How many conversions have heat?, stock or otherwise Options

[dion9146]

I've always wanted to throw a poll out there, so here goes.

As some of you know, I'm in the process of selling my 3.2 conversion. It is completely unbelievable to me how many potential buyers have passed on the car because it doesn't have heat, and their idea was to drive it in the Winter.

I've owned 3 914s over the years, and admittedly none of them have had heat (4 or 6 cylinder). But then again, I always put them away for the Winter and have treated the car as a toy car for the most part. When the temps dropped, I dressed warm and that was that.

I've scoured the classifieds for other conversions that have been listed over the past year, and I know I'm not the only conversion car without heat.

maybe it's just the time of year.....maybe nobody will ask if it has heat when I relist it in the Summer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[mepstein]

My first 914 didn't have heat. I didn't know about heat exchangers on aircooled engines when I bought the car. They were rusted out. Drove it one winter in high school in NJ. Never again.

Putting heat in my six conversion will cost a fortune but I knew that when I decided to drop in the 6.

It's always harder to sell a house without central air in the heat of the summer. People just aren't as concerned about the lack of a/c until the temp soars. I believe it's the same with heat in your car.

[jim912928]

I put heat in my conversion (live in Wisconsin). Used GHL headers with heat. It got nice and toasty on the few cold fall days I took it out. I also kept the stock 3.2l electric booster fan.

[Bruce Hinds]

Gotta have heat man..... driving in the rain, snow and ice is the fun part! That's what it was built for. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
Fortunately I've lived in areas that don't use salt on the roads.

[SLITS]

All of the /6 conversions I have done have stock heat exchangers and therefore, heat.

[damesandhotrods]

I guess some of you never drive with the top off. A 50’ temperature at 25 mph becomes 42’. At 45 mph it becomes 40’ degrees, and you can see where this is going.

[Steve]

I guess some of you never drive with the top off. A 50’ temperature at 25 mph becomes 42’. At 45 mph it becomes 40’ degrees, and you can see where this is going.

Six heat exchanger are awesome with the top off in the winter time. You force the heat out the bottom vents and it keeps you nice and toasty.

[dion9146]

My Dad tells me it's his fault. He brought me up in Northern Ohio where I spent my youth building street rods and customs. Heat was never an option. It messed up the engine compartment with ugly hoses. Besides, nobody drove the cars past the end of September anyway. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[matthepcat]

Water cooled guys just have some holes from the front trunk into the driver area. Plenty of heat!

[JmuRiz]

No plans for heat in my conversion...someday I may add seat heaters if I see a need. Cost was the deciding factor...if I had the money I'd have a 3.2 with ceramic coated stock heat exchangers. I'll keep the heat tubes and cables just in case I come into extra money (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I've got two other cars with various amounts of heat if I need a vintage fix in colder weather (only one working currently).

[carr914]

All my conversions have had Headers - no heat.

Heck I don't even heat my house. Yes I live in Florida, but last night it got down to the 20's - Brrrrr

[ClayPerrine]

I have stock 914/6 heat exchangers. Plenty of heat in the car.

Now Betty's 914 doesn't have heat... she won't let me hook it up. Says it smells. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif)


But her's has A/C and mine doesn't (yet).

[Zundfolge]

As some of you know, I'm in the process of selling my 3.2 conversion. It is completely unbelievable to me how many potential buyers have passed on the car because it doesn't have heat, and their idea was to drive it in the Winter.

My 4 cyl car is up for sale and has a Kerry Hunter header ... I too have been amazed how many people have turned the car down due to lack of heater.

This is my second 914 and neither of them have had a heater and frankly even when I drove a 914 as a daily driver I never really missed the heater. I think people are wimps (but I'm not really one to talk as my daily driver PT Cruiser has heated leather seats and I don't think I could live without those).

[GeorgeRud]

The factory heat exchangers are the way to go if you want heat, they work great. I had the headers, but really wanted the heat for comfort and for defrosting the windshield. Keep an eye out on eBay and other sources for some good used ones and be done with it!

If only SSI would have been willing to manufacture the -6 heat exchangers..........

[dion9146]

Have you seen the junk 914-6 exchangers on eBay lately going for top dollar?

[iamchappy]

I had heat via heat exchangers but i sold them because the headers were better suited to my cars displacement and are less restricting to the turbo. i would still rather have heat than not have it, maybe my next project since i've run out of things to do on my car.
Honestly i really haven't needed it, i dont drive my car when it's less than 40º.

[Series9]

Not a single one I've done.

[Kraftwerk]

The upside of your car having no heat is that it kind of proves that it didn't get driven in the winter,
I would say that is a PLUS for any buyer. Heat can be added later.
Now, what kind of discount do I get for that kind of logic?
Nice car BTW.

[pnewman]

Dion,

Try adding heated seats.

The kits are cheap on ebay. I just put them in my 4 and they work great. For less than 200$ you might be able to move your 6 .(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)



Per my car. I have busted my but to get the heat up to snuff. Dual blowers, new hoses, SS exchangers, replace dash controller with one with good contacts etc.

Living in Chicago leaves you only 4-5 months of driving with jackets and a towel to wipe the windows without heat at absolute best and that's roughing it. Brrrr.

my 2 pennies (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[RickS]

3.0 conversion went with the stock 6 HEs. Driving without them in the NW is just too plain cold in the winter.