Family Heirloom

[Mr9146]

Somehow I've found some time recently to get some work done on my 914-6 project which has been languishing in the corner of my shop for the last year or so.

I am not going to bore you 911 guys with pictures of the car - I think there's a thread buried somewhere in "Off Topic" or "Other Porsche Passions" - but I do think you guys would be interested in the pile of parts that will be motivating my little shoebox.

The idea for the motor is that it's going to be a "legacy" motor; it's built using parts that my father and I have collected over the last few years. We are each bringing something to the table, and while the motor is going to be in my car it's really OUR motor as opposed to it belonging to one of us or the other. I'm treating it like a family heirloom; some families pass on gold watches, but Porsche mechanics pass on hot-rod engines. No ... it is not for sale.

Here's the nitty gritty:
The case is a heavily worked 76/77 7R case, 66mm 2.0L "S" crank and rods, ARP rod bolts, Mahle 91mm pistons and cylinders, twin-plug heads that were massaged by C.R. Axtell (a hotrodder name that a few of you should remember), 911R cams, polished rockers, Aasco springs and titanium retainers, lightened timing gears, 3.0L oil pump, 911R-style lightened flywheel and pressure plate, factory Marreli twin-plug distributor, and 40mm Webbers refurished by Matt and Eurometrix.

It's currently dressed in 911 sheetmetal because we're going to be installing it in my dad's car for a little while. My car is quite a way from being road ready and I want to have time to break the motor in and shake it down prior to installing it in my car. Have you ever tried setting the timing in a 914-6?

[andyjboy]

Sounds like a great spec - that's my kind of heirloom !

Just out of interest (since your engine is not too different to the one going in my 'long term' project - mated to a close-ratio 914 trans) what clutch are you using ?

[Macroni]

Looks great Marco.....

[Mr9146]

Sounds like a great spec - that's my kind of heirloom !

Just out of interest (since your engine is not too different to the one going in my 'long term' project - mated to a close-ratio 914 trans) what clutch are you using ?

Thanks, Andy. I'm really excited to see how this thing runs; it's like making a Porsche gumbo or Porsche Shepherd's Pie, ya know?

The clutch/flywheel for when it goes into my 914-6 is the stock early cup-type flywheel (drilled so much that it looks like a hunk of swiss cheese) and standard clutch ... non-911S. I'll shoot some pics of the flywheel/clutch on Monday and post 'em up.

As an aside, I was able to find a 904 mainshaft at a swap meet last year. So, when I stack my gears for the 914 box, I'll have a bit more freedom and can really build something to complement this engine.

[andyjboy]

Do you have a particular set of ratios in mind ?

I've gone with AEJQX.

I've got my 906-style flywheel now too but was undecided about a clutch - is there a reason you specifically stated non-S clutch ?

[CamBiscuit]

Sounds like a really nice legacy you are building Marco.

[RSupdate]

So I'll be checkin' yer engine out in yer dad's blue car I assume....

[edmayo]

Marco, check your PM'S. Maybe Santa left you something!

[Flieger]

Saw your Dad was up on the Snake this weekend in the blue car. Breaking in the new motor?

[Mr9146]

Luke - Thanks, bud. I'm trying to make it clean, functional and period-looking.

Cam - These parts are things that have been collecting dust for years. I'm building a motor that, on paper, should be a fun little screamer. But I've been down this road before. The last time I owned a 66mm-stroke motor was a 2.2S I had in my first 914/6 back in high school. All I remember was that it was a snore fest below 4000rpm; when I complained to my dad about always having to rev the piss out of the car to make it go he made me rebuild the motor ... this time with a 70.4mm crank (and 911S MFI). The end result, however, was my favorite engine combination for an early Porsche (2.2S pistons with a 2.4L crank). So, who knows? This motor is qiuite a bit bigger than the 2.2S, but I may find that I'm more partial to the bottom end grunt of long stroke motors. Plus, with the 911R cams this thing won't even think about putting out until 5000RPM. In the end it really could be that this just turns out to be an exercise in engine building; after all, I still have a 70.4mm crank sitting in the corner ... it's been knife-edged, too.

Andy - No particular ratios planned just yet. I have to go back through my records and see what was in my last 914/6 with the 2.4S ... that was a sweet gearbox but there was room for improvement. I'll let you know what I used to have and when I come to a decision on the new box I'll upload some gear charts. As for the clutch ... I've attached photos so you can see what's been done.

Johnny Riz - Yes, when the motor is done we'll be uploading it to the blue car. The thing is that the gearbox in that car is built for the 2.8L that's in there now, and I'm not sure that the 8:31 R&P will mesh with the little short stroker I'll be putting in ... no torque to pull the gear. BUT, the upside is that the gear ratios themselves are pretty short and tight so if I keep it out of the super long 5th it might be okay.

Ed - I got your PM. I thought I replied but I guess it didn't send. I'll rewrite and resend it later tongiht. You, sir, are a good man.

Max - Nope, not yet. It'll be at least a month or so as I still have some finish work to do as well as assemble the carburetors.