Besides asking yourself things like ‘why did VW-Porsche design those funky rear brake calipers’ what else do we wonder about our 914s? Post your questions and answers…I don’t know the answers to these, if you don’t know either, please do not guess…

• What do the engine tin codes mean…where is the list of codes?
• What does an actual Kardex look like and what information does it really have?
• Why were the paper paint code labels installed when the Karmann plate has the paint code?
• Why were there no marketing materials for the 1974 Limited Edition cars?
• How many 914/4 Sportomatics were built?
• Why was a hubcap puller included in the tool kits for the 74-76 cars which were never manufactured with hubcaps?
• Why are there at least two different patterns, lines and diagonal hatched, on the 2.0L air filter housing covers?
• How many 914 GT and 914 SL cars were built and why was their production limited to so few?

What the hell are those round disks in the trunk and floorpans for?????


That one bugs the hell out of me.....

Why were the stock tires so skinny? 155's I think. In the Road & Track comparison test of the cars in it's SCCA showroom stock class they said that the tires size was by far the limiting factor in its performance.

1) Why were the 914/4 torsion bars and A-arms splined differently than the 911 & 914/6?
2) Why were the 914/4 rear hubs and stub axles splined differently than the 911 & 914/6?

Why did the factory plumb the windshield washers like they did, with a fluid line all the way to the steering column? An electric pump is only a buck or two...

Why did the factory design the rear suspension adjustment ear as a friction fit piece. Poor design.

Why did the factory mount the battery over the engine and over the left long? Why not in the front trunk, say in the cowl area?

Why did the factory have the heater tubes enter the longs right at the hinge point of the unit body? Would have made a lot more sense if it was further back on the long.

because this was standard size at this time ... at least in Europe

Porsche's 1972 program:
914-4 (80 HP): 155 SR 15
914-6 (110 HP): 165 HR 15
911 T (130 HP): 165 HR 15
911 E (165 HP): 185/70 VR 15
911 S (190 HP): 185/70 VR 15

other sports cars from 1972:
Alfa Romeo 1750 GTV (113 HP): 165 HR 14
Renault Alpine 1600 S (110 HP): 165 HR 13
Fiat 124 Sport Spider (110 HP): 165 HR 13
Datsun 240 Z (150 HP): 175 SR 14
Lotus Elan Sprint (127 PS): 155 HR 13
MG B GT Coupe (95 HP): 165 SR 14
Opel GT/J (90 HP): 165 HR 13
De Tomaso Pantera (241 HP): 185/70 VR 15
Triumph TR6 (143 HP): 165 HR 15

Gustl

I only see one other car (Elan w/13's) with 155's. Like I said, why?

Windshield washers? - so they could leak all over you when the rubber is shot!

Battery - wieght distribution. Tried to keep it as close to 50/50 as possible, so long as you were riding alone!

Also,

Why did they put a plastic cap in the wiper assembly, keeping the wipers from being intermittant? So the dealer could get $25 for the "option"?

Why didn't they provide for a factory air conditioning system, instead of the cobbled up dealer installs?

Finally, couldn't they have come up ith side markers lenses that were something less than butt ugly?

BTW - I'm with Jeff.

What the hell do those codes mean on the engine tin?

I cannot believe this wealth of trivia out here doesn't have SOMEONE who knows. I want to reproduce some of these, but first want to know what the hell they mean!
Pat

compare the power of the various cars in combination with the tyre size
all other cars have more power

look at these cars from 1972:
Fiat 128 SL 1300 (75 HP): 145 SR 13
Matra 530 LX (73 HP): 145 SR 14
Peugeot 304 Cabrio (65 HP): 145 SR 14
Triumph Spitfire (64 HP): 145 SR 13

back in the '70ies the 914-4 was a cheap entrance sports car, not a race car
wider tyres were more expensive than smaller ones ...

Gustl

I rarely saw a 914 with 155 tires. Almost all had 165 as standard, and some were optioned to the 165 size.

I tried to investigate the numbers on the tin many years ago and got nowhere. Yes we represent a vast body of knowledge, however that is one of the big remaining mysteries. Perhaps the VW guys know more. Where is Jens?

Well, I just keep collecting the data with as many images as I can find and hopefully someday it will make sense and someone will figure it out.

Why are there rubber plugged holes in the front bulkhead?

One theory I've got for these and the large plates in the front and rear trunks, would be for dipping the chassis in primer, but I don't know what that would do for the paper tubes inside the longitudinals.

and why aren't the 76 cars drilled! What about the 75 cars are they drilled or solid?

I really want to know that one. This is off my 74 1.8

Jim, can you tell me if your car is a California or 49-state car? Can you provide a photo of the engine bay sticker above the relay plate?

Hey Jeff,

Let's think about this paint stamp thing for a minute.....

Who were the REALY knowledgable guys for 914's in the early years with connections to the factory, or close to? Maybe they can provide info or sources for us.

In the midwest, it was Chuck Stoddard, but he must be 80 now. However, he had a parts mgr - Brad... who had a twin plug 2.8 914/6. Where are they today? Can they help? Think about the premier 914 guys of the early days for your specific area. Try to contact them. If you go to the factory, they'll just give you the runaround.

I know of one guy, former friend of mine, who knows EVERYTHING about these beasts. Dropped out about 5-6 years ago to do other things. But my bet is he's still a wealth of knowledge. I'm off to contact him now (if I can still find him!).

Look around guys - we NEED this info. Decals can always be remanufactured. The paint stamps can also, but not if they're meaningless.

Wish me luck!

Go Pat Go...Man on a 914 Mission...

I have corresponded with Brad Ripley, but he is more of a 356 guy.
I have also enlisted Jens from type4.org to help on the aquisition of data from the VW side of the engine tin debate.

Hi Jeff, my car should be a 49 stater, to my knowledge its been on the east coast all of its life.

This is the best picture of the sticker that I have . . . when I'm home next weekend I can try to find where I put it. I had to take it off to fix the rust there and paint that area, and I know I put it somewhere. If I can find it I'll post a readable picture.

Here's a closeup . . . idk if this is any better

If my old eyes are correct, it says 'Conforms to California regs', a California car. When you get a chance to look, does the label indicate it is an EC-A or EC-B engine?

Yep . . . it does say California regs. (I should have just edited my last posts)

Despite the sticker, IIRC I believe it has an EC-A engine? I really don't remember it being an EC-B, but I should be able to check when I go home this weekend.

the sticker says EC-B

I know it does . . . but I think the actual engine code is EC-A. Thats what I remember reading when I bought the car. I wouldn't have to much problem believing an engine had been switched if this is the case.

Jim D: what is the VIN, chassis # and engine # of your 1.8 car? I'll try to confirm if the engine may be original.

I'll post it up here on saturday if i can get home, I'd be curious to know. Thanks

Brad Ripley was a key member of the Stoddard group in the early 70's &, as I recall, had a really sweet twin pulg motored 914/6. Haven't seen him in 25 years, but he also (I think) started the old 914/6 Registry that is now part of the 914OA. Figured he would possibly be helpful.

BTW Dave...haven't forgotten your foglight grills. You should get them next week.

So far, only a single (!) reply on the engine paint stamp front I am afraid

Here's the original post, I just bumped it:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=63813