Engine conversions - but not flat sixes. Shock horror !!

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:23 am

At the risk of being hung drawn and quartered (oh for the days of real deterrents) what are other members views on putting non Porsche or VW lumps in the back (sorry, middle) of their 914s ?
I've had enough of wheezy, noisy air cooled flat fours and I want MORE POWER. A six pot (Porsche) conversion, whilst being the ultimate, would cost silly money. So I'm scouting around wondering what else would fit. If you look at American web sites it looks as if anything goes and whilst I'd love a big woofly V8 I don't think it's right for the car so I don't intend to go that far. I should add that I have a total restoration to do anyway and a dead Type 4 in place at the moment so while I'm at it........
If that's not enough I'm also toying with the idea of converting to RHD given that everything will be stripped out anyway. I don't intend to sell it so re-sale value isn't an issue. Best potential unit at the moment is a
3 litre Alfa V6 which looks like it will fit without any panel bashing.
Will I be ostracised or H,D and Q'ed ? Any thoughts ?

autohausdolby · Post by **autohausdolby** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:35 am

The guys on 914club.com are big on non-VW/Porsche transplants

The rad issue would put me off though

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:40 am

subaru turbo motor? still a flat 4 and can be tuned to buggery. Surely loads of written off Imprezza's out there with good engines spare?

Been done to a fair few Beetles and Campers.

BTW you can make a type IV got fast.

swapped · Post by **swapped** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:46 am

The obvious engine (to me) is a scoobydoo - you can get complete conversion kits from the US for $2000 or less, and a 2.5 litre lump would do very nicely in a 914, I'm sure. Radiators can go at the front, or I saw a very nice solution with the radiator mounted near the firewall, inclined forwards and with a scoop fabricated so that air is drawn up, through and out of the engine grills you already have.

A huge benefit of the subaru engine is that you keep the flat4 beat - As my 4 year old daughter said when an impreza went past, "that car makes the same 'brum' as your toy-car, Daddy".

Carl

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:49 am

The rads worry me slightly ! I've wondered about the Subaru fours and I have seen a US conversion using the Subaru SVX which is a 230 hp flat six - right in every way except I can't find one over here. Availability is part of the problem which is one reason why the Alfa is favourite - there is a spare one going cheap 20 yards away. Plus I have a soft spot for all things Italian.

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:13 am

http://www.tsrdragracers.co.uk/

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:26 am

Lancia Gamma 2.5 ltr Flat 4. Great torque, Italian, and with the transaxle geabox mounted behing the engine, it has to be a contender....
Would the V6 Alfa mount transverse, Stratos style? Interesting idea.
Front mounting radiators has been the way forward to more power in Hillman Imps for years.

Tim

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:43 am

Good idea. I'd forgotten about the Lancia. Nice and torquey and convenient if the box fits. Finding one would be the problem here.
Would the Alfa fit transversely ?? The current engines (156 etc) might just do it as an engine/transaxle unit and would fill that hole beautifully plus you get those six lovely chromed inlet ducts on the top. Imagine seeing those through the grill. The various fours suggested are good ideas but I am seduced by singing sixes more than 'beating' fours. And I'd rather go to an Alfa rally than a scooby do one and have to wear a baseball cap.

Nige · Post by **Nige** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:56 am

maybe abit daft, but what about a V6 diesel? Our Vectra has Isuzi based Turbo'd 3.0l V6 diesel and it flies, sounds pretty good too, can be chipped to about 230bhp and 370 torquey things! Imagine that in a 914, good fuel ecomony and would last years. How feasible it is, god knows, but nothing is impossible is it

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:07 pm

Definitely daft but suitably mad. Certainly not thought of one of those. I used to have an early GM V6 under my bench (worked at Luton in early 90's) and as I remember it was a bloomin' big lump. I've got to watch that the cg isn't shifted too much higher and affect the handling and also whilst I'm obviously not a stickler for originality I don't want to bend any bodywork. Having written that, I can't justify it. I just don't want to change the shape. Apart from GT flares of course !!

impmad2000 · Post by **impmad2000** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:14 pm

action-briggo wrote:Good idea. I'd forgotten about the Lancia. Finding one would be the problem here.

A rusty Lancia shouldn't be too hard to find

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:32 pm

"Radiators can go at the front, or I saw a very nice solution with the radiator mounted near the firewall, inclined forwards and with a scoop fabricated so that air is drawn up, through and out of the engine grills you already have." (Have I done that right ? Bit new to this forum thingy.)

Thats what I'd like to do although running the water to the front would help the weight distribution. Anyone got any figures for the what the front/rear split is on a standard car ?

abm914 · Post by **abm914** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:35 pm

What about a Chevy V8

http://www.v8914.com/

Ad

Ferry Man · Post by **Ferry Man** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:47 pm

Can't say it would be my thing and I'm not advocating a V8 conversion but have you seen these boys?
They do some nice fabrications.

http://home.earthlink.net/~deserthybrids/

Bewildebeest · Post by **Bewildebeest** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 1:55 pm

Yes V8s are luvverly but I'll wait till I get my Cobra replica. And what would it do the weight distribution in a 914 ? And I'm sure you'd have to modify the boot floor which might mean you can't stow the roof. I do want to keep it practical !! That's one reason not to put the rad at the front - nowhere to put the shopping !