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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Driving a 4 banger
Posted by: 76-914 Oct 5 2016, 05:15 PM
I finally have my lift back up (ha-ha, no pun intended) and working. However, I didn't have the 6 repaired in time for the Temecula Wine Run. Not to be denied, I pulled Whitey out of retirement, cleaned her up and put her back into service.
What I re-discovered is how nice the car is to drive. 
I really enjoyed the change and besides the rush of a six's acceleration, the 4 banger is more than adequate. Well balanced, smooth and yes, entertaining.
Unfortunately, I'm now at the crossroads. I had been tinkering with the idea of A) selling it as it's appreciated greatly in 7 years; B) drop that spare 3.0 into it; or C) drop a 3.6 in it. And now there is a D) TOH the 2.0 4. I know, I know. 1st world problems. An enjoyable quandary at least.
Here's a Toast to the 4 banger. 
Posted by: BeatNavy Oct 5 2016, 05:22 PM
Here's a Toast to the 4 banger.
I'll drink to that! 4-banger, when running well, still puts a smile on my face 
Posted by: 914forme Oct 5 2016, 05:22 PM
E) -4 Subaru Turbo power
Posted by: flmont Oct 5 2016, 06:25 PM
I say keep it stk,..for the future,..after my 3.3 build,.I have a 74' that I want to build for stk use. FM
Posted by: My 914 Oct 5 2016, 07:30 PM
I say if you feel like you're done with the 4 and have an opportunity to sell, it may be time to move on.
Posted by: Larmo63 Oct 5 2016, 07:49 PM
It's nice to have a Porsche with a Porsche motor in it.
Posted by: porschetub Oct 5 2016, 09:17 PM
It's nice to have a Porsche with a Porsche motor in it.
My thoughts also,mind you I didn't cut out my 4 engine mounts incase my motor was poo,really the opposite.
Posted by: speed metal army Oct 5 2016, 10:51 PM
This is a real question?? 3.6 is the answer.
Posted by: BeemerSteve Oct 5 2016, 11:05 PM
If you need to say goodbye to your 4 banger it'll be happy in my orange car that doesn't have a motor. 
Posted by: Toast Oct 6 2016, 07:03 AM
Iffin it aint broke...dont tinker with it.
You are lucky to have a choice. Man what I wouldn't give to drive my 4banger. I go from driving it as a daily driver for 10+ years to watching her sit and rot every day for the last 3. (pity party off)
Get out and drive it!! 
Posted by: Cracker Oct 6 2016, 07:09 AM
Isn't after "2-years in front of a six" more accurate for a teener? Sell it.
Tony
Posted by: 76-914 Oct 6 2016, 08:31 AM
E) -4 Subaru Turbo power
If I do go turbo I would go w/ the Audi 1.8 & Audi transmission. Powerful, cheap and plenty of them.
This is a real question?? 3.6 is the answer.
I know. And they're current. Not to mention looooow milage.
If you need to say goodbye to your 4 banger it'll be happy in my orange car that doesn't have a motor.
I'll keep you in mind , Steve. My last 2.0 sold as soon as I mentioned it was for sale!
Man what I wouldn't give to drive my 4banger. I go from driving it as a daily driver for 10+ years to watching her sit and rot every day for the last 3. (pity party off)
What's wrong with it?
Isn't after "2-years in front of a six" more accurate for a teener? Sell it.
Tony
Well yes, unless I'm backing up.
Posted by: stugray Oct 6 2016, 08:54 AM
I would bet a large sum of money that my measly little "4-banger" would beat any stock 6.
But it......"has CARBS" - the horror!
Brant can still drive right by me on the straights on the track but his is a bit more than a "stock" 6-cyl (and a few hundred pounds lighter to boot) :-)
Posted by: Heeltoe914 Oct 6 2016, 09:05 AM
4 Bangers are great runners. Simple and will hold their own in stock condition for the future. Lots of fun to drive in the canyons.
Posted by: Andyrew Oct 6 2016, 09:15 AM
What'll keep you driving a car longer?
If your subaru converion is on the road and will stay on the road then by all means have some fun with another one. But if you forsee some mods to the subaru conversion that will take it off the road then keep it stock for a bit longer.
In the mean time, sell the 3.0, get a 3.6 and start the long process of collecting parts for a conversion. The value of the 3.6 conversions are going to keep the 914 high, whereas the custom stuff, aka the Audi conversion while tempting, fast and much cheaper, will make for a long conversion that wont be able to be done in a short amount of time and will put you off the road for a while.
I had mine off the road for so long that all I want to do is drive it as much as possible..
Posted by: worn Oct 6 2016, 09:21 AM
I finally have my lift back up (ha-ha, no pun intended) and working. However, I didn't have the 6 repaired in time for the Temecula Wine Run. Not to be denied, I pulled Whitey out of retirement, cleaned her up and put her back into service.
What I re-discovered is how nice the car is to drive.
I really enjoyed the change and besides the rush of a six's acceleration, the 4 banger is more than adequate. Well balanced, smooth and yes, entertaining. Unfortunately, I'm now at the crossroads. I had been tinkering with the idea of A) selling it as it's appreciated greatly in 7 years; B) drop that spare 3.0 into it; or C) drop a 3.6 in it. And now there is a D) TOH the 2.0 4. I know, I know. 1st world problems. An enjoyable quandary at least.
Here's a Toast to the 4 banger.
I love the 2056 I drive. It is plenty plenty fast for anywhere I want to go. I think my new six will be a fun car for putting miles behind me straight or twisty. But for driving around town or through the farmland hills the four is great. There is a reason that four cylinders rule the current auto world.
Posted by: worn Oct 6 2016, 09:23 AM
I would bet a large sum of money that my measly little "4-banger" would beat any stock 6.
But it......"has CARBS" - the horror!
Brant can still drive right by me on the straights on the track but his is a bit more than a "stock" 6-cyl (and a few hundred pounds lighter to boot) :-)
Carbs!!!
the horror. 
Posted by: Andyrew Oct 6 2016, 11:05 AM
There is a reason that four cylinders rule the current auto world.
Its called turbo's
Posted by: 914-300Hemi Oct 9 2016, 07:17 PM
I love driving my 4 banger 2056 and I can keep up with the 6's I just need to shift more often.
Posted by: ClayPerrine Oct 9 2016, 08:04 PM
Ok.. Just for the record.
Everyone says "Put a 3.6 in it." Putting a 3.6 in a 914 is not easy, but it can be done. There are engine mounts available, but nothing else. Reproduction engine tin will NOT fit without major modification. Heat is a challenge to install, even if you have heat exchangers. There is no engine mounted oil cooler, so you have to plan for a LARGE oil cooler someplace.
Then there is the transmission issue. The 901 is completely inadequate for a stock 3.6. You can find a Vellios or 916 style kit for a 915, but it is still marginal. Or you can do what I am doing, and come up with a custom solution.
Throw in lots of Electrical wiring issues to hook up the Motronic and you have a long project on your hands. ATDT! (Am There, Doing That).
If you want to go Motronic six, put a Euro 3.2 in it. You get all the benefits of Motronic, you can use stock 914-6 heat exchangers and get heat (with a slight loss of HP due to the tube size), and it will work OK with a 901. Using a 70/71 911 clutch setup, you can use all factory Porsche parts to install it.
While I was looking for the 3.6 core motor for my car, I considered just putting in a 3.2. I could have had it installed and running in my 914 in about a month. Betty, of all people, talked me out of it. She said the 4.0 six was my "unicorn" motor, and she convinced me that I would not be happy with anything less. So now I am on a year long build.
Regarding your car, you need to do what will make you happy with the car. Don't worry about resale value, or what other people would think. It's your car. If you want to go find a GNOME 5 cylinder radial engine and install it in your 914, I will applaud you and admire the workmanship it took. Or just keep it stock.
Posted by: socal1200r Oct 9 2016, 08:15 PM
It's nice to have a Porsche with a Porsche motor in it.
Well, the 914 isn't a real Porsche anyway, so the stock 4-bangers should be just fine...
Posted by: euro911 Oct 10 2016, 12:41 AM
2056s are the tits. A small cc increase coupled with a mild cam and C/R increase really wakes these little '4s' up.
Just ask some of they guys running 3.2L '6s' who followed me through the twisties 
Posted by: oldschool Oct 10 2016, 12:52 AM
Yup I like my 4......But I never really driven a 6 for a long trip.
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