Shoptalkforums.com

Newbie here...

I've owned a lot of VWs over the years, mostly older bugs, '59, '64' '65, etc. Even rebuilt a 1200 motor once years ago. I am now wanting to build a fun commuter car. I want to build one of Raby's Level 2 support engine kits. I had been thinking in terms of a bug or maybe a Ghia, but I almost picked up a non-running 914 that looked like a pretty good deal, just for the Type 4 block. I just missed it, someone else snatched it the morning after I found it on Craig's list. Looking around a bit in the last few days, I am surprised to find these cars looking pretty affordable. Maybe what I am seeing listed are pretty rough cars.

But that begs the question, should I seriously consider a 914? I assume the parts are in general going to be more expensive. The 914 is a bit heavier than a bug, but I imagine the general handling and suspension are a newer and superior design. With a Raby 2270-145, anything this size is going to be WAY fun to drive.

I would still use a Raby engine kit, even though I suppose there may be some out there who would cringe at anything not stock, I consider Jake Raby to be probably the world's leading expert in aircooled boxer engines. (please don't bother flaming if you disagree, you're entitled to your opinions, but that is mine) Raby's new Level 2 support makes it possible for a novice to build a world-class custom engine benefitting from all of Raby's years of experience without machine shop tooling and instruments. That is just too good to pass up. I would love to have that experience with my 16 year old son before he goes off to college.

So I could get an old heap 914 just to get the Type 4 motor and put the rebuilt motor in a bug, or I could look for a bit better but still cheap 914 that is worth restoring?

Stupid question to ask of a dedicated 914 crowd, like anyone is going to say "oh no don't get a 914...", but still, persuade me. Why would I love a 914 more than a bug that went as fast (but maybe didn't handle as well...)?

Is this just a Porsche nameplate thing? Or is the driving experience that much better?

I should add that I live in the country and drive twisting mountain roads every day. My other vehicle is a BMW R1100GS dual sport motorcycle set up for adventure touring. It carves the twisties a good deal better than most sports cars, and has 1100cc powering a six hundred pound vehicle. Is a 914 anything like that experience? I stop riding the BMW when we hit ice season, preferring to have four wheels to balance on in that case.

Any years, or models to avoid, or special details to be careful of in a rougher used example? I know all the places to be careful of rust in a bug, but not so much in a 914. Bugs are so tough, and parts so plentiful, as long as it doesn't have advanced cancer of the oxidized steel variety, you can pretty much always take it to concours grade if you want to take the time. But of course you still only have a car that only its mother -- or a bug junkie -- could love, and a 914 is after all a Porsche in name, not just lineage. The Bug is after all, sort of the illegitimate child of Ferdinand Porsche, never got the name, even if it did benefit from the genes.

I welcome all friendly advice and comments! Cheers!

Most 914's have 30 yr old suspensions and are tired but if you renew them with new stuff a 914 handles amazing. You can swap 911 bits on too to give you a path to upgrade your car.

A 914 with 145hp needs a improved suspension ie sway bars, larger from Tbars, konis, and larger rear springs. Bigger vented brakes can be installed for decent money along with 911 5 bolt wheels.
Now that 914 will hold the corners with the best of them and keep a grin on your face.

Really, its a real sports car that is comfortable to drive as well as fun. At 100 mph its in love and just cruises. Comes with a 5 speed and you can mix gears to have a nice close ratio box to improve the fun too.

Now in heavy traffic and SUV's hardly anyone can see you as you are so low so I am not much of a lover of driving in Rush Hour...

Rust? always look in the engine bay at the "Hellhole" or below where the battery tray is. Tray? what tray? if its gone and the long below it is gone walk away.... Passenger floors are easy to replace, long repairs aren't.

Thanks! Just the sort of thing I was looking for...

So the "hell hole" is the space under the battery, and the "long" is an adjacent pan area? I am not real familiar with the layout of the engine compartment on the 914.

Thanks!

If you found a fairly stock 914, without serious rust, ignoring engine work, what would you spend upgrading the suspension and other functional bits, just roughly? Not what "could" you, but what would you?

Thanks again!

I'd spend the money on the suspension before the engine. And I'd fix the brakes correctly before doing any suspension.

Depending on what the car needs, you can spend several hundred to several thousand on suspension. For several thousand, though, you're talking all new bushings and such and anything that can wear being replaced. For simple upgrades, some 100# rear springs and a 19mm front swaybar can be had for the $300-$400 range (new; much less used) and will be a reasonable mild street upgrade.

Stock brakes, when in excellent condition, work very well indeed. I know one owner who tells me he out-brakes E36-chassis M3s on the track with stock 914 brakes! (And 1000 lbs less weight, of course!) You can re-do the brake system completely for something like a grand; less if fewer things need to be replaced.

The 914 will drive little like a sport-bike IMHO. The bike will not be able to out-handle the 914 (assuming you only mean lateral G forces); the 914 (and most other decent sporty cars) will be able to enter a corner much faster than the bike, but will not exit it faster. (The bike's power-to-weight is Good Stuff!) The stock 914 had up to about 95 HP in a 2000 lb package, so you can see that acceleration is relatively modest by today's standards.

You can take the top off the 914 and have the wind blow your hair around. Your vehicle is small, and the typical latte-chugging cell-phone-yakking SUV driver will not see it. It is also much more nimble than most SUVs. In those respects, it is rather like the sport bike.

My advice to people in this situation: Drive one. If you can get out of the car without a huge grin on your face, absolutely needing to own one, then the 914 is probably not the car for you... It is the car for me!

--DD

Dave_Darling wrote:I'd spend the money on the suspension before the engine. And I'd fix the brakes correctly before doing any suspension.
... It is the car for me! --DD

Good detail! Thanks! ... Looking and thinking about it ....