Daily Driver just wants to know, calling all DDs! Options

[malcolm2]

I have not driven an aircooled VW as a DD for 30 years, and that was a 68 bug. As most probably know, those cars had a speedo and a gas gauge. Very little feed back.

I am curious about how the 914 should run. I have a freshly built and fuel injected 1911 engine, with larger valves on 1.8 style heads. I am running a 75 exhaust. I am getting lots of feedback from the car and I think it drives great! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

This car seems to have lots of power, compared to the 68 bug. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) I run to about 3500 rpm then shift to 2nd. Thru the gears at about the same rpm, and usually wait to shift to 5th 'til about 50 mph and it cruises between 2800 (55-ish mph) and 3200 (70-ish mph) in 5th. That seems strange, cause they put the blinker indicator right at 3000! It gets blocked all the time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

I still have lots of power left at 70. If I give it some pedal at 70, it will hop right up to 80, no problems. My ODO is broken, so MPG is unknown, but my goal is to maximize that.

CHT seems to like the 3200 cruising. I notice about a 50 deg drop after a few miles on the interstate, which makes sense. The VDO CHT gauge with the spark plug sensor on #3 runs between 325 and 350 normally.

I am being clear, can everyone follow? How does that sound, as far as DD operation?

Clark
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[Cap'n Krusty]

3500 RPM is cruising speed, NOT where you should be shifting. I recommend 4000-4500 as a shift point, and NEVER load the engine under 2500 RPM. Too many 356s, I guess, where cranks break under low RPM loading. As for 5th gear, I recommend cruising in 4th anytime you're under 60 MPH. Keeps the fan speed up, allows you to jump on the gas when necessary. 5th is an overdrive gear, meant for sustained high speeds on freeways and such.

The Cap'n