Budget six conversion builders, Please tell us how you do it! Options

[anthony]

I compiled the following list of conversion parts. This is just to put a six cylinder engine in the car and doesn't include a 5 lug conversion or suspension mods. So for you guys that throw out low total conversion prices please tell us how you did it and how you cut costs. Often I see references to exceptional deals on engines that can't be easily reproduced or incomplete parts lists that don't include all the parts or headers/exhaust.

[flesburg]

Hello,
Johnman is going through a conversion now, and it somewhat replicates what we did earlier, during the winter of 90-91.
At that time I found a 43K mile complete 3.2 engine, control panel through flywheel from Oklahoma salvage for $6500. That was a reasonably good price at the time, and for a 43K mile engine. It still had cosmoline on the case...

We did a lot of the work...a lot. And I bought a lot of parts, sheet metal, oil cooler, tank etc. But for example, John completely rebuilt the wiring harness using the 87 carrera prints and the 914 prints. I would hate to even guess what that would have cost, but there was not one un-needed wire left when he finished with it. I could have never done that job.

Not counting our labor at all I spent 12K on the conversion. 12 years later we put a 915 trans in the car with a quaife, and I spent another 9k. Trans, shifter kit, and axles, clutch and flywheel.. 21K with a 3.2 and a 915.

But I cannot think of a nicer car I could have for 16 years than this conversion...It still runs great, and has cost about $1200 per year, and it will still run with the medium size dogs, such as a BoxterS at Heartland park. Sorry it will not keep up with a viper tho, but it cost 20% of a house less than a Viper.

Engine and all, I think anything less that what I spent is just "better luck than I ever have" .