Porsche 914 Modifications, Suggestions and Alternatives
The Porsche 914 is an extremely adaptable sports car. Introduced in 1969, the model was produced until 1976. The mid-engined two-seater is a small and highly agile car. The only downside to the 914 is that it was underpowered. I think this was done to prevent the 914 from taking away the market share of the Porsche 911.
The engines available in the stock 914 during the race were 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. The most common thing is to rebuild one of the original stock engines and with the wide availability of Porsche aftermarket parts and OEM parts, you can put together a very nimble 914 with acceptable power increases. . Where the fun is is in the installation of more productive Porsche 911 engines. The most popular engine swap is the 2.7L, next on the list in popularity is the 3.0L, both of which produce excellent power and are extremely reliable. However, the king of the hill is without a doubt the 3.6L which will give a Porsche 914 enough power to drive just about anything off the tarmac. When swapping the stock engine for one of the more powerful Porsche 911 flat-6 engines, it is necessary to install booster kits on the 914 due to the increased torque and power these engines offer.
The next natural step in the modification of the Porsche 914 is the suspension. The original 914 used a 4-lug bolt pattern for the wheels, which doesn’t leave much room for changes. The stock suspension needs to be upgraded to the 911 at the front so the more responsive 5-lug bolt pattern can be more easily upgraded to larger wheels and tires. Also, the rear of the car should have 914-6 bushings fitted and the trailing arms strengthened, this will also allow the use of 5-bolt pattern wheels. Switching to the 5-bolt pattern also gives you the option of using any of the appropriately sized Porsche fuchs wheels.
Finally, the last of the modifications of the Porsche 914 is the bodywork. Without taking away from the original look of the 914, there are a variety of body kits available, from steel to fiberglass fender kits to kits that look like the Porsche 916. The latest body modification kit for the 914 is the Porsche 904 Carrera GTS Coupe from 1964. Modifying the bodywork of the Porsche 914 will absolutely change the dynamics of the car. Everything from aerodynamics to overall weight will create a different feel to the car than you’d expect.
When modifications to the 914 are considered, it is something personal. I have tried in this short space to give you an idea of what can be done with the versatility of the Porsche 914. Mechanical changes to affect overall performance, suspension changes to increase stability and driveability and body modification to customize the outside of the car. . As for the interior that’s where I stop. There is too much that can be done to make the interior space of the 914 a reflection of the owner.