Aside from the cache, why a six over a four with same h.p.? Smoothness?, 1970-1976 914-4, 914-6 Options

[unpolire]

I have never driven a stock original 2.0 914-6. I have driven properly converted 914s with 2.7/3.0 transplants and my own stock 1.7Ls. Aside from the cache of a six in back, if you can have 200-250 h.p. from a four, why convert to a six? Is there a noticeable difference in torque and smoothness over a properly modified four? Can you feel it on the road? A serious question seeking the definitive answer that could save $10-20K later. Let's hear from both camps, pluses and minuses.

[Steve]

Do a search.. This has been hashed over hundreds of times in previous threads.
Here's a good thread.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=15842

[unpolire]

Do a search.. This has been hashed over hundreds of times in previous threads.
Here's a good thread.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=15842

Thank you, but the answers I was seeking are more of a hands-on personal nature, not just theory, power, and torque, and members have been kind enough to respond.

[Steve]

Do a search.. This has been hashed over hundreds of times in previous threads.
Here's a good thread.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=15842

Thank you, but the answers I was seeking are more of a hands-on personal nature, not just theory, power, and torque, and members have been kind enough to respond.

That thread does have my personal experience in it. In my first 914, I installed a 2.4 liter four banger. It lasted 10k miles before sucking a valve. Then it lasted about 12k miles before a ring gave out. I had about $8k in the motor and overhauls before I gave up and installed a six. My six has never left me stranded. I also have the same comments as other six drivers. I have over 150k miles on my 3.2 with no leaks and still has high compression. After my bad experience with the big four I am somewhat jaded and would never waste my money on one again. I have heard good things about Jakes motors, but I have not heard from anyone that has had one with over 100k miles on it.

[unpolire]

Do a search.. This has been hashed over hundreds of times in previous threads.
Here's a good thread.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=15842

Thank you, but the answers I was seeking are more of a hands-on personal nature, not just theory, power, and torque, and members have been kind enough to respond.

That thread does have my personal experience in it. In my first 914, I installed a 2.4 liter four banger. It lasted 10k miles before sucking a valve. Then it lasted about 12k miles before a ring gave out. I had about $8k in the motor and overhauls before I gave up and installed a six. My six has never left me stranded. I also have the same comments as other six drivers. I have over 150k miles on my 3.2 with no leaks and still has high compression. After my bad experience with the big four I am somewhat jaded and would never waste my money on one again. I have heard good things about Jakes motors, but I have not heard from anyone that has had one with over 100k miles on it.

This is very telling and extremely helpful, exactly what I was seeking. I have read the other threads and almost all of the builds. The cost of a 6 conversion seems crazy, considering a non-original 914-6 will never have the ultimate historical value of the original. Maybe the thing is to find an original 6 and store the motor while transplanting a newer 3.2, the engine everyone raves about. I know someone with an original orange 6 that has been correctly stored well over 30 years, but he is a Ferrari guy and probably figures it will one day bring six figures, and he might be right.

[Steve]

Do a search.. This has been hashed over hundreds of times in previous threads.
Here's a good thread.
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=15842

Thank you, but the answers I was seeking are more of a hands-on personal nature, not just theory, power, and torque, and members have been kind enough to respond.

That thread does have my personal experience in it. In my first 914, I installed a 2.4 liter four banger. It lasted 10k miles before sucking a valve. Then it lasted about 12k miles before a ring gave out. I had about $8k in the motor and overhauls before I gave up and installed a six. My six has never left me stranded. I also have the same comments as other six drivers. I have over 150k miles on my 3.2 with no leaks and still has high compression. After my bad experience with the big four I am somewhat jaded and would never waste my money on one again. I have heard good things about Jakes motors, but I have not heard from anyone that has had one with over 100k miles on it.

This is very telling and extremely helpful, exactly what I was seeking. I have read the other threads and almost all of the builds. The cost of a 6 conversion seems crazy, considering a non-original 914-6 will never have the ultimate historical value of the original. Maybe the thing is to find an original 6 and store the motor while transplanting a newer 3.2, the engine everyone raves about. I know someone with an original orange 6 that has been correctly stored well over 30 years, but he is a Ferrari guy and probably figures it will one day bring six figures, and he might be right.

Beware a big six or any other 220+ hp engine in a 914 is an expensive slippery slope. This is from my personal experience others may vary. After the big four blew up twice, i bought a used 1974 2.7 with a top end overhaul and 40mm webers. What's nice about the 2.7 is that you can use a 2.0 six flywheel and clutch. I also thought the motor matched the stock tranny and gearing quite nicely, but the throttle induced oversteer made the car dangerous in a corner (I wonder if an LSD would of helped?). So i cut off the rear fenders and riveted on GT fiberglass flairs. I now had 205's in the front and 245's in the rear. Problem solved but the car looked like franken porsche. I also installed bigger brakes, 21mm front torsion bars, 22mm front sway bar and 140lb rear springs. I loved the 2.7 but beware of pulled head stud issues if the engine is original and was never overhauled properly. I have also driven a 3.0 and thought it matched the stock gearing quite well, but i am not a fan of the required flywheel adapter and special clutch. You can purchase a 70-71 911 trans and swap the guts with your trans. This will give you a pull clutch versus the stock push clutch and has a much better clutch pedal feel. IMHO these are both nice motors for the 914 gear box. After 10 years my 2.7 started pulling head studs. You will hear popping and have loss of compression. Instead of overhauling the 2.7 I bought a 3.2 from a wrecking yard. That's the motor I have now. I thought the stock trans was nice for autocross and the track, but on the street I think it sucks. First gear is to low now and there is the paranoia of the 3.2 breaking it off the line. 2nd gear is slightly to tall to start out in, so now I either start off in first (if on a hill) and baby it off the line or I start off in second (if I am on flat ground). To solve this problem I now just spent $3k on a 916 kit plus the cost of the 915 trans and LSD and getting it overhauled. I will probably have around 10k in the trans if you include all the other parts and labor in the process. A subi conversion with subi trans would be allot cheaper or a V8 and convert the 914 trans into a four speed (don't use first) would also be a better lower cost option. Or be happy with the hp from a 2.7 or 3.0 motor. A big engine also puts allot of stress on a 914 chassis, so you will also need to strengthen the body with a cage or Engman kit, etc....
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