I had a religious experience in my 2.2L 914 today after leaving Cars and Coffee - and have begun the process of converting.

I will admit, I was a non-believer.

A heathen really. No center and no direction. A man with a rust free beauty but slightly tampered with, 1971 914.

But, now, as the light becomes brighter, I have seen the way. I am (or could be... or might be...) saved. or somewhat saved. My saving happened this way.

On a fairly remote six lane road (Lake Forrest Blvd - misspelled on purpose,,,,) I pulled to a stop in my delightful 2.2L - 4.

Low and behold and from the heavens above pulled along side of me a similar color 914 with no alteration to its width yet something seemed amiss as it was sporting massive tread on the pavement. Was it going to rain? I heard distant thunder.

While that magical moment was unfolding, a brand new candy apple red 21 inch wheeled Camaro pulled into the third lane parallel to our lowly 914's. Three red cars. Mostly red, but not a little similar.

In the morning mist, the stop light turned a wonderful emerald green and the Camaro pulled off the "line" quite aggressively leaving me and the other red 914 behind as we departed that stop in a nice even acceleration to around 70mph then down to rest at the next interval.

This is when the epiphany began to unfold.

I knew the 914 along side of me was sporting at least two, if not four more cylinders than my 2.2. The chorus from the engine upon acceleration in each gear was music to my ears. No valve clatter or intake wheeze.

As fate would have it, another stoplight saw all three cars again at the line.

This green light allowed my view to turn quickly into a view of two sets of red tail lights leaving me at an alarming rate of acceleration - a view only muted by the din of tire smoke and burned fuel. Some call it heaven.

As I struggled to keep pace - a futile effort indeed - I was vaulted into euphoria as I witnessed the 914 -8 leaving its victim decisively and with little effort in a roar of tuned exhaust and flat-agile disappearance.

Done.

I am now looking for the bits and pieces for a quality conversion to a FI LS conversion. Let me know what you might have to begin the my conversion as I am a believer.

I only hope that this awakening is,..... yet again,..... not another descent Into The Maelström of another Hell Hole.

Nice Forrest,looking forward to see this happen!
We'll go for a drive in my car next weekend!

Forressst, welcome to the big leagues. Sb914, congrats!
Cubic inches and lightweight trumps most setups.
Good luck with your search.

What size 2.2? 78 x96 4 cylinder?
Head work? Cam? I may be interested in the 4 cylinder.

Forrest, you do know that one of my neighbors at the shop is a Corvette/LS1 specialist, right?

http://www.americanheritageperformance.com/home.html

Can I get a ride in your 2.2 before you start your conversion

Maybe next swap meet at bdstones

You and Lawrence got bit by that power bug going around,

Here is a someone selling a Kennedy V8 adapter, not mines.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/wto/5463691742.html

Good Luck

Ted

The Dark Side awaits thee.

if you get your trans rebuilt, go for the taller flipper h gear and if you can find the perfect 3rd and 4th gears too, even better. assuming your using stock second as first and not using first. with 195x65x15 and stock 5th, i'm running about 2800rpm at 65mph. fwiw.

i'm kinda liking the idea of electric water pump and dedenbear manifold. all this coupled with a celica radiator.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...mp;hl=dedenbear

Just buy a Camaro.

Not the same thing, not even close. Horsepower makes the 914 a startlingly different car.

I think I have everything you need except the radiator and shroud. In boxes, somewhere. After three or four moves things get mixed, but if you're interested I can look, PM me.

The LS + boxster S 6 speed is a unbelievable combo in a 914.

Good luck in your search.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8yvytRtShE

1st V8 conversion I ever drove had a bone stock station wagon 2 barrel carb'd 350 in it. I'm guessing max hp in the 225 to 250 range....it was blast to drive. The owner then went and put a 355hp ZZ4(?) motor in another 914, almost too much power! It was great!

Enjoy the new found power!

Thanks to all for the insight and nitwit comment from Larmo.... Smartass!

DB Cooper is assisting in parts search and I have a lead from Collin for a corvette motor built for a 914 / I will keep a decent record in photos when I get started. I am in the research and search phase now.

Any references to prior conversions of a similar nature would be appreciated.

And yes as to taking the 2.2 out for a spin while at the GB. Don't know the date yet but I plan to attend / unless my 914 is engineless,,,,,

.....welcome to the "dark side"

.....here's my lump before it was installed by a prior member:

Click to view attachment