914/6 vs. 914/4 AX Performance, Heated Disscussion Within Options

[Britain Smith]

I know this guy...he is looking to purchase a 914...wants to be really fast on the AX course...and can't decide between an original 6 (or conversion) w/ 2.7L (or some sort of uprated motor) or a Raby (or similar) four cylinder.

Putting the discussion on equal playing grounds, lets say that both chassis are identical, which would be faster on the AX course? This is assuming a well built chassis, with a cage, upgraded suspension, hoosiers (or similar) tires, etc.

For AX purposes, my vote would go for the 4-cylinder car all the way. I have my reasons, but I want to hear yours first...so which is it?

-Britain

[Jake Raby]

First off where are the specs for these warmed over 2.7 engines?? Doesn't anyone have any flywheel HP graphs like I do?? Certainly these guys dyno their engines, but where are the sheets that prove it ACROSS THE POWER BAND? I wanna see numbers from 2500 RPM upto and beyond redline kinda like this example
(IMG:http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/customers/apokrandt/apokrandtdyno.JPG)

The reason I ask is the fact that you can throw peak HP and TQ numbers away for an AX engine, what matters is what the engine makes at a usable RPM! I tell guys all the time (even my road racers) that they should not even worry about the peak HP numbers because they ONLY see that RPM maybe twice on the track and one is at the end of the straight for maybe 3 seconds or so of a 1:30-1:45 lap- so how worthless is that number to the general performance of the engine.

Find me some graphs- not peak numbers in a book and I'll find comparable graphs in my archives of about 600 engines and then we'll compare prices-

Thats the only way we can compare anything- period.

As for longevity- well with composite lifters, Nickies and some coatings and our updated valvetrain the wear is about the same as a SIX- some of my engines go 4-5 seasons of dual purpose street/ AX driving before I recommend scheduled maintenance. The only thing that breaks them are guys that don't set up their oil system correctly, or missed shifts. We now have FP engines that run a solid national season and only need scheduled maintenance and thats a 180HP+ 1800cc engine heavily limited by class rules. In days past these engines had a life span of FOUR HOURS before needing a rebuild! Now we go a whole season and only have a 4% leakdown and no failed parts.