Skip to content
Aussieveedubbers

914 WRX Conversion

0 likes
Share Share on Facebook Share on X Share on Reddit
Log in to reply

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 ·

#867899
Just keep an eye on what Raby is going. He is playing with subys now, just another way of diversifying for his company.

I wouldn't be surprised if a bolt in engine trans package emerges for the 914 in the future from his work. My questions is why not a one of his existing type 4 914 engines? Actually not sure if he offers them anymore?

can't you see in that video the 914 flogging all those 911s!!!🤪

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

micheloaks Casual Dubber

36 posts · joined Dec 2008 ·

#889834
1303Steve wrote:Hi

The WRX box would also be going in the correct direction as well because the motor would be in the same orientation as that on a WRX.

This 914 has a Boxster motor, it was at the German autofest last year in Canberra.

Steve

Craig S the Booster engined is owned by Pete Shelley in Canberra. Owner of belconnen vw centre. Hell give you the run down on the car an conversion cost.

Why not subi 6 cylinder.?

There is an uber cool conversion of a bus with custom everything - suspension , body interior and 6cyl subie motor with bespoke efi.
.

crsedge Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#890322
vlad01 wrote:Just keep an eye on what Raby is going. He is playing with subys now, just another way of diversifying for his company.

I wouldn't be surprised if a bolt in engine trans package emerges for the 914 in the future from his work. My questions is why not a one of his existing type 4 914 engines? Actually not sure if he offers them anymore?

:
Hi Vlad,

Who is Raby? I am unfamiliar of his work.

Cheers

Craig
May '55 Oval

Craig Torrens 6 times Australian, 7 times State Hillclimb Class Champion

8,040 posts · joined Jan 2003 ·

#890323
Jake Raby........a US engine builder.


66deluxe Custom Title Time!

1,593 posts · joined Aug 2005 ·

#890372
vlad01 wrote:They are a bastard to assemble and require special tools, techniques etc... which make them expensive.

http://www.flat6innovations.com/engine-assembly

I certainly didn't find it a bastard to assemble when i built two of them last year when i worked for Raby.
This is my Volkswagen, there are many like it, but this one is mine. Without me my Volkswagen is useless, without my Volkswagen, I am useless.

61 Karmann Ghia 2110cc type1 w Los Panchito's
66 Deluxe Beetle 2270 type 4
10 Subaru WRX Impreza

guru Officially Full-On Dubber

236 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#890982
How about the Toyota V8?
32 valve, all alloy? Bullit proof.
I had the weight/dimensions of this motor for my 914.
Not much heavier than a Porsche 6. About 15kg from memory.

Spoke to a guy in the states with a 1uzfe v8 in his 914.
Said it was awesome. And the sound of the motor just behind his head was fantastic.

I'll be going this way with mine.

Subarugears Officially Full-On Dubber

236 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·

#890995
Good luck with that, all you will get is wheelspin and/or wheelies.
What is it with people wanting to stick V8's into everything as if it's some sort of Nirvana?
Maybe plan a bit more overall 'balance' into a project with such small wheelbase and light weight so it will be driveable.
Have you ever driven a Manx with even a modest amount of power?

crsedge Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#891457
Hi All,

I have had some email correspondence with Renegade Hybrids as they market a conversion kit for $1995 specifically for the 914 Subaru conversion
http://www.renegadehybrids.com/

They have been very helpful, and when asked about the inclusion of a Subaru transmission thought that it would 'stick out of the rear of the car' with fitment issues after locating the engine and trailing arms rearward. They said the engineering to fit the transmission would outweigh the cost, and that the 914 gearbox is more than capable of handling the power of the conversion.

Thoughts?

Cheers

Craig

I know Boof fitted up a subaru gearbox
May '55 Oval

guru Officially Full-On Dubber

236 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#892851
Subarugears wrote:Good luck with that, all you will get is wheelspin and/or wheelies.
What is it with people wanting to stick V8's into everything as if it's some sort of Nirvana?
Maybe plan a bit more overall 'balance' into a project with such small wheelbase and light weight so it will be driveable.
Have you ever driven a Manx with even a modest amount of power?

Have you driven/built a sports sedan?
What about a can-am racer?
Look again at the 914. Its not a manx.
I thought you would have tried to sell me a gearbox instead of shafting my research!

OPPS......
Sorry 'bout that Craig, go the 914 box, mate.
Proven, fits & works well.

Subarugears Officially Full-On Dubber

236 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·

#892870
crsedge wrote:Hi All,

I have had some email correspondence with Renegade Hybrids as they market a conversion kit for $1995 specifically for the 914 Subaru conversion
http://www.renegadehybrids.com/

They have been very helpful, and when asked about the inclusion of a Subaru transmission thought that it would 'stick out of the rear of the car' with fitment issues after locating the engine and trailing arms rearward. They said the engineering to fit the transmission would outweigh the cost, and that the 914 gearbox is more than capable of handling the power of the conversion.

Thoughts?

Cheers

Craig

I know Boof fitted up a subaru gearbox
I don't know what engineering would be different between fitting a Subie box and a 914 box with adaptor plates and what not. The Subie box won't hang out the rear - it's shorter than a Kombi box. The 914 box may very well take the power of your conversion, but what about the gearbox not matching the torque characteristics so well?

Dunno - worth thinking about the whole package and seeing some completed conversions, plus talking to some people that have driven their completed conversions. I think that's the real decider on parts of the project - find out from those that have driven them and see what they think. There seem to be quite a few on 914world,com forum that looked like good conversions.

Subarugears Officially Full-On Dubber

236 posts · joined Dec 2011 ·

#892881
guru wrote:Have you driven/built a sports sedan?
What about a can-am racer?
Look again at the 914. Its not a manx.
I thought you would have tried to sell me a gearbox instead of shafting my research!

OPPS......
Sorry 'bout that Craig, go the 914 box, mate.
Proven, fits & works well.
Yep I have actually driven and participated in the build of several sports sedans.
An XD Falcon with 700hp mid mounted 351 and ZF transaxle
A Fiat Topolino with mid mounted Alfa 2 litre, twin webbers etc
An EH Holden with 179 6 cylinder, triple webbers etc
All raced at Wanneroo raceway
I was on the build team of one of the HK Monaros for the London to Sydney marathon.
So yes, I have had some exposure to what's involved in creating and driving a balanced car.
But not a Can-Am racer!! I don't think the OP is stretching quite that far!!!

Clearly a 914 and a Manx are different vehicles to some extent, simply by the fact that the 914 has a mid mounted drivetrain. The bottom of your post however shows you wanting to fit a V8 into a Manx, hence my comment to you about having driven a high powered Manx. A poorly balanced one will drive like wheelspin. Followed by cornering like a 930 turbo Porsche, but looping out even quicker.

I shot down your research (rather than selling you a gearbox) because I don't agree with putting a heavier engine in a chassis that needs so much balance, when you can use a much lighter engine with more power than you'll know what do do with, and retain the ability to use the car well.

If you think fitting a 1UZ to a 914 or Manx is great, then go for it! I had a 1UZ in my Soarer and loved it. That motor is totally over engineered and bullet proof.

I guess I should start working on making the 1UZ adaptor plates now. Hey, that's not such a crazy idea.😎

crsedge Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#895710
IanJ wrote:The 914 can definitely take the WRX engine and transmission. There are a few in the US and this is the route I am about to go down.
Hi Ian,

What are your plans- an off the shelf kit or undertaking all of the work yourself? Do you have the base vehicle to start yet?

Cheers

Craig
May '55 Oval

IanJ Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#895780
Yip. Car has been in my garage for a while now. Just been gathering info/parts. Once I get into it properly in the next couple of weeks I'll start a thread.
Plan is to use Subaru engine and trans with subarugears parts and get a cradle fabbed locally.

crsedge Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#895809
Great news, look forward to seeing it!

What Aussie state are you in?

Cheers

Craig
May '55 Oval

IanJ Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#895811
Hi Craig,
I'm in WA (will update profile and avatar in a sec once I figure out how 😀)

Cheers,
Ian

seagull Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,979 posts · joined Dec 2003 ·

#895833
Ian I spoke with Rob, he is will to sell off the gear. I get him to call you
Looking for that special lady : PM me for coffee & cake

IanJ Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#895844
Excellent. Thanks Neil. Did you get my PM?

crsedge Wolfsburg Wizard

687 posts · joined Jan 2005 ·

#895959
Ahh, I recognise the car in your avatar Ian, not so long ago advertised for sale on this forum and the Australian 914 Register. I thought the same as you, would be a good donor car for this!

Looking forward to your thread, hopefully lots of things for me to learn as still a while off embarking on the same, though have been reading heaps like yourself on 914World Forum. I believe the next issue of Retro Cars magazine will be featuring a 914 turbo as per the current issue's advertising of coming features, reckon likely the Subaru transplant!!

Cheers

Craig
May '55 Oval

IanJ Learner Dubber

18 posts · joined Jan 2010 ·

#895961
The retro cars issue has been out for a little while now. You can get it on iPad or elsewhere if you look around. 😉