engine mods, power expectations Options

[johnnyslide]

I'm brand new to the forum as I have an opportunity to buy a 1976 914 2.0. The seller is vague on questions due to health problems. He's telling me he spent $7000 on engine mods. Claims it's 3.0 now and possibly 275-300 hp! Is this even possible? From the pics, which are terrible, it looks like 2bbl carbs and a blue circle shaped airbox in between. Not much to go on and he won't answer questions. Help!!

[Steve Snyder]

A 3.0+ would be either a six or a Raby engine, each of which would cost multiples of $7K, and neither would make 300HP {my 3.4L Cayman S is rated at only 290 HP).
Move on to a more honest seller. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[rhodyguy]

How much is the seller asking for the 76'? I'd be leery of the hp claim. Health problems should not hinder him providing you with dyno results.

[burton73]

Yo Philly,

You are a little vague with out pictures it is hard to help you out. The guys are right on the HP rating. Show us the pictures and welcome to 914world!

Bob B
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[theer]

is it this one?

https://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/d/porsche/6270355604.html

I was a bit doubtful to the HP claims, too. The blue circle thingy looks to be the cooling fan.

[Mark Henry]

Blue circle is a /6 fan conversion on a type four.

160hp is about max for NA, maybe 180ish with 103mm pistons, stroker crank, hot cam, good header, etc but that's it.
9000rpm redline ...chuckle--snort (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[Mark Henry]

No title....walk away.

[JFG]

There looks like rust on the trunk. So zero rust is a porky pie. Go look at it. How does he know the engine puts out 300hp if it's not running. Sounds iffy but money talks and if everyone is put off by the claims versus images you might get a $2000 bargain

[porschetub]

Buy it for the motor and box,part the rest out you cannot go wrong.

[Porschef]

I think Big Len looked at that thing... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[Rand]

Buy it for the motor and box,part the rest out you cannot go wrong.

What motor? The one that is claimed to be built on a 2.0 and have 300hp and a 9k redline but has never run? A few missing pieces to this retard puzzle. Zero rust? LOL Yeah, Riiiiight.

[Morrie]

Not to pile on, but how can someone claim "Zero Rust" and show a picture of the rear trunk with a big bleeding rust spot?

It may be a deal, hard to say, but a very close inspection with someone along who knows these cars is required before you do something crazy. Ask me how I know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Dave_Darling]

You know, it might be possible to build a 3-liter four-banger that makes somewhere near 275 HP. I really don't want to think about how much money it would cost, though. I'm pretty sure it would be way up in five figures, possibly six. And the lifespan would be measured in hours, and probably not many of those either.

9K RPM? Might, maybe, be possible for short periods of time. Very unlikely, though. And, again, stratospheric costs and about zero service life. Be a great quarter-mile engine, though. Rebuild it every week, hope nothing major happens or you get to throw it away and start over again.

But I'm pretty sure that engine wouldn't look like this one (the fan alone sucks up at least 10% of his claimed HP at his claimed redline) and there is no way anyone would be selling it for $5K, even without a convenient 914-shaped shipping container...

"Pull the other one, it's got bells on!"

--DD

[76-914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[Coondog]

All first time newbies should be required to read every post in the Lapuwali Classic Thread Forum first.

[bandjoey]

Very rough interior. No pictures of underside or hell hole. No Fuch wheels. Not running. Electrics issues. $2500 roller in this case.

[JamesM]

Interesting cooling fan setup, possible someone modded the motor a bit. Personally I would be concerned with the lack of tin separating the hot air from the cold air though.

Let him take you on a test drive so he can be the one to demonstrate this 9k redline in action. Bring ear plugs and maybe a cell phone to get a ride home. On the off chance that it does make it to 9k RPM and doesent self destruct in the process, I would still be leary of build quality of the motor given the lack of build quality everywhere else on the car.

I wouldn't pass on the opportunity to watch the seller potentially blow it up though

I guess some of the type 1 guys spin 9000rpm so who knows, could be possible. I cant imagine it would live long though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M1F4DLP77k


edit: just saw its non running.. yeah 2500 parts car.

[Front yard mechanic]

Cool looking car it must be fast it has stripes. Only thing to watch out for is the knee cap removal dash

[Cairo94507]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

This is a tough room for sure. But if you read all of the posts you will learn an incredible amount. We are all pretty good a spotting issues and problems with these cars. The best you could do is is assume it is a core motor since it is nit running and needs to be rebuilt. Also crawl all over, under and in the car checking for rust and signs of someone having covered up rust. Make a cash offer assuming non-running motor that could be making 110 HP and a body that has rust and needs work. So, $2,500-ish as mentioned above.

[DM_2000]

I'd tell the seller to bring it to a dyno. All it needs is a can of fuel and a couple of wires for this test. If it makes advertised HP , RPM and survives another 20 miles at 40 MPH on the rollers ( with minimal or no load as not to overheat the dyno ) call "sold" for asking price + dyno fee.

If it does not make HP , RPM or blows up, the car is given to buyer, for free.