914 V8's: What breaks first?, Drivetrain Options

[Dunc]

All you v8 conversion guys. I hear all sorts of opinions as to what breaks when you convert to v8 power. I would like some opinions:
1. Axles: I hear that these are the weakest link. Replacing them with 911 shafts seems to be the "fix"?
2. 901 transmissions. When they fail, what breaks? The case? Gears/shafts?
3. What level of hp/torque is the limit of a 901 setup.

Thanks.

Mike

[Bruce Hinds]

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CV joints are probably the weakest link. spinning one wheel in the gravel then onto pavement repeatedly will kill them just like poor driving in a V8 or high HP car will do the same when lifting the inside wheel in a tight corner.

First is a waste of time and geared too low for anything other than idling around a shopping center or starting off on a steep hill.

Drag racing or just a few burnouts can kill the ring and pinion.

HP is a product of torque and RPM - the little box was designed to handle a 300HP 6 at high RPM all day long, so torque at low RPM can be a killer. I drove the mountains of Colorado and California for 20 years like a madman with an overbored 327 and a cam that came on about 1800 and pulled like a mule through 6500. I was making about 340 HP but only a little over 300 ft/lbs.

Renegade rebuilt my 901 after about 15 years with some taller gears and said all looked well inside. It was until I side stepped the clutch one day and smoked the tires down a runway. That "did-in" the ring and pinion.

If you drive it like the road machine it was built to be, the little box will handle the v8 well.