Well, I've been toying with this idea for the past couple of days.

Here's the info:
1972 Porsche 914/4 (1.7L flat - 4)
Blue
Was running, until there was a fuel injection issue
Looked sharp (from what I remember seeing driving past it in the parking lot)
all for $1000.

I wanted something light-weight, RWD, and cheap. used Miata was an option, except it's entirely too girly. I've always liked the look of the 914s with the targas off... I'm not a big fan of Miata's with the top down. I would only want to drive this when I got bored of driving my Civic automatic... and occassionally open track it/autocross it.
However, after doing some research, it seems like there's a problem with the 1.7L and power (read: it had none) and they tend to be high maintenance.

Discouraged, I looked to see what engine swap options there are and came across this thread:
Honda engine swap into the 914

So, it seems like a shop in Cali makes an adapter kit for Hondas to bolt up to the 914 gearbox. Cool, even if the gearbox is one of the weaker pieces, it has got my mind moving.

Other problem is, I'm thinking of picking up another CRX for CSP duty in a few months (a 91 SI, granted, not the BEST chassis, but, I'd have fun competing).

and a motorcycle (GSXR750). So, I'm running out of room and money! arg! Of course, I could always fix the 914, and sell it for $2500 locally and make a quick $1500. what to do.

 

Not a bad price, if...

You need to look very hard for rust...everywhere; under carpets, under mats, at suspension mounting points, fender wells, etc. Take a magnet to look for bondo covering rotted sills, etc. Check the door shut lines to see if the chassis is collapsing in on itself. look for evidence of leaks around the windshield. Everything else is cheap to fix, but if there is structural rust, it's gonna get really pricy.

BTW, GRM has a 914 2.0 project car http://www.grmotorsports.com/914.html Their info might help.

 

Joo are mixed up and undirected.

Joo SHOULD buy the 914 and dedicate yourself to it exclusively.

The 914 is dynamically fantastic, and since it doesn't sound like you can afford a Boxster, this is as close as you're going to get.

DO NOT **** up a perfectly good 914 by squeezing a tall heavy Honda motor into it.

Scott, who's just talking...hmmm, yelling at joo...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Joo are mixed up and undirected.

Joo SHOULD buy the 914 and dedicate yourself to it exclusively.

The 914 is dynamically fantastic, and since it doesn't sound like you can afford a Boxster, this is as close as you're going to get....</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
DO NOT **** up a perfectly good 914 by squeezing a tall heavy Honda motor into it.
</TD></TR></TABLE>
no, but squeezing in a flat 6 would be quite entertaining.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
no, but squeezing in a flat 6 would be quite entertaining.</TD></TR></TABLE>

why stop at 6 when you can have 8.

I've always liked those cars a lot. I'd like to drive one some day.

 

who makes a flat 8 (besides Ferrari?)

it is a relatively easy task to drop in a 911 engine in those cars - and who wants the weight of a V8 sitting right behind them (unless you drive a Pantera... )

 

Buy it.

Look for rust under the battery box, the firewall next to the battery box, and the right rear suspension (under the battery box). Also, there's a test called the big-butt test. Seriously. Get someone who weighs ~230lbs and have them sit in the passenger seat and close the door. Leave the targa top on and see if the door opens and closes cleanly (without the window glass catching on the top and sticking). If it does stick, rust may be causing the body to flex too much.

An early 911 engine swap would be really cool, but you can have the 1.7 liter punched out and fitted with a lot of performance goodies. Some VW parts can also be used on the 914.

I almost talked my dad into letting me buy a green 1971 914 from an auction for 800 bucks when I was in high school. The carpeting had been replaced with astroturf and the inside of the car smelled like dog food. It was love at first sight. It still is.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RR98ITR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">DO NOT **** up a perfectly good 914 by squeezing a tall heavy Honda motor into it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
But, it fits (with minor cutting, similar to fitting a B16 into a CRX) and has a bunch more power than the porsche 1.7, 1.8, or 2.0 engines can make with the OEM based fuel injection (D-Jet?).

I want it to have at least 130-140whp. the 1.7L and it's lowly 80 some odd BHP isn't all that appealing.

and a V8 just screams out "unbalanced".

hmmm...

 

I don't' think Ryan was referring to a flat 8, but a V8. As in Chevy. Small block.

Relatively easy is a relative term. A 911 flat 6 isn't just a drop it in kind of situation. http://www.pelicanparts.com/ca...n.htm
But if you've got the means it would be a great car, especially if you used a larger six than the 2.0L that graced the factory 914 sixes.

I say buy it.

Sean

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
no, but squeezing in a flat 6 would be quite entertaining.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No squeezing needed; they came with a 6 from the factory for a few years....

 

Why not buy a 914-6?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why not buy a 914-6?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Probably because they're rare, cost a small fortune, and you can't find them for $1000 like the one he's located.

 

Well if he's going to spend the time and money to swap a Honda in the thing, he might be better off paying a little extra money and getting a decent car out of it.

 

Here ya go.

http://www.v8914.com

Talk about sacrilege. Sheesh.

 

People have mentioned rust already. Another thing I've heard you need to watch out for is engine fires due to the the fuel injection. Replace it with dual Webers if you're going to keep that engine. IIRC, the 4-cylinder engine used in the 914 is identical to the VW "Type IV" engine, so there should be a fair amount of aftermarket performance stuff available for it. Or you could use the 911 engine like others have mentioned.

I was really into Porsches and VWs in high school, and there was this crapped-out 914 sitting in front of a shop that my dad used to visit occasionally. I really, really wanted that car, but the owner wanted $5,800 for it. It was rusty and didn't run and looked like it'd been sitting for a while, so that didn't seem very reasonable to me. Of course this was 20+ years ago, so maybe it was reasonable for that time. I still wouldn't mind having one of those to play with.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SJR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">who makes a flat 8 (besides Ferrari?)</TD></TR></TABLE>

porsche made a flat 8. a very powerful flat 8; i think around 360-370 hp or so out of 3 liters, NA.

that would be a bad *** motor to put in a 914!

finding one might be a problem, though. they were used in the early 70's in the 908 racecars.....

the cost would be very high; hell, while your at it, might as well search for a 917 twin turbo motor; i think 1200 hp in a 914 would really get you around the block in a hurry

 

If you do end up getting it, let me know I have a shed full of parts. I bought my 914 when I was 12 and spend 5 years restoring it with my dad. I still have it 17 years later. My dad has a real 914-6 that we are presently restoring. I have been fixing my car over the past few years and I am getting ready to put a 2.4 MFI in it. I also raced an E production 914 for 4 years. It is one best handling cars properly set up that you will ever drive. If it has rust I am very familiar with fixing it.

Blake Meredith

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Apocalypse &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well if he's going to spend the time and money to swap a Honda in the thing, he might be better off paying a little extra money and getting a decent car out of it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually, the adapter plate to drop a honda engine into it is $500. I have an engine, ecu, and wiring all ready.

The thing i keep running into is hp numbers that are around 120-130hp for most of the engine choices, modified. not very appealing to me... that's why i'm thinking on going with a honda powerplant. Reliable, readily accessible for parts, and i already know how to work on it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Driven &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The thing i keep running into is hp numbers that are around 120-130hp for most of the engine choices, modified. not very appealing to me... </TD></TR></TABLE>

That's pretty much what a 914 is though. Why are you getting it if you know you don't like the engine, you think it looks good? It can't be because the stock setup is all that great.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by George Knighton &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> if it's not a rust bucket to start with.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Just looked at the car and, thankfully, very minor minor rust... mostly oxidation.

It looks pretty much very very clean. The paint could use some freshening and there's some minor dents here and there. But, overall, a very nice looking car.

 

A decent, stock 914-6 can be had for about $10k.... yeah, it's way off base when compared to the the $1k he was looking to spend, but I'm not sure it wouldn't be worth the extra money, if he has it of course. You wouldn't have to worry about any reliability issues with respect to the swap and you'd have an awesome car as your platform.

A lot of it, I believe, depends on how he plans on running it. Is this a DE/street car or competition car and with what sanctioning body? If it's just DE I would say don't waste the money on the 914-6 and just go with the swap... but he wants to run PCA Club Races the 914-6 might be worth looking into.

 

That's Brumos George... the Brumos cars are ridiculous!

Limited Production 914-6. Built primarily by Brumos Porsche/ Brumos Racing (Jacksonville ,Florida) for a very close member of the BRUMOS MOTORCARS family. The owner is a very fussy collector who demands the very best of everything.

...and refusing a $22,500 offer is NOT the same thing as an ebay auction where the reserve hasn't been met.

 

My dad used to have a green 914 back when my sister was born. Back in those days ('73-'74), people weren't so much concerned about auto safety and my parents used to rest her baby seat on the center console.

 

I have a pic from the Jefferson 500 last year of a couple of the Brumos' 914s, including one that Hurley Haywood drove that weekend. If I think of it, I'll upload and post it tonight.