Calling all 914/6 owners past & present, Need advice Options

[GaroldShaffer]

It's been 3 1/2 LONG years since I sold my beloved 73 914 2.0 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) to help with a down payment on our new house. In two years I will turn 40 and plan to be a 914 owner once again (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif) .

So starts my quest for knowledge on 914/6's. I have driven many a 914 and plent 911s and feel that a 914/6 is what I want to get. I know two years is long way a way, but I just started my 914 fund, my wife agrees with my two year plan to save and purchase my NEW 914/6.

This car will be my sunny day driver / weekend car with maybe a driver eds event twice a year (never done one before). My questions are what type of issues are seen with a six? I know all about the 914 rust, been there, done that! Is there any reason a conversion car (done right ) is better of worse than and orginal six? What should I look for to make sure a conversion to a six is done correctly. Of course, any 914 that I think I am interested in enough to purchase I will have PPI done. Please help a fellow 914 addict. Thanks - Garold

One more thing, to any six owners (914 owners in general) in the Chicagoland / South Bend IN area I would love to check out your car and talk shop. I live in Portage Indiana, about 40 miles East of Chicago. Thanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[silver six]

To second what Seanery said, the 3.0 and the 3.2 are likely the best conversion engines available for the 914. Brad has confirmed this sentiment many times. This is why they work better than other engines:

1. Durability: The pre 3.0 engines (the 2.7, the 2.4, etc.) are much less reliable than the 3.0 and 3.2 liters.

2. Ease of Installation: The 3.0/3.2 engines are just as easy to install as the earlier engines and much easer to install than larger and newer engines (3.6, 3.8, etc.). Also remember with larger engines you must go with stronger trannys. With the 3.0/3.2 you can get away with the 914's stock 901 tranny (although I personally would not recommend this tranny as a long-term solution; I think Brad would back me up on this).

3. Cost: Although a little more expensive, the 3.0/3.2 engines are similarly priced as compared to earlier engines. The 3.0/3.2 cost about the same to maintain as earlier engines. The 3.0/3.2 are significantly less expensive to buy and maintain as compared to subsequent larger engines. Of course, if cost is no object then the larger engines (3.6, 3.8 etc.) would be preferable.

4. Subjective Feel: The fuel injected 3.0/3.2 starts right up and idles smoothly and continues to do so all the way till warm-up. These engines are very well behaved while producing more power than their predecesors. They also make great sounds.

Douglas