Which would you choose?, Subie w/325 hp or 2.8 massive IV with 225 hp Options

[hot_shoe914]

Okay I have come to a point where I am in a delima. I have a '73 2.0 car with the appearance group package that has had all 911 suspension upgrades and I will also be adding GT flares. I was originally going to put a 2.8 IV in it with about 225 horses but now am considering a subie engine putting out about 325 horses or more. I have always been a purist but there is something to be said for smoking the competion through the curves and also being able to dust the muscle cars down the highways. I can get into the 2.8 for around 7000.00 for motor and tranny minus installation. I can get into the subie for about 4800.00 minus installation.

What are the thoughts and opinions out there along with the pros and cons for each. All input would be greatly appreciated.



Donald

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[toon1]

I was is this posistion also. Not for the reason of massive power but for the reason of an engine rebuild/swap.

I decided to go with the TIV. NOT for purist reasons. I just wanted to see if I could build a nice running TIV.

The challenges I faced where frustrating and rewarding. The expenses I encoured where more than I thought.

I also wanted a nice DD that was good on fuel. That being said, and hinde site being 20/20, I think I should have gone with the subi.

The subi offers a little more for what I wanted out of MY car.

There are things that can be done with the Subi. that you just cannot do with the TIV. The subi . offeres about 110HP in the 1.8 with no mods.

There are places I want to take the car that with a subie I would not have to think about it, with the TIV I would think twice.

I am alway's worried about head temps with the TIV and sometimes alter my route to avoid potential areas that might cause issues. No matter how well the engine is tuned, there is always that long hill in a head wind that you will encounter that will create heat issues there is just no way around it


In the end, It's all about what YOU want and what YOU are happy with.

P.S.- if the 914 was produced today( ummm boxster) it WOULD be water cooled.

IMHO, WC engines are just better and more reliable ( no offense to anyone)

How can that be true? 911s are rather reliable. Porsche didn't go to water cooled because they felt it would be more reliable (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) And to say that if a 914 was made today it would be water cooled is like saying if they made the 911 today it would be water cooled (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I never said AC engines where NOT reliable, they are to a point. I said "IMHO WC engines are MORE relaible". I do know for a fact, ( as I stated above) there are times I will avoid taking my 914 certain places due to the fact I am usure about how the engine may handle it. Call me over cautious but I would sure hate to be stranded by an engine that dropped a valve seat because it couldn't climb a hill on hot day or any other day for that matter.

Is that a tuning thing? maybe!

Is that a maintenence prob.? maybe!

could it happen to a perfectly good running TIV? maybe!

It could also happen to a WC engine BUT there is more room for error and a WC engine gives the ability to have that margine of error.

Hence makes them MORE reliable, MORE forgiving and MORE user freindly.

I HAVE and AC engine. I'm fairly happy with it but I have to work around it's parameters, sometimes I like it sometimes I don't. But for now that's what I have until it blows up and at that point it's decision time again. A Subi may be the way I go. It's all a matter of opinion (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) It's all good!

You will have to excuse my ignorance.

Why did Porsche start putting WC engines in their cars?

[zymurgist]

Why did Porsche start putting WC engines in their cars?

Didn't it have something to do with cooling issues for 4 valve heads? Porsche discovered on the 935 and 936 that they had to use water cooling for the heads because they were exceeding the thermal limits of the engine. (Bruce Anderson, Porsche 911 Performance Handbook)