Engine upgrade options Options

[patssle]

I might be interesting in taking out the engine of my car and swapping with something better sometime down the road in the future. Currently it's an old VW bus motor, no horsepower, some ok torque in 1st and 2nd, but nothing after that.

I did some searching, and came across a few threads - but are there any good previous threads or articles out there that touch on each engine option available to upgrade to in the 914? Cost, benefits, pros/cons, etc. I know there was a poll once asking which upgrade to do - but could not find it.

Thanks!

[patssle]

A bone stock chevy v8 can do 200hp and you can get one from Craigs List cheap. The engine adapter kit from Renegade will run you around $2k. You will need a radiator, Aluminum from Ebay $200. Misc other parts will run $500-1000. So this is just one option.

I've read all that extra weight from the v8 kinda messes with the handling of the car. Any thoughts on that?

[Mike Bellis]

A bone stock chevy v8 can do 200hp and you can get one from Craigs List cheap. The engine adapter kit from Renegade will run you around $2k. You will need a radiator, Aluminum from Ebay $200. Misc other parts will run $500-1000. So this is just one option.

I've read all that extra weight from the v8 kinda messes with the handling of the car. Any thoughts on that?

The V8 weighs 400 pounds more, an all aluminum block and heads would weigh about the same as a T4. You will also add some weight in the front with the radiator. You will need stiffer springs in the rear. The front to rear bias slightly changes but it will still handle better than 90% of the cars on the road.

My car has 930 Turbo suspension and brakes with 200lb springs in the rear. It handles great. Very predictable! It will out handle my 911 widebody and most 914's.

[BigD9146gt]

A bone stock chevy v8 can do 200hp and you can get one from Craigs List cheap. The engine adapter kit from Renegade will run you around $2k. You will need a radiator, Aluminum from Ebay $200. Misc other parts will run $500-1000. So this is just one option.

I've read all that extra weight from the v8 kinda messes with the handling of the car. Any thoughts on that?

The V8 weighs 400 pounds more, an all aluminum block and heads would weigh about the same as a T4. You will also add some weight in the front with the radiator. You will need stiffer springs in the rear. The front to rear bias slightly changes but it will still handle better than 90% of the cars on the road.

My car has 930 Turbo suspension and brakes with 200lb springs in the rear. It handles great. Very predictable! It will out handle my 911 widebody and most 914's.

+1... Some hack who has a cast iron 60's big block with headers made from sewer drain pipe, sure thats heavy. When I first learned of the V8 swap, I was very tempted. But I was also educated by someone who knows motors and what to install. Right off the back he stated the aluminum V8 only weighs something like 200lb more than the -6... like having a passenger in the right spot of the car. Check out the link below, the numbers probably don't take into account fluids, exhaust and injection weight, however it will give a good basis for weight comparison.

http://www.team.net/sol/tech/engine.html