914-6 2.7 Euro RS Twin Plug Project, sleeper 914 with a twin plug surprise Options

[davehg]

New member, long time lurker here. I'll be posting another 914-6 conversion project shortly, but posting a thanks for now for all the great info I've come across here.

I took the easy way into 914-6 ownership - I bought a completed car that was a track car whose PO had done the hard work. This car has a 3.2L engine, injected, with large riveted composite flares, and a pretty austere race-friendly interior with racing seats, roll cage, and little else - not even side windows or carpeting or panels. This car I refer to as the Outlaw - it's a middle finger to the purists and I absolutely love it.

But...I wanted a clean and pretty "cars and coffee" version. There's not a ton of value restoring the Outlaw. The Outlaw's body is fine, but it is purposely built.

I had bought a project from a local Porschephile who had too many nice projects (356, pre-73 911). his goal was originally to do a big Raby 4. He had stripped, prepped, and beautifully painted a really nice shell, and spent a small fortune getting the original bumpers and details correct. He had a set of mint Fuchs 14" wheels, bits and pieces from 2 interiors, and was really only missing the engine and some trim/interior bits. A deal was struck, trailer was hitched, boxes moved, and now it's my problem.

The conversion wisdom here seems to be to go big - 3.0l or more. But I have a big engine car. This is intended to be just a Sunday cruiser, no track time. Plus, I have access to perfectly nice prepped 2.7L that has case guards installed, a 911s cam, and the work mostly done, for a decent price, and it would sound just swell with PMOs. So I am heading this route. I am taking my time with the Pretty Car - not going to be concours but a great looking driver with super clean details, no flares, and more along the lines of an original -6 with a bit more oomph. I'll detail the suspension bits so it looks pretty on a lift, and I need to think through the oil cooling issues - it doesn't get super hot in the PNW but for a few days a year, and if I can avoid the expense of a front mounted cooler and running lines that would be just swell.

At least that's my current plan. We'll see where my budget leads. I have a good start - great primed and painted rust free shell, all the expensive body work complete, an engine lined up, and a clear vision of where I want to go.

Looking forward to the collective input and experience when I get started this winter.

[davehg]

Long time since I last updated. I brought the 2.7 home and my engine builder looked it over. It needs...lots of machining. Sending off to Ollie's next week for about $3k in machine work - shuffle pin, oil return and other stuff for the case, port and machine heads, valves, guides, for the heads, media tumble etc. I have the case certs and studs, so I did manage to save some $$. Also, the cylinders were Mahles in mint shape, ready for a new set of RS pistons.

Decided now is the time to go Twin Plug. I am having the heads drilled to accommodate a twin plug and trying to steel myself for the significant extra costs of adding a distributor, CDI boxes, and the wiring and bits. I might go single plug to start if my budget doesn't allow, but how much more cool to launch as a twin plug!

While the engine is being rebuilt, I need to source some engine tins, and hoping Ben comes through on the cast oil lines!

I located the spare part depicted above, and managed to score a brand new Engleman and Jwest fuseboxes to upgrade. Leaning towards the Engleman simply because it looks better.

I also said goodbye to the Z4M Coupe which is being consigned for sale to finance completion of this build. I think I made the right choice but will likely add the Z4M to the list of cars I wish I still had. I don't plan on making that mistake with the 914 however....

[jd74914]

Decided now is the time to go Twin Plug. I am having the heads drilled to accommodate a twin plug and trying to steel myself for the significant extra costs of adding a distributor, CDI boxes, and the wiring and bits. I might go single plug to start if my budget doesn't allow, but how much more cool to launch as a twin plug!

If you don't mind the look (or lack of dizzy), it might be more cost effective to go crankfire. Certainly allows more spark tuning opportunities. Clewett Engineering makes a pretty nice complete package system for ~$1500-$1800 depending on options and there are lots of less expensive more-DIY options too.

[davehg]

If you don't mind the look (or lack of dizzy), it might be more cost effective to go crankfire. Certainly allows more spark tuning opportunities. Clewett Engineering makes a pretty nice complete package system for ~$1500-$1800 depending on options and there are lots of less expensive more-DIY options too.

Too late now - I've already purchased a modified Bosch distributor and cap/rotor with Pertronix, as well as the MSD box. I think the all-in cost was probably another $1k over the Clewett package, when I factored in the parts, machine work, and extra wires.