Jay Gratton

Good Afternoon,
I found a '74 914 1.8 for sale that I am kicking around. Now I have driven every 914 engine, except the 1.8 liter. Can I get some opinions on this motor? If I did get the car I have the option of putting in my spare 2.0 liter, but how much of a difference will it make. I just want to drive it around town. Any thoughts from anyone?

Brian A.

Buy it. Drop a 3.6 in it. Call it a day!

I like spending other peoples money as well.

skl

The 1.8 wasn't the greatest, but if the car is solid you can sure work around it...

Jay Gratton

This car looks like a real good one. But the price is a little high. It has a full restoration under its belt, but the thing really looks amazing. Really one of the best 914's I have seen in a while.

Brian A.

Details please

racer

iirc, the 1.8 was like the 1.7, only heavier and slower It always seemed to be the least loved 914 motor. Not sure if it used a different injection system (k-jet, d-jet etc, I confuse them all when I don't see a pair of dual webbers ) or lower compression vs the early 1.7s. The displacement bump was more than likely to make up for a hp loss.

If your 2.0 liter is a "strong" one, I would swap the motors.

yarin

The 1.8L is dog slow. Is it factory injected? "Most" cars converted to carbs are slower than factory fuel injection since they aren't properly tuned. You really can't beat factory fuel injectino for this application, when it works of course. Most people convert to carbs due to modifications, or they just dont want to deal with FI.

I bought mine with a crappy untuned 1.8L, then installed a 2.0L with improperly tuned carbs, then converted to Megasquirt. Car moves along nicely, a little bump over stock with headers.

So to conclude, if you found a solid chassis with little to no rust in all the critical areas.. buy it. Swap in your 2.0L, it takes a few hours to swap motors yourself the first time. The '74s and on are also a heavier car, but you can swap in other parts if weight is your goal.

Got pics?

Jay Gratton

I am not getting the car but I have seen a lot of the restoration pics and they did a great job. The price is a little high but I got the owner down a lot. Here is the link if anyone is interested in a very clean 914. Great color combo as well!

http://maine.craigslist.org/car/302655760.html

Doug&Julie

Looks like a great candidate for a Subaru WRX motor.

hoffman912

Doug, are you still in ohio? sorry to hijack thread..

Doug&Julie

Hey Harry! Yeah, still in the Cinci area. Julie graduates next May, so after that, we begin the westward migration. How's things in Columbus? (..and why did I think you were in the Dayton area?)

Back on topic, I don't think that's too much to pay for a well sorted 914. As difficult as it is to find one in good shape, I think that's a pretty fair price. I've been "shopping" around and noticed a number of them going for about that much on eBay. (For what that's worth.)

Jay Gratton

I got the owner down to $5200, but I don't know if she would do that for just anyone. The miles are high and it has a 1.8 in it and that isn't so good.

Jay Gratton

She reposted it on Maine's craigslist and is starting it at $5750. So I bet it could be had for $5K. Just wanted people to know.

DJM914/6

I'd rather a running 1.8 than a non running 2.0 six. just my .02

Slantnose!

...or a non-running 2.0 four, heh.