914 Engine Conversions, Using GM 2.8L or 4 cyl Quad Engines. Options

[GTPatrick]

Has anyone used a GM 2.8 V6 60 degree ( or larger 60 degree ) engine one of the 4 cyl Quad engines before ??? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/idea.gif) If so , any successes out there or is it a real bummer like a divorce from the old lady ??? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/ar15.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/barf.gif)

[John]

I didn't do it, but I half ass thought about it (the v6 thing). I looked at some of the kits th ev8 places sell, and I think a couple of them sold a similar kit for v-6 engines.

The kits were about the same as for the V8's as I recall. I would think that the V6 would be an easier fit (especially at the lower firewall area).

I ended up doing a 3.2 conversion.

[Mueller]

V6, good idea.....

quad 4, bad idea...long and there are better 4 bangers out there such as the newer GM ecotec or Ford Duratec....of course I could be wrong, I've never seen anyone do a straight 4 in the normal fashion.....

There was a fellow here that built a nice 60° Chevy V6....he finally decided he wanted to go faster and installed a Chevy V8 instead...his car is a pure auto-x car with huge slicks and flares....a moderate hp V6 would be a lot of fun in a street 914....

like johnman mentioned, when it comes to kits, the V8 conversion cost just a tad bit more so more people go that direction.....I like the V6 motor idea myself...

go to Kennedy Engineering for a list of adapter plates available....

the vortec 4.3 V6 has been done before as well...

[sharper]

I don't know anything about the conversion but I used to have a Chevy Beretta with the High Output Quad 4 in it. I believe it was rated at 180 horsepower but it really didn't kick in until the upper RPMs. The problem with that engine and the reason GM quit making it was it had a history of blown head gaskets (which happened to me). It also had a bad habit of burning up catalytic converters every 40k - 50k miles. Personally I'd steer clear of this engine.

[GTPatrick]

I've heard that the newer Ecotec engines are'nt too bad and it will only be a short time before the after market shops will have modification kits and parts available for them. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif)

The Ford 4 cylinder dohc is a good one too. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif)

[Gary]

Looks like Kennedy has an adaptor plate.

GM 3.4L is a pretty good little motor. Dann Wade at KillerBV6 is dropping one in my TR3. Compact, relatively light, aluminum heads. The 3rd generation seems to have addressed the head leak issues of the earlier motors. Low mile motors can be had all day long for <$500. With headers, turns about 200 horse. Downside is unlike the 90 degree vortec smallblock V8 derivative, there are almost no bolt-on go fast goodies.

More info available here.

[Mueller]

QUOTE (Gary @ Feb 27 2006, 08:15 PM)

Looks like Kennedy has an adaptor plate. GM 3.4L is a pretty good little motor. Dann Wade at KillerBV6 is dropping one in my TR3. Compact, relatively light, aluminum heads. The 3rd generation seems to have addressed the head leak issues of the earlier motors. Low mile motors can be had all day long for <$500. With headers, turns about 200 horse. Downside is unlike the 90 degree vortec smallblock V8 derivative, there are almost no bolt-on go fast goodies. More info available here.

thanks for links Gary.....good reading about the diff. 60° motors....

[Brett W]

Too bad you have to deal with GM engines. Piss poor engineering and even worse quality.

I wouldn't use a 2.8 pushrod motor for a boat anchor. That said, the 3800 Buick Engine is one of the best V6s in the world. Of course it took GM 30 years to get it right. I hear the 3.4 is not a bad motor.

Now I can't stand FORD products but I would make an exception for the 3.2 litre SHO V6. It is a Ford block with Yamaha goodies inside, though. It can handle 10K in stock trim.

[GTPatrick]

1)-- Bret W. I was thinking along the lines of the Pontiac V6 60 degree DOHC engine. But explain how a lot of the desert racers, i.e. Baja racing, are using 2.8L engines even though they are highly modified ? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/blink.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/cool_shades.gif)

2)-- I found a good source of info while surfing tonight. The web page is called www.forums.corner-carvers.com It has a lot of useful information that could be used in 914's . (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smash.gif)

3)-- Has anyone done any business with Desert Hybrids down in Tuscon Arizona ? If so , how would you grade them ? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/piratenanner.gif)

1)-- "addendum" - Please explain how some goombah in a Porsche 944 couldn't lose me in my Fiero with a V6 2.8L boat anchor engine on a 1.5 mile twisty road here in the Memphis area ??? Oh the Fiero had only a 4 speed tranny in it . Yeah, that's it , it must've been the tranny . (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/confused24.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/yawn.gif)

[Andyrew]

944 n/a's are slow sob's.... the turbo's are were its at....


also the driver could be just taking it easy....

Andrew

[Brett W]

Yeah the 3.4 engines aren't too bad. Highly modified? That is the onbly way a 2.8 would be worth a damn. Every S10 on the planet that had one of these engines is on its third and fourth engine. Yeah in stock form the 2.8 motor is junk.

Just becuase you out ran a 944 doesn't mean anything. Maybe the guy wasn't driving hard, maybe he has little nuts, maybe he said "oh its just a Fiero". Who knows. I do know that the 944 is not that fast The stock 2.5 only made about 150-160 HP