Best Engine Conversion Options

[Triaddave]

If money is an issue at all then build a moderate size t-4 engine, carbed. use stock heat exchangers if you live anywhere cold. headers if you want.you will get it done sooner or later.
The 6 on the other hand can be real $$$ and although I feel it is the best power source, the project could be too many $$$$$$ and you might never be able to enjoy it in your life time.
Don't even think about chevy's,mazda or anything like that. I would not buy someone attempt at that and feel you would destroy the value of a great car.If that is what you want to do,buy a pinto.

[budman5201]

Ill be doing another NEW conversion in the coming months.

Subaru 3.0 Six with hot cams i think and mounted just like the 914-6 with front bulkhead mount.

[iamchappy]

There is no best engine conversion, it's to subjective.

[Ericv1]

Why not do a little at a time? So many posts that I see for six conversions say that if you want to do it right, you have to have the suspension upgrades to go with it. A six conversion can be completed in the $5,500 if your patient and look for good deals. For example, I bought a 70T longhood off of a guy that had no idea what he purchased. It needed work but the body and engine were sound. The car cost me $4,000 plus another $1,500 in misc parts. I recentley sold the chassis and tranmission for $3,000. All that I have left to buy on my six conversion is the muffler. So, I'm into my project for $5,500. Do I plan on suspension upgrades? Absolutely, but that's next year and it's give me time to save money.

[IronHillRestorations]

3.2 Motronic engine. Reach in turn the key, tons of torque, no idle jets to fool with, last forever in a 914.

[r_towle]

Once we see the Cayenne turbo motors become a bit less expensive, then that will be the best choice IMHO

Rich

[budman5201]

Here is a pretty one!

[Gint]

Here is a pretty one!

What is that? Subie 6 cylinder?

[mtbr_mark]

"If money were no object"....
I've become fascinated with these smokin' little 2.8L engine; the H1V8. 400HP, 245ft/lb, 200lb. Here's the link if anyone's curious. Just a super cool and innovative engine.

[realred914]

can you provide more details of the 3.8 engine you have? how is the radiator and exhaust set up (any photos?) looks nice from what I see.

do tell more!

thanks

I just did this around 7 months ago, so let me show you that you can actually still have an advantage if you really want a conversion like I just did. First of all ,You will have more fun with more hp and better suspension that is for sure. Here is a thought.........Why not take that $5k, and find a conversion that has every thing already. If the car is beat, than take everything out, and apply it to the 914 you already have, sell those parts, and get some money back. This is exactly what I did. By the time I was done, I paid $5k for the conversion parts car, (however, I should add the conversion was sound in the beater, but the car was dead), sold my newly re-built 2.0 for $2600, seats for 150, and exaughst for 200 out of the original 914, so $5,000-$2950 =$2050. Now, I paid around $3000 for labor and new parts, so you figure, I just paid about $5-6 thousand dollars for a complete, conversion, and that is including some body reinforcements. The reason I did the calculation is so you can see how you can actually save money by selling your old parts. I was even able to take parts off of the beater that I needed for my car, and then sold it as a roller. All of those parts and parts I saved in the past and the roller sold for $400 (actually this was a good deal !!),so you can see I really saved even more money. You have to be patient, first of all. I didn't sell my roller and parts until my conversion was completely done. You just have to remember that at the end you get your money back, and if you are going to have someone do the labor for you, make sure you have a honest ,up-front deal, and communicate.




Some of the money I saved from my parts went toward my phone bill, but you know what, I have not had any problems with my conversion, because I was constantly able to talk to my mechanic (Heeltoe914) , and he never once avoided me, and when he told me he was going to need more money, I had it ready, and would always be told in advance, so there were no problems. I know a lot of guys would say go to a shop only, but guys like Heeltoe that have a shop at home are plenty capable of doing the work just as well, but save you money. Just make sure you've got the rite guy !!!.....One more thing to add, just for the record....In the begining, I wish I had $5,000 dollars to spend. I saw the car I wanted, met with the seller, gave him a contract for a non-refundable $500 deposit, and told him to give me a few weeks to come up with the money. I sold my 92' sc Lexus and "borrowed"(He, He,He) some money from my wife's income taxes to get that $5000. So basically, I did about a $10,000 transaction, starting from broke !!!! If I did it, you can do it too, you just have to get your hustle on man !!! I don't mean to write up such a long post, but I wish someone would have told me what I am telling you, because I had just got through paying about $5000 re-building that slow 2.0 that everyone said I would enjoy....that money could have went straight toward my conversion, and maybe I would still have my lexus today (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[realred914]

geo 1000cc 3cylinder

can you give more details on this motor? I like the idea that the radiator is in back with the motor, no hacked up front trunk is nice. does this engine get enough cooling like this? how much power?

i have been a thinking an engine bay radiator is ideal your is the first I have seen attempted. looks very nice. I wonder how big an engine I can squeeze int here and still fit a big enough radiator.

maybe a flat four subaru with radiators above near the engine top grill? then again maybe this three cylnder is enoguh power.

Please supply more details it you can

[charliew]

1000 ccs is not really considered a good motorcycle performance motor. It doesn't have enough torque. Torque is what you feel when you take off. If you can be happy taking a mile to get up to speed you will like a 1000 cc motor. Geo's go pretty good for a gas miser though. Kinda like the old diesel golfs. I always tried not to get stuck behind my coworker at a light in his no ac diesel golf. There was no chance of going the speed limit if you got behind him between lights.

[Justinp71]

"If money were no object"....
I've become fascinated with these smokin' little 2.8L engine; the H1V8. 400HP, 245ft/lb, 200lb. Here's the link if anyone's curious. Just a super cool and innovative engine.

That would be cool, but its a little pricey at $27.7k... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[nein14]

" The Best Engine Conversion" for me would be the Dean Popopolus 4 cyl. 911 motor which produces 200 HP w/ 44 IDA webers or can be set up with EFI. The motoe weights 100 ilbs less than a stock 911 motor.

I would use EFI and twin turbos which would produce approx. 450 to 500 HP the Ultimate 914 GT Turbo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[charliew]

My idea is the more cylinders the more power cycles therefore the smoother the torque curve and the smoother the sound. The smaller the rotating parts the higher the rpm.

[JmuRiz]

" The Best Engine Conversion" for me would be the Dean Popopolus 4 cyl. 911 motor which produces 200 HP w/ 44 IDA webers or can be set up with EFI. The motoe weights 100 ilbs less than a stock 911 motor.

I would use EFI and twin turbos which would produce approx. 450 to 500 HP the Ultimate 914 GT Turbo (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

If only those weren't way more money than a 'normal' 3.6!!! FWIW there's a local 356 guy that just installed his...will be in Excellence magazine soon. Damn shame actually, he was going to bring it to the vintage races with the rest of the 356 crew, I would have liked to do some recon laps on the track with him...
(I think his was in 2.4 flavor and was in the neighborhood of $25-30k, ouch!!!)

Perry,
I think we all like the 3.2, but doesn't that need the $$$ 915/916 transmission upgrade and a remote oil cooler?

[budman5201]

Here is a pretty one!

What is that? Subie 6 cylinder?

Yep

[naro914]

3.2 liter 6. Its without a doubt the BEST thing we've ever done to a 914. i LOVE driving Huey now!!!

[naro914]

Perry,
I think we all like the 3.2, but doesn't that need the $$$ 915/916 transmission upgrade and a remote oil cooler?

I use a 901 trans with my 3.2, no problem.

[Cheapsnake]

I can't believe noone's mentioned the most obvious conversion.. the Rover/Buick 215 all-aluminum V8. Easy 200hp at no weight penalty and bolts up to the 901 tranny with a Kennedy adapter.

I'm in the final stages of that conversion and having said that, next time I do a teener I'm going with a built 2.0. I love the V8 and the sound is to die for, but WAAAAAAAY too much work/expense for the gain.

Tom