914 to 914-6: High Treason?, Should I convert my mint 2.0? Options

[Cairo94507]

I tend to agree your better off to leave your family car alone and find a project that was completed or near completed and take it over. It depends upon when you plan to be driving the Six....now or 5 years from now.

If I were looking for a Six to drive for fun, and a real Six was not an option, I would definitely be looking for an already done car that was running and together and just needed some finish work. The parts to put these together add up quickly. Additionally, if I was sourcing a motor, I would want to have it gone through and freshened up to make sure it was a good motor that would be dependable and run as it should.

We see cars like described above coming on the market all the time as peoples' circumstances change all of the time. I would bet for $30K you could get a very nice conversion car that needs little to make it what you really want. Then just drive and enjoy.

Good luck and best wishes as you decide upon your path.

[Cracker]

Leave it alone. Buy a second generation Honda S2000 for "faster" fun - make you wife happy too. Save your money (and the car)...

Tony

[Mark Henry]

Keep your car stock and drive.
Get a second and build your fire breathing dragon!

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A mint stock car will be more valuable in the future.

To me this is like not banging your hot girlfriend ,because you want to keep her in perfect shape for the next guy.

[iwanta914-6]

Personally, IF the option to buy another car to modify is not an option, I would consider something like a Raby 2270. 170HP should be plenty of go fast fun in a 914.

I think the preference however would to leave the family heirloom alone and hopefully it remains in your family for as long as possible. Find a project roller, a completed conversion, or as others mentioned, some other go fast car. Heck maybe a 944 Turbo, it may be front engine, but it's still perfectly balanced and a ton of fun to drive with 220HP and you can find them for relatively little money, though they seem to be rising in price a bit.

[orthobiz]

Pictures please. What color?

Paul

[Catorse]

A mint stock car will be more valuable in the future.

A 200hp car will need brake upgrades, which means 5 lug susp swap and new wheels. Then you will want fatter tires to hold the power and you're tempted to flare the rear fenders, which means new paint. So at this point you might as well just buy a converted car that already has everything it needs.

Then there is the thing where 200hp is fun but only for a while, then it's upgrade time to bigger everything lol.

So yah, drive it today and be happy you can. Many of us are stuck in upgrade land.

THIS. There is no such thing as just a "6 conversion". Even on the motor, you want to do little things like electronic ignition, Webers, ported heads etc. Adds up fast.

Then you look at the chassis, trans, suspension, wheels....it basically ALL needs to be upgraded. All of it. There isn't ONE stock thing on a 914/4 that is really appropriate for a 6.

My rebuild is over 70K and counting. No old or worn out shit at all. Everything that could have been upgraded.....WAS.

[patssle]

A 200hp car will need brake upgrades

I'm running stock brakes on 4 lug wheels and 195 tires. Car handles and stops great!

[Steve]

If it's a mint unmolested car, I would leave it stock. However my personal experience with big 4's sucks... As it gets harder to find non rust cars, more people will be tempted to modify a mint car for more HP. LS, Subaru, six, etc... But I agree... Do you want to build a way cool classic air cooled six, that you will never get your money back on or just buy a more modern car for half the cost that is faster, has powered everything and has heat and AC?

[JOEPROPER]

Keep your car stock and drive.
Get a second and build your fire breathing dragon!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) This is the way to go!

[OllieG]

Keep your car stock and drive.
Get a second and build your fire breathing dragon!

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A mint stock car will be more valuable in the future.

To me this is like not banging your hot girlfriend ,because you want to keep her in perfect shape for the next guy.

Ha! .. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) isn't it more like keeping your beautiful dependable wife 'and' having a really hot girlfriend to bang whenever you want!!? What more could you want!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[ConeDodger]

You should start with the best car you can. So, it sounds like you're in good shape to start.

While some might say a conversion is a wannabe, many conversions are actually better than the original 914-6. Especially the 3.0, 3.2, and 3.6.
Yes, you will spend a good deal of money doing a conversion. Is it worth it? Take McMark up on his invitation to Grand Rapids. Mine is incredibly fun with its 3.2. It has all of the manners of my '84 Carerra and all of the style that was the 914, and it handles better!

This was, by the description of some when I got it, the most original 914 they'd ever seen. It is a '75 and when it rolled in to my garage it was a one owner 73K mile car...

[PanelBilly]

Sell it now. Before prices drop more. Buy a complete car that does what you want. That's my 2 cents.

[krazykonrad]

If its really original, I would stick with stock. Just remember, 356s and early 911s were comparatively cheap just s few years ago.

If you want a six, as do I, get a cheap roller and start there.

My $0.02.

Konrad

[iwanta914-6]

Or buy this and save it!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Porsche-914-c...60966?forcerrpt

[Cracker]

Good option but prices have already dropped - you missed the delusional top market.

T

Sell it now. Before prices drop more. Buy a complete car that does what you want. That's my 2 cents.

[mb911]

Or buy this and save it!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1970-Porsche-914-c...60966?forcerrpt

I think that is a pretty fair price..

[sixnotfour]

I converted my dads 914-4 to a six drove it a long time 50k mlies, convereted back to 4 banger, gave it back to my Mom...then she gave it to my son who sold it,,,,,The new owner had a hot T4 engine built , electronic 4 throttle body injection ...and now its getting a 3.0-6...round and round it go's where it stops ,,,Is Up too you....

[Steve]

It's from Auto Atlanta, so it's gotta be a good deal!!
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[Porschef]

Always seems to be a good deal to be found in that town... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[horizontally-opposed]

A lot of good opinions here, and I respect all of them even if I don't agree with them.

But I'm with Rob on this one. Why?

1. When building a hot rod, it's better (for the builder) to start with a great example of a less desirable model or year than to start with a car that needs everything. Talk about expensive—paint and body can easily consume $20-30k, or far more, and you still don't end up with a car as nice as a really original car. Better in some ways—maybe—but I'd rather have original paint and interior every time.

2. If was building another six conversion, a very nice original 1975 1.8 or 1975-1976 2.0 would absolutely be my choice as a basis. I do feel a bit differently when we begin to talk about rare AND desirable models. An acquaintance is looking at Canepa-izing a 959 and doing a complete color change inside and out. Dark blue non-metallic on brown leather was sounding great to me until I saw the car in silver and metallic gray leather. I hate metallic gray leather, and silver 959s are "common," but...it's a 959. A 1976 914 will never be a 959, or a 1967 911S or a 914-6 or a 1973-1974 914 2.0 imho.

3. More isn't always the answer. Some people don't want two sports cars, and especially not two versions of the same sports car. When I thought about converting my 914-4 to six cylinders, part of the rationale that put me over the edge was I could only see budget and space in my life for one vintage Porsche—not two—and while I hadn't been interested in converting my car up to that point, it made sense to put "the" Porsche engine in the 914 that was taking up the one spot I had for an old car. Every time I start the flat six, I smile. Of course, there are other similar lines of logic besides space—such as bandwidth, insurance, upkeep, etc.—so putting the engine you want in the car you have, rather than adding another car, makes more sense for some.

Anyway, to the OP's question: I don't view it as an offense. It's a 914. And it was meant to be fun above all else. If you'll have more fun with the car running on six cylinders—and if the conversion process will put your father and you on a new road together, adding sentimental value—then for me the choice would be easy. It doesn't sound like "price" is in your objectives for the car. It sounds like value is. Only you can determine what that means for you—and you've got some great feedback here that may benefit you and others, too.

Again, a lot of great opinions from a lot of experienced people in a great community. Did I say,

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