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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ 914 V8 Owners, What is the purpose of your car?

Posted by: Tom73 Mar 29 2005, 07:27 AM

Okay, let’s try this question again.

For those that have a 914 V8, was wondering about the purpose of your car. Is it a street racer? …a track car (auto-x, road race, drag)? …a show car? …a cruiser? …a ????

When I posted this question before, I went on to express my philosophy for a V8 914 and that got us way off track in the responses.

So 914 V8 owners, what is the purpose of your car?

tom…

Posted by: redshift Mar 29 2005, 07:39 AM

I don't have a V8 now, but when I did, the purpose was to scare passengers.

M

Posted by: 1bad914 Mar 29 2005, 07:50 AM

Mine will be done by the end of May, my plans are to drive it to work daily. It will be my summer fun car. Also used to scare the crap out of unsuspecting passengers and idiot ricers with fart cans!!

Posted by: rick 918-S Mar 29 2005, 08:04 AM

Do you need a reason to build something? Does the car need to fit some mold? Naa! Just Do it!

Posted by: propricer Mar 29 2005, 09:18 AM

FUN, just plain old FUN !

Have another 914 for racing, etc.

Posted by: Howard Mar 29 2005, 09:24 AM

QUOTE (propricer @ Mar 29 2005, 07:18 AM)
FUN, just plain old FUN !

Have another 914 for racing, etc.

It's the Universal Gear Head Car. Hot rodders, dune buggy types, ricers, Harley guys, and even Porsche drivers come over to you and say "WTF were you thinking?" and mean it as a compliment.

Mine would be a PITA as a daily driver (loud, no heat or air, heavy steering, etc.) but you own Sunday mornings!

Posted by: boxstr Mar 29 2005, 10:03 AM

I have two. One is a racer and the other is a cruiser. The purpose of the V8 cars is to put a smile on my face everytime I start oneup and here that burble burble out the tailpipes.
CCLINIHAVEAV8

Posted by: Howard Mar 29 2005, 10:17 AM

PO summed it up..

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Posted by: scott914poor Mar 29 2005, 10:52 AM

I guess it is the California l950's Hot Rod Cruise thing. I just never got it out of my system, and as far as getting on the freeway from an onramp going uphill---------almost scary when you hear all four barrels inhaling. Great daily driver also.

Posted by: spare time toys Mar 29 2005, 11:55 AM

It keeps me out of the kids hair. Its like a big peacemaker at our house because when I get upset I go to the dog house and work on it.

Posted by: bondo Mar 29 2005, 12:28 PM

Mine holds down my jackstands and engine hoist. It dreams of being a daily driver though.

Posted by: Lyressa Roberts Mar 29 2005, 03:09 PM

I always wanted one after I rode in one. It's like a jet engine mounted to a go-kart. Can't wipe the smile off for days. And the sound it makes...people walk up and wonder: WTF??? That sound can't be coming from "THAT".

Posted by: ewdysar Mar 29 2005, 03:20 PM

Mine's a fair weather, daily driver. In the shop getting tuned on a Dyno by an old gearhead as we speak. I just want the carb and advance curves dialed in by someone who knows what he's doing, rather than my typical work.

I have to agree, it's all for the fun, freeway on-ramps, tight corners in 2nd gear, starting the car in parking structures. If any ricers have noticed my car on the road, they haven't let me know...

My downfall was going for a ride when my 2.0 getting due for a re-build. Drove the 4 banger for a while longer, but couldn't shake the thought of my car, faster.

Eric

Posted by: andys Mar 29 2005, 03:29 PM

Yeah, well mine is holding jack stands securely against the floor also, BUT my plan is to enjoy it as a supercar that would otherwise cost many thousands more. The enjoyment of building it is part of the whole deal too. LS1, Getrag 6 speed, Wilwoods', AC, and so on.

Andy

Posted by: skline Mar 29 2005, 03:33 PM

So far, mine is just a garage sitter. It sits in my garage and lets me play with it once in awhile. One of these days I will actually take it out and drive it around for awhile. I just dont want to rush it. It sounds incredible and has good power but I have yet to kick in the secondaries or go into 5th gear with it. Its a toy.

Posted by: MecGen Mar 29 2005, 05:53 PM

Hi
Lets say why I am doing it, and what I am going to
do with it,
Second part
Dunno, street car/weekend show
First part
This is 99% about my head and my upcoming Middle age crisis, done some heavy head examination and came up with the thumbs up, for the project
It gonna be my new happy pill when I start moddin.
I guess this might fall in with your other thred.
QUOTE
I went on to express my philosophy for a V8 914 and that got us way off track in the responses.

To bad I wasn't there I'de talk your ear off
Regards and hope you find what you are looking for
Food for thought

"Fly away on my Zephyr
I feel it more then ever
And in this perfect weather
We'll find a place together

In the water where the scent of my emotion
All the world will pass me by
Fly away on my Zephyr
We're gonna live forever
Forever"
Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Imagine a country winding road in mid summer, in a 914,
this song playing, in a 2.0l, going back to do it in a 220hp,
(not chev) motor. I think I will need a new song.
Joe

Posted by: Mike T Mar 29 2005, 06:50 PM

Mine is strictly an autocross car.

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Posted by: Howard Mar 29 2005, 08:14 PM

QUOTE (Mike T @ Mar 29 2005, 04:50 PM)
Mine is strictly an autocross car.

That it is

Got Rubber?

Posted by: mrihop Mar 30 2005, 02:27 AM

Reliability!

Can you get away with making your Porsche engine as powerful for less than 2x the $$green$$ as we V8ers have spent? Then imagine putting that kind of money to build up a SBC!

The V8 muscle rumble sounds a bit better than the VW putter.

Easier to work on.

The problems with a V8 car...

Tickets (yet to receive one in my car though)

Ear to ear grin that gets stuck sometimes.

Become VERY VERY sick of rice rockets trying to race .... end result is a waste of gas to prove, YES, they in fact DO have a crappy car.

Sometimes a $500,000 cars manage to out run you.

By the way, right now my car is a street cruiser.

Posted by: SP9146 Mar 30 2005, 06:32 AM

I haven't seen a 3.2L vs. V8 debate yet. Wouldn't the 3.2L be just as fast but better balanced -- lower CG, better weight distribution -- and have about the same total cost??

Posted by: mrihop Mar 30 2005, 07:53 PM

The Chevy torque and horsepower curves are so much flatter than a 3.2, you'd have to generate a very high peak power on the 3.2 to match a mild SBC in performance. BIG $$$ - There's no replacement for displacement.

You could get away with a more built up 3.2 with lower overall torque when mated to a 914 tranny.

The flat engine probably would help in the handling department, but most V8 guys just like to plant their passengers in the seat when getting on the freeway.

Posted by: smrz914 Mar 30 2005, 09:44 PM

I love the power. I built my car the summer before my senior year in high school and people said it couldn't be done. I learned so much from doing it. I rebuilt the engine in autoshop that year and people still didn't belive it. It's a project, keeps me out of trouble when i work on it. I get to use my imagination, i get to make it how I want it. I do it to fast

Posted by: J P Stein Mar 30 2005, 11:27 PM

QUOTE (Mike T @ Mar 29 2005, 04:50 PM)
Mine is strictly an autocross car.

Great shot, Mike.That's a gnarly lookin' sumbitch.
Makes me wanna find me some concrete & make marbles.

Posted by: BatFromHell Apr 9 2005, 04:58 PM

Striking fear into the hearts of Police agencies and helicopter pilots everywhere!

DaDa DaDa DaDa DaDa, BatFromHell!

Oh and the look from the occasional Viper wussy when he's left looking at my Porsche rear valence letters!

Soon to have tranplanted:
'93 Corvette LT1 engine mated to '89 915 Euro tranny (close ratio)

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Posted by: turbo914v8 Apr 17 2005, 11:35 AM

The fastest 914 on the planet. So fast that I cant even drive it

Twin turbo charged twin intercooled 1000hp v8.

Regards,

Turbo Paul.

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 17 2005, 11:38 AM

QUOTE (turbo914v8 @ Apr 17 2005, 09:35 AM)
The fastest 914 on the planet. So fast that I cant even drive it

Twin turbo charged twin intercooled 1000hp v8.

Regards,

Turbo Paul.

Paul,

That's what Scott Banks "used" to claim

Posted by: Brad Roberts Apr 17 2005, 11:59 AM

After being involved with some scary fast V8 914's in the past, I have to say it is the "smiles per hour" you get out of it. They are very easy to drive with bundles of torque RIGHT NOW. You can bust around in any gear and it will pull itself from 20mph to 150 by just easing into the loud pedal.

Until YOU drive one or ride in one. You will not understand ANY of this.

We can describe it.. we can show video.. we can go on and on about it.. but until you experience it first hand... You will never know.

At least once a week someone I know calls me and brings up the fact that they "still" would like to build a V8 914.

I have drag raced a V8 914 with a 930 4 speed. There is NO feeling in the world like holding a 7k RPM SBC against the rev limiter and side stepping the clutch, holding on for the launch, preparing for the upshift while being buried in the seat.

B

Posted by: JB 914 Apr 17 2005, 12:06 PM

QUOTE (Brad Roberts @ Apr 17 2005, 09:59 AM)

Until YOU drive one or ride in one. You will not understand ANY of this.

and i still don't have mine tuned or timed correctly. i can't wait to get it "right" to pull some G's

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 17 2005, 01:20 PM

My car's current purpose is to eat money and time.

When I was in my late teens I was living my "dream". "Performance on a budget", at least that's what the ads said. 20 years later it is still a good value considering standard cars cost $20k. A V8 converted 914 will give you alot of fun, allow you to hang with the hot rodders, and piss off the Porchefiles. rocking nana.gif