I'm new to the 914 World, so please forgive my ignorance. I had always thought the engines were the same between these two cars, but recently read something saying the 914-6 had the engine from a '69 T. It said that the block and pistons were different and generally implied that the 914-6's engine was more primitive. Can anyone help explain this further for me? Thanks, Bill

The 914-6 (all years) essentially used the engine from '69 911T (2.0L, carbs).
In '70 and '71, the 911T was 2.2L with different pistons and heads.

Correct. 914-6 is 69T in construction (110 BHP) but has engine stampings in a different location and came with Weber IDT-3C carbs. The IDT's were more EPA friendly versions of the IDA's.

If i was a guessing man I suspect they stayed with the old 2.0 not to outshine the 2.2 911 of 1970. Putting in the 2.2 would have added no cost.

Porsche sales and marketing was not really behind the 914-6 from the beginning because it competed directly against the 911T and not of their design, a conflict of interest but part of a agreed joint deal with VW. The 914-6 was a sales loser, possibly by choice and no love lost when discontinued in '72.

The biggest reason that 914-6's has sluggish sales is the fact they were base priced at only $500 less than the new 2.2 911T. .

My 1970 did not sell until late spring of 71' (Bob Smith P/A, Hollywood, Ca.)

The '69 T engine in the 6's doesn't have oil squirters either, which helps cooling.

FWIW, the 2.2L which was used in '70 and '71 only had the oil squirters in '71.