarts at the local go cart track. Their tight handling, some what noisy, but before you know it your doing 100mph. I got my first one at 20 (six years ago), and when I sold it all I could do is want another one. I too am thirsting for a bit more power, but on a small budget. Stick around and you will see a lot of options, including my attempts to put a 3.1l corvair into one.
Looks like Andy is no longer the youngest one here
Welcome!
Mike

[Loan Dog]

Booger... You'll learn alot here. The people who hang ot at this board have as much 914 experience and knowedge as you'll find anywhere. The "914 Hobby" needs more young guys like you and Andy to keep these cars alive for anothe 30 years! Listen, ask lots of questions, and have fun!
Don

[boogerboy72]

i didnt maen the v8 conv being bad, but i dont think its still a porsche if you do that. sorry if i offened any ine.
where i live the imorts are the big boys we have a civic, no lie, thatll run with a vette.
but thanks for all the advice

[Biggy72]

Hey I'm only 18.....and on my 7th car.....although two of em never ran. And no none of my cars have been payed for at all by my parents. I didn't even know how a 914 drove until I went to get mine. I just wanted it cause I know air cooled vws and liked the design, and have always wanted something nobody else around here has. Now that I've drove mine a little bit, well til I tore it all apart, I know what you guys are talkin bout. Ya give me a couple years....I'll have two or three too.

[Rouser]

One thing I noticed you mentioned was "I'm about to turn 15 and get my permit."

Have you "priced" insurance yet? Not to put a damper on your hormones/wet dreams, but some insurance companies won't even insure you to DRIVE someone's Porsche, let alone insure YOUR Porsche.

This came as a disappointing surprise to my 4 kiddles (all twenty-something now) with their visions/fantasies of slammed Miatas and Celicas and Eclipses, OH MY! Lets see, with:

• Parents unwilling to finance/insure (same-same) their scrotum-swelling vehicular desires,
• A good 5-year wait (and cuttin' their teeth/impulses on a 3-banger Geo Metro!),
• Some college degrees,

and they NOW own those happymobiles.

And ... um ... no, a 914 isn't insured "kinda-like" a VW. [Porsche 914] + [15-year-old] + [permit] - [no driving skills] = $$$. Curious; who's picking up the tab?

[Andyrew]

Rouser, i researched that before i bought my car, the insurance for my car is the same as an 86 honda. soo, Its actually the best car you can insure, IMHO. AAA insurance for my car for a year is 1500 or so. for my dad 944t its like 3500 a year, the 86 honda is 1500 from AAA as well, im 16 mind you, i just dont have a job, therefore no license (my choice).

My dad found a company that will lower my payments to 1200 a year.

and to make things worse i leaned to drive on a track ready 944t.

[Joe Ricard]

Young man what you need to do is learn to spell. Learn how to drive a car safely. Then when you graduate buy a fast car. That is graduate from a UNIVERSITY!! Until then use your car to get there and back. Enjoy

[boogerboy72]

as a matter of fact, i can get it as a vw, it help to know people.
and i have plenty of xpereince, ive been driveing straight drives for 4/5 years now.
and i dont care bout my spelling, so get over it

[Kenny Powell]

I think Joe gave you some sound advice, If you hear good advice will you listen? I have teenager's myself and that seems to be a common problem. It doesn't cost anything to listen! But it could cost in the future if you don't.

[handyher]

This insurance disscussion will be pointless.... if boogerboy is lucky
he will live in a state that will make it mandatory to have a C+ average or better before they can get permit or DL. SOOOOO if you can't spell well the gpa is going to take you out. that's my two cents. glad my kids are adults now.