grendel

hey,
This is my first post on the rennlist. I have owned my 76 914 since I was 16 and I have been slowly rebuilding it for the past six years. I put a 911 front end with the nice 911 sc aluminum calipers and the rear was done as correct as I possibly could with the hubs drilled out (works fine despite some advice to the contrary) and I put on the 916 GT flairs( agin worked fine despite contrary advice) and now I want more power. So the 2.6 liter engine is underway. I was wondering if anybody has any helpful tips for cooling the engine? Is there any aftermarket electric fan assemblies available? I seem to remeber seeing one a while back but I can't seem to find it now. I do intend on putting an oil cooler on, but I feel the archaic impeler will not suficiently cool those big cylinders. Any advice would be great, thanks

hitbyastick

Hey there and welcome to Rennlist! I also want to build a 2.6 but it will have to wait. You should go to the <a href="http://www.pelicanparts.com" target="_blank">http://www.pelicanparts.com</a> and read the tech article "Big Fours". I know the guy who built a 2.5 used finned valve covers, lower compression, and an external oil cooler with an electric fan on it, in addition to the old impeller. Stay on the board so I can ask you stupid question when you're done building your big engine, while I'm building mine! Good luck.

<img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" /> <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

grendel

sounds good,
have you ever seen an electric cooling fan for the 914 to replace the impeler? I have come up with a few ways to install one over the engine, but I wanted to know if anyone has seen this and do they know how well it works. <img src="graemlins/roflmao.gif" border="0" alt="[hiha]" />

Lonely Raven

Aren't older 911 engines an option for an easy
swap? I was kinda hoping they were, becuase I
don't have a garage to work in, nor to I have
the tools/knowledge to want to do all that myself.

I've got a '74 1.8 with carbs on it. And while
fun, I'd like a little bit more fast...assuming
this car holds together! LOL

Keep us up to date as to how your big 4 goes!

hitbyastick

Raven,
I am considering a 914/6 conversion. There's also a tech article on the pelicanparts site. I personally think building a big 4 is easier, because all the engine mounts and everything else still fits, because that's what it was made for. THe sixes require different engine mounts (welded in), an oil cooler tank, different engine tin, you might even have some trouble fitting the carbs under the engine rain tray. You also need a 914/6 accelerator linkage. That's all good, but the parts aren't cheap. On the type 4, many things are simpler.
I will however, attempt such a conversion. Big 4 or 911 enigne (911 engine likelier, for I am going to stop driving the 914 in the winter and have nothign but time for it) <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

Joe R

keep it cool by building it right!!! Jake Raby just built a 2270 cc motor that cranked out 180 HP!!! What that ain't enough? Ya Ya, he gets a shiny penny for his motors but that much HP in a lightened 914 would be insane.
So use good parts get the tolerances right, Line bore, get the case decked, use the Nickies from LN engineering, port the heads, get the right cam, valves, tune the carbs, match compression to a nats ***. Balance all parts, the list goes on..............
Or you can just buy your horsepower from Jake. visit Aircooledtechnology.com

grendel

Hey all,
Some of those parts are expensive (not nearly as much as a 911 conversion but still) I purchased OK pistons and cylinders but did everything elses as right as was affordable. In building I plan on being as patient and as maticulous as possible. when I decided to build the 2.6 four, I realised that I could build it with pretty decent parts for around $1700, thats almost enough to buy only a decent used 911 engine. So that did it, plus after I build this engine any thing is still possible, but the minumum six I am willing to accept is a 3.0, (with heavy mods). So I will wait untill my budget allows for a sixer. <img src="graemlins/drink.gif" border="0" alt="[cherrsagai]" />

Charles Navarro

<strong>keep it cool by building it right!!! Jake Raby just built a 2270 cc motor that cranked out 180 HP!!! What that ain't enough? Ya Ya, he gets a shiny penny for his motors but that much HP in a lightened 914 would be insane. </strong>

We're good friends of Jake and he does really nice work not to mention he has been doing lots of dyno bench testing to see what combinations of induction/exhaust/heads/etc deliver the most horsepower. We were out last april in Severville, TN, and we dragged our 2.6 L "big type 4" down the strip against his bus. Let me just say although we were a 'tad' faster, he almost got the tix to prove that a bus can go fast. Just imagine that same smaller type 4 motor in a 914 that he had in the bus... Scary, no

<strong>So use good parts get the tolerances right, Line bore, get the case decked, use the Nickies from LN engineering, port the heads, get the right cam, valves, tune the carbs, match compression to a nats ***. Balance all parts, the list goes on..............</strong>

That's the name of the game- if you want it big and want it reliable, use the best out there. If our 2.6 L didnt have the best quality components on there, including our Nickies, there is no way it could be called a daily driver, no less be able to hold for 500 miles straight from IL to TN 90 mph without breaking 400 F CHT at the #3 spark plug. All with stock cooling. Now only if we had a 5 (or 6) speed to pair with it- I could only guess our fuel economy would be much higher than 30 mpg @ 90 mph

Take care,

Charles Navarro
LN Engineering
<a href="http://www.LNengineering.com" target="_blank">http://www.LNengineering.com</a>
Aircooled Precision Performance

Lonely Raven

Charles, does your shop install the motors too?
Or do you just design/build them?

Unfortunatly, no matter how much I really want
to do this all myself, I don't have the experience
or the garage to work in to get the experience,
so I have to rely on paying a shop to do all my
work. 180 Horsepower?!?! Damn, I think 150 would
be more then enough for me!

The more I talk about this, the more I want to
talk to a shop about having this done.
Has anyone gotten/done any quotes for a big 4
installed? I'm wondering how much damage to my
bank account this would be?

JRust

I wouldn't worry so much about the install. If you just pay someone to build it right. That is the real key installing is easy to do by yourself. These engine are light & pretty simple to install yourself. I took out & reinstalled my own & I'm an idiot when it comes to that. Well probably not as much as before. Taking it out took about 3hours by myself(first time). The install took about 1 hour with a buddy helping. Definately read all the articles & research this conversion to the max. There are so many possibilities. I think the big four is the way to go. Just check all the possibilities. It suck when you do your rebuild & find all the things you could have done better after your done. Good luck & keep us posted <img src="graemlins/nono.gif" border="0" alt="[nono]" />

cgnj

Hi,

You'll have to explain this to me, or tell me where you're buying parts. I can't see how you can go 2.6 on $1700. I am building a 2270 and off the top of my head I've spent at least $1500 on the specialized parts for this project. This doesn't include shipping, bearings, machine work, carbs or any head work.

Carlos

76 2270 (It's starting to look like a motor)

Lonely Raven

I'm looking at Jake's motors now. That really
does look like the best option...But the $5k+
price tag is going to be a major hindrance to me.
And effectively more then doubleing the cost of
the car!LOL

Anywho...I don't have a garage, or proper tools
to work with...so even though I terribly want to
learn how to drop, rebuild, and reinstall my
engine...I just don't have that as an option
right now. I'm going to have to have someone
do it for me.

But it looks likes Jake's motors are definitly in
my future!

cgnj

Lonely Raven,

If I had to start over again, I would buy Raby turnkey motor. I don't think that you could find anyone locally who (except Brad Mayer) who could come close to bang for buck. I expect that I will have spent at least the money that I would have paid Jake before I am done. That doesn't count the headaches.

These motors are easy to rebuild in stock form. It's the extras and expertise that quickly escalate the cost. Stop at the shoptalkforums and search on 2270.

Carlos

76 2270

Lonely Raven

I'm already set on it...I just have to drum up
the funds.

It just hurts that I could get a used 944 NA for
a *beater* (hehe) car for that same $5000 that I'd
be spending on JUST the Raby motor.

But I'm loving my '14 so much! I've only had it
two weeks, and I've already been stopped 4 times
people asking "what year is that" and "is that
*really* a Porsche?" It's a lot of fun!

The idea of 150HP (my goal) with better breaks
and basically the same car I have now...I think
I'd be in heaven. Look out 944 Turbos! LOL