usable HP, how much max on a narrow bodied car? Options

[vortrex]

what's the max HP you can run in a narrow bodied 914 street car? I imagine olav's 914-6 (my dream car) has got to be eased a bit to keep traction? is the 260HP 3.2L going overboard for functional street power? is there a curve where the usefullness begins to drop off? I guess you also have to consider the extra 50HP worth of wear and tear on the 901 as compared to say a 2.7S spec motor?

[campbellcj]

Didn't Mark Donahue say something like "you have enough power when you can spin the tires in top gear at the end of the longest straight on the track" ? They came very close with the 917-30.

I agree that smoothness is a very key factor. Right now there is not a whole lot I can do with the gas pedal (other than suddenly lift at the wrong time) to seriously upset my car. With another 100+ HP on tap, that would change big time.

Obviously tire and suspension setup, and LSD vs. open diff, would make a difference too.

Personally, I think there is something inherently "cool" about a somewhat stock-looking, but fully race-prepped, 914 with a screamer small-displacement six. I will probably never stuff a big motor into this car; instead (if I do anything) I would probably sell it, and buy a widebody car with a large full-race motor and all the fixin's.