Convert my 912 or buy a 911?

[DCAlbarran]

Looking for some advice/reality check.

I have been longing for something akin to an r gruppe meets "sports purpose" long hood. I don't have the 60-80k to buy a nice example (maybe even more than that!) without selling all my other cars, which I don't want to do. Even if I did, I'd probably be short.

I want a certain color (olive green), certain interior (tan rs style with recaro sport seats), and the 911 sound behind me, along with some other stuff that tickles my fancy (cibie Pallas lights on the hood, sport style exhaust, heuer Monte Carlo on the dash, a roof rack, some other stuff)

I don't care about originality, but I do want reliability so I'm not looking to push a stock 911 motor much beyond what god gave it, unless it's for the sake of reliability.

I have a '68 912 in decent shape, just redid the floors, non original paint that needs replacement, a non original 912 engine. Runs pretty well, but I stripped the interior to do the floors, and now I am at a crossroads.

I already own the car, (3 years or so now). I also have a 2.2l and trans out of a 911E, with carbs, that is ready for a rebuild. I also already have the seats I want, the carpet kit, the Cibies, the roof rack, and some other small stuff.

Realistically, what's it going to take to turn the car I have into the car I want, or should I just sell it all and buy a running 911? It would not be the color I want, I would be doing an engine rebuild at some point anyways, I feel like converting my 912 would be tens of thousands cheaper. Again, I don't care about originality since my 912 is already unoriginal paint and engine, and I don't care about the 912-6 "stigma".

Lots of good experience here, would love some input. Thanks.

PS I live in Southern California.

[DCAlbarran]

Here is my 912

[mattC2993]

For the cost of a running long hood you could finish your car nicely if you don't go crazy. You would then have the paint, interior and engine you want. Selling the 912 engine would obviously offset some costs too. The other option is to finish it and sell it. You should get a good dollar. Its nice. I don't know if you will be ahead of the game or not but doing a 911 will put you in a better spot when it comes time to sell, if you care about that.

[kc911s]

Nice looking 912. I know this is off topic- but where can one find that rack? Do they make repops?

[juanbenae]

that's like an interview question in that there's no right answer to for a job you'll never get...


a couple points::
*what's the budget?
*what state do you reside?
*don't chop up a nice 912 to make a sporting bastard.
* sell the 912, buy an SC or middie then live your flat 6 dreams...

[Matt Monson]

Juan,
Have you ever owned a SWB car? They drive different.

There’s a stigma attached to a 912-6? What a load of s... build the car. You’re halfway there. You have the Parts and pieces. Do it. A ‘68 with a 2.2e would be just about perfect.

[DCAlbarran]

Originally Posted by kc911s

Nice looking 912. I know this is off topic- but where can one find that rack? Do they make repops?

Guy named Pedro was making them, but I believe he stopped a year or two ago. He was from San Diego.

[DCAlbarran]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

that's like an interview question in that there's no right answer to for a job you'll never get...


a couple points::
*what's the budget?
*what state do you reside?
*don't chop up a nice 912 to make a sporting bastard.
* sell the 912, buy an SC or middie then live your flat 6 dreams...

Budget would ideally be in the 25-30k neighborhood from where I sit now, depending on a lot of factors. I live in Ventura County California. I don't really see it as chopping up a 912, as it's just an engine swap. I also love the long hood look I already have, and feel like a backdated impact bumper car isn't really what I'm going for, and for the same price I'll have the colors I want. Also, I'm smog exempt, and if I bought anything 1976+ I'm on the hook with the state every two years.

[dwelle]

yeah, that car with a 2.2E would rip...

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by Matt Monson

Juan,
Have you ever owned a SWB car? They drive different. .

you know juan has never owned a SWB car... I can imagine they are a hoot to drive, easy to rotate. memberberry I sold the 996tt cause i could not rotate it in the turns?

I would not change a thing about that blue car, 4 or 6 it's a peach.

[juanbenae]

Originally Posted by DCAlbarran

Also, I'm smog exempt, and if I bought anything 1976+ I'm on the hook with the state every two years.

I am aware being a ca native...

how about a Subaru 2.5 or turbo? you will need a transmission to go with german flat six I would think? a full suby set up might be cheaper & faster? the michigan bros, mat & mike document a build in the 911 forum of a suby turbo into a 912 effort.

I still would not cut a cheese in that blue car. buy a 911 and toy with something less unique. fire fighter gear is huge in the to protect & serve. thank you for your service!

[mike monde]

Why buy something else?
Unless I’m missing something,(rust) your car looks pretty cool
as is..with a few tweaks your car is well on its way on being what you describe...one of the coolest Rally/RGruppe type 911 hot rods that I know is a 912/6....rebuild the 6 and drop it in when its done...not sure of the number of building a hot motor but you live in Cali so there are plenty of great shops that could help you out there...if it where me? I would drive the car during the rebuild. Put the 912 engine on the shelf or sell to offset costs. Do some mild suspension work that reflects the type of driving you plan on doing.
Do the interior period correct with a rally theme and you will check that box..
Paint? Current color looks decent and if your going to drive it, save the money. Paint the car when it makes sense.
Create what you want piece by piece by keeping the car drivable seems like a good option.
Building what you want is more fun then buying someone else's vision IMO.
Have fun and enjoy the build..

[BK911]

Big 4?
A 2056 or a 2270 will push a SWB car along pretty good.

But if you must have a six, go for it!
Your car isnt original anyway, So make it what you want.

[blau911]

The car, motor and trans you have right now will make for a very nice and quick 911 conversion. Stick with what you have already and make it work. Your 912 is no longer matching numbers and the car has already come under the welding torch (new floors). So the car will not be worth what you will need to come anywhere close to buying a stock 911 66-73 coupe.
On the other hand, a stock rebuilt 2.2E motor with carbs and a 901 5 speed gear box in a 68 912, is the same as driving a 6 911S but with more torque, although slightly less hp above 7k rev's. The car will give you all the joy you will ever want in an early 911.
Work smart, and spend the extra money on the engine and tranny if necessary and re-spray the car rattle can black if you need to spend all the budget on the mechanicals. Drive the car for a few years before getting the money together to have it painted whatever color you want.
Don't doubt yourself now. You have already put the plan in motion by accumulating what you have. Now finish it...

[Matt Monson]

Originally Posted by juanbenae

I am aware being a ca native...

how about a Subaru 2.5 or turbo? you will need a transmission to go with german flat six I would think? a full suby set up might be cheaper & faster? the michigan bros, mat & mike document a build in the 911 forum of a suby turbo into a 912 effort.

Maybe cheaper, not faster. Prepping a Subaru wiring harness is about a 50 hour job for a first timer. I've done about a dozen of them, and never got down under 30 hours even once I was good at it. That's merging two Subarus together. It may be less with the old vintage harness really only needing power and grounds merged, but it's still a ton of extra work. I bet with gauges and everything else sensor related it ends up being well over a 50 hour wiring job.

You don't need a new tranny for the 911 swap. A 68 901/902 is the same no matter what car it came in new. Only thing a 2.2 car got was the mag version called a 911 gearbox. His existing gearbox is just fine.

It's really a straight forward install with factory parts. The only "irreversible" change is welding in the new engine mounts. And those really come back out pretty easily.

[ficke]

Stigma? I really do not see it. You will be building a car indistinguishable in performance than the way it looks, nothing fake or pretending about.
Build the 912/6 you are almost there and a SWB 911 are a hoot.
A 912 is a ton of fun but not as tail happy, that is a plus and a minus, 912's are lighter so you will miss that. But a 911 engine is smooth, revs easier and higher, takes the heat better when flogged hard.
In a perfect world you would have both, 911 and a 912 but you already have a Fulvia for hard, toss able city driving now build that SWB 911 for the road trips.

[ficke]

I do not recommend Subaru in the 912, I agree it would be much harder than the 911 engine and it would be worth much less when it is time to sell.

[NYNick]

Car looks pretty cool from behind the keyboard.

I think it's a no brainer. You've got everything you need, almost, to get it to where you want to go. 912-6's are awesome sleepers and I think desirable if affordable. Yours would be both.

Get a reputable engine builder to give you a dependable, juiced 2.2 and you'll never regret it. If you do, you can always sell it and you'd be well on your way to an SC or Carrera with maybe even some cash in your pocket.

No brainer.

[Macroni]

I agree with Monde because.... well he is Monde....... build the six...... make sure you add the required cooling.....

[Matt Monson]

Look up mr9146 aka Marco of TLG. He can build an engine for you. Or buy the crazy 2.5ss takeout he has listed in the classifieds.