High output Type IV or Subaru Options

[TonyAKAVW]

There has been a lot of talk recently about affordable engine upgrades for the 914, namely larger displacement Type IV engines and Subaru conversions.

It looks as though a Type IV with 125 HP will cost about $5000 to do. It also looks like a Subaru conversion, using the Renegade kit (or a DIY conversion) will run somewhere around the same price for 165-180 HP (or more with a turbo engine).

So the poll question is if you had $5000 to spend on an upgrade for your 914, would you rather have a Type IV or a Subaru conversion?

As far as I know, no one yet offers a complete drop-in solution for the Subaru conversion, whereas a Type IV can be purchased and dropped in with little effort.

-Tony

[VaccaRabite]

Hi Brett,
I'm not flaming you, but I am disagreeing with your premise.

I see very high numbers passed around this forum for the Scoob engines. And I know that they can make that power with enough money. But those engines really push what could be considered a street engine, and simply arn't attainable by most people. The runtime of a Subaru EJ25T 600 HP motor (and also a 300HP NA motor) is measured in hours, and the cost is similar to a very highly built Raby motor, or a big Porsche 6. Its not within the scope of what we are talking about.

As you said, a better up and down pipe, better engine management bigger turbo and some other go fast goddies can put the EJ20T into the high 200s and low 300s, and the same can put the STi motor into the mid-high 300s. And it can be done without selling your first born. But even that is pushing the scope of this topic, as it woud place it well outside the $5K area. For the NA motor, there are not that many bolt on options - excluding spraying - that will put it past the 190HP mark without some serious $$$. NO2 will do it, but then you have a whole other ball of twine to deal with.

Where the Subaru motor shines is in the stock or near stock format. Its cheap, pretty much bullet proof, emission friendly, and has 100 HP more then the McMark/Raby T4 $5K offering - while still being in stock format, and without the added weight of the SMC or P6.

Its an attractive offering, that I am sure a lot of owners are very interested in.

A lot of other owners, including myself, would feel that such a conversion eats away at the soul of the car. Personally, if I wanted an older hot watebox, I would have bought a BMW 2002tii, or a Datsun 240Z (both cars that still produce drool puddles for me when I see them - and always will).

Zach