The Porsche 914 is an extremely adaptable sports car. Introduced in 1969 the model was produced until 1976. The mid engine two seater is a small car and very nimble. The only down side with the 914 is that it was slightly underpowered. I believe this was done to keep the 914 from cutting into the market share of the Porsche 911.
The engines available in the stock 914 during the run were the 1.7L (flat-4), 1.8L (flat-4), 2.0L (flat-4), and 2.0L (flat-6). this is where the modification of the Porsche 914 begins. It is most common to rebuild one of the stock original stock engines and with the vast availability of Porsche aftermarket parts and OEM parts you can put together a very snappy 914 with acceptable horsepower increases. Where the fun is is in the installation of more productive Porsche 911 engines. The most popular engine change is the 2.7L, next on the list in popularity is the 3.0L both produce excellent horsepower and are extremely reliable. The king of the hill however is without a doubt the 3.6L which will give a Porsche 914 enough horsepower to drive just about anything off of the asphalt. When changing out the stock engine with one of the more powerful Porsche 911 flat-6 engines it is necessary to install stiffening kits into the 914 because of the increase in torque and horsepower these engines deliver.
The next natural step in the modification of the Porsche 914 is the suspension. The stock 914 used a 4 lug bolt pattern for the wheels which doesn't leave much room for change. The stock suspension should be upgraded to the 911 in the front for the 5 lug bolt pattern which is more responsive can be upgraded easier and carry larger wheels and tires. Also the rear of the car must have 914-6 hubs installed and the trailing arms reinforced, this will also allow the use of 5 bolt pattern wheels. Changing to the 5 bolt pattern also allows you the option of using any of the Porsche fuchs wheels of the appropriate size.
Finally, the last of the Porsche 914 modifications is the body. Without taking away the original look of the 914 there are a variety of body kits available from fender kits in steel to fiber glass to Porsche 916 look alike kits. The ultimate body modification kit for the 914 is the 1964 Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Coupe. Modifying the body of the Porsche 914 will absolutely change the dynamics of the car. Everything from aerodynamics, to overall weight will create a different feel in the car which is to be expected.
When modifications to the 914 are being considered it is a personal thing. I have attempted in this short space to give you a picture of just what can be done with the versatility of the Porsche 914. Mechanical changes to effect overall performance, suspension changes to increase stability and driveability and body modification to personalize the exterior of the car. As for the interior that is where I stop. There is just to much that can be done to make the interior space of the 914 a reflection of the owner.
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Porsche enthusiast, enjoy sports car racing and auto-x as well as Porsche restoration, modification, and maintenance.
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