2004 WRX Engine swap for Porsche 914
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 36
From: LAS VEGAS
Car Info: 1973 PORSCHE 914 W/2004 WRX ENGINE
2004 WRX Engine swap for Porsche 914
Hello,
I have recently purchased a 1973 Porsche 914 roller chassis. I found and purchased a 2004 Subaru WRX engine with the stock ECU. The engine and ECU did not come with the wiring harness that connects the two. My question to all of you gurus is this... What do I have to do to make this work? I have heard I am embarking on a nightmare, but I figured someone here should be able to help. Please let me know any tricks of the trade to help me install this motor and kick the butts of all the folks here in Vegas who are putting Chevy 350s in their 914's.
Thanks for your help folks!
Keith Wilson
702.524.5580
I have recently purchased a 1973 Porsche 914 roller chassis. I found and purchased a 2004 Subaru WRX engine with the stock ECU. The engine and ECU did not come with the wiring harness that connects the two. My question to all of you gurus is this... What do I have to do to make this work? I have heard I am embarking on a nightmare, but I figured someone here should be able to help. Please let me know any tricks of the trade to help me install this motor and kick the butts of all the folks here in Vegas who are putting Chevy 350s in their 914's.
Thanks for your help folks!
Keith Wilson
702.524.5580
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Posts: 1,804
From: Oakland/El Cerrito, CA
Car Info: Evolution VIII
Originally Posted by Audio Culture
Hello,
I have recently purchased a 1973 Porsche 914 roller chassis. I found and purchased a 2004 Subaru WRX engine with the stock ECU. The engine and ECU did not come with the wiring harness that connects the two. My question to all of you gurus is this... What do I have to do to make this work? I have heard I am embarking on a nightmare, but I figured someone here should be able to help. Please let me know any tricks of the trade to help me install this motor and kick the butts of all the folks here in Vegas who are putting Chevy 350s in their 914's.
Thanks for your help folks!
Keith Wilson
702.524.5580
I have recently purchased a 1973 Porsche 914 roller chassis. I found and purchased a 2004 Subaru WRX engine with the stock ECU. The engine and ECU did not come with the wiring harness that connects the two. My question to all of you gurus is this... What do I have to do to make this work? I have heard I am embarking on a nightmare, but I figured someone here should be able to help. Please let me know any tricks of the trade to help me install this motor and kick the butts of all the folks here in Vegas who are putting Chevy 350s in their 914's.
Thanks for your help folks!
Keith Wilson
702.524.5580
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Posts: n/a
I don't mean to be a jerk, but if you are asking these kinds of questions then you probably aren't skilled enough to do this swap yourself. It will require fabricating to mount the engine, mate the tranny and sort it out. You need the help of a professional shop that has some fab skills.
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 7
From: Campbell
Car Info: 2002 WRX Wagon
914 WRX motor mount
For the motor mount, see TC Design.
http://www.tcdesignfab.com/914WRXmount.htm
Good luck with your project!
Craig
http://www.tcdesignfab.com/914WRXmount.htm
Good luck with your project!
Craig
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 36
From: LAS VEGAS
Car Info: 1973 PORSCHE 914 W/2004 WRX ENGINE
Try a little harder
Originally Posted by Silver arrow
I don't mean to be a jerk, but if you are asking these kinds of questions then you probably aren't skilled enough to do this swap yourself. It will require fabricating to mount the engine, mate the tranny and sort it out. You need the help of a professional shop that has some fab skills.
Silver Arrow,
Maybe you should take a little more time to understand what I was asking. I was not asking how to mount the motor, which has already been done. I was not asking how to mount the "tranny" (which btw is correctly termed a transaxle), that product is called an adaptor plate which has been manufactored for a while now...That product has been purchased and installed. I was simply asking how to connect the ECU to the engine. Furthermore, I own a Car Stereo shop here in Vegas that is right next door to Renegade Hybrids (www.renegadehybrids.com) they are one of the only companies that produces a quality conversion for Porsches. The only problem is that currently they only work with Chevrolet 350ci small blocks as the power-plant. I do not want 30+ year old technology in my 30+ year old car. I wanted to update this little piece of crap that I have sitting in my garage to something cool and appealing to the younger crowd. I will be sure to send you pics of the 74' 911 that my shop is putting well over $150,000 in a total rebuild just as soon as we finish.
Sorry if I came across like a jerk, but you could have been a little more respectful.
Last edited by Audio Culture; Aug 18, 2008 at 02:49 PM.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 36
From: LAS VEGAS
Car Info: 1973 PORSCHE 914 W/2004 WRX ENGINE
Thanks
Craig, Thanks for the heads up. I was directed to this site last week. We have fabricated a proprietary engine mount. As soon as it gets back from powder coating, I will try to post pics.
Thanks again!
Keith
Thanks again!
Keith
Guest
Posts: n/a
Originally Posted by Audio Culture
Silver Arrow,
Instead of comming across like the way you do, maybe take a little more time to understand what I was asking. I was not asking how to mount the motor, which has already been done. I was not asking how to mount the "tranny" (which btw is correctly termed a transaxial), that product is called an adaptor plate which has been manufactored for a while now...That product has been purchased and installed. I was simply asking how to connect the ECU to the engine. Furthermore, I own a Car Stereo shop here in Vegas that is right next door to Renegade Hybrids (www.renegadehybrids.com) they are one of the only companies that produces a quality conversion for Porsches. The only problem is that currently they only work with Chevrolet 350cc small blocks as the power-plant. I do not want 30+ year old technology in my 30+ year old car. I wanted to update this little piece of crap that I have sitting in my garage to something cool and appealing to the younger crowd. I will be sure to send you pics of the 74' 911 that my shop is putting well over $150,000 in a total rebuild just as soon as we finish.
Sorry if I came across like a jerk, but you could have been a little more respectful.
Instead of comming across like the way you do, maybe take a little more time to understand what I was asking. I was not asking how to mount the motor, which has already been done. I was not asking how to mount the "tranny" (which btw is correctly termed a transaxial), that product is called an adaptor plate which has been manufactored for a while now...That product has been purchased and installed. I was simply asking how to connect the ECU to the engine. Furthermore, I own a Car Stereo shop here in Vegas that is right next door to Renegade Hybrids (www.renegadehybrids.com) they are one of the only companies that produces a quality conversion for Porsches. The only problem is that currently they only work with Chevrolet 350cc small blocks as the power-plant. I do not want 30+ year old technology in my 30+ year old car. I wanted to update this little piece of crap that I have sitting in my garage to something cool and appealing to the younger crowd. I will be sure to send you pics of the 74' 911 that my shop is putting well over $150,000 in a total rebuild just as soon as we finish.
Sorry if I came across like a jerk, but you could have been a little more respectful.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 36
From: LAS VEGAS
Car Info: 1973 PORSCHE 914 W/2004 WRX ENGINE
A little more info on the project
This little car is pretty cool. The GVW with fluids is just a shade under 2,000 lbs. The idea is that a light weight, mid-engine, rear wheel drive with 300ish horsepower should be a real kick in the pants. I feel very fortunate to be able to replace the stock 2.0 horizontally opposed VW engine with a Subaru that is similar in configuation, but one helluva lot cooler. It seems that most of the Porsche people don't really like what I am doing, but hey, it is my car...
It is crazy, the amount of people that I have met because of this posting. Some of you have asked why I am doing this to such an ugly car. I agreed with you up until I saw some photos of these 914's at www.ultimate914.com that were outfitted with wide body kits. I just think they take on a totally different look. I am so freekin stoked to get this on the road. I want that rad blow off valve sound, and a low rumble exhaust note. Any ideas?
It is crazy, the amount of people that I have met because of this posting. Some of you have asked why I am doing this to such an ugly car. I agreed with you up until I saw some photos of these 914's at www.ultimate914.com that were outfitted with wide body kits. I just think they take on a totally different look. I am so freekin stoked to get this on the road. I want that rad blow off valve sound, and a low rumble exhaust note. Any ideas?
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From: CA-Bay Area - El Sobrante
Car Info: 02 Wagon w/Vishnu Stage2
Hi,
I also have been looking into this conversion and am waiting for someone to develop one. I live in CA. and the smog game is one that I am tired of playing. The 914 is smog exempt and still available. Let me know if and when you finally get this going.
Good Luck!
I also have been looking into this conversion and am waiting for someone to develop one. I live in CA. and the smog game is one that I am tired of playing. The 914 is smog exempt and still available. Let me know if and when you finally get this going.
Good Luck!
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 150
From: Long Island, NY
wow! I can't wait to hear the performance figures on this car when it's done...
Keith, what hp/torque figures did the 914 put out in stock form just to compair?
For a deep/rumbly exhaust note, just put on nearly any aftermarket highflow muffler, Spintech, magnaflow, etc (don't make it too quiet either
But do some hard research when it comes to blow-off valves, some cause overly-rich air/fuel ratios between shifts, etc.
Keith, what hp/torque figures did the 914 put out in stock form just to compair?
For a deep/rumbly exhaust note, just put on nearly any aftermarket highflow muffler, Spintech, magnaflow, etc (don't make it too quiet either
But do some hard research when it comes to blow-off valves, some cause overly-rich air/fuel ratios between shifts, etc.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 36
From: LAS VEGAS
Car Info: 1973 PORSCHE 914 W/2004 WRX ENGINE
914 progress
Hello all,
FYI...
We are just about to begin the fitting of the new WRX engine. I have purchased a complete wiring harness, ecu and all of the necessary adaptors. It is just a matter of time before the installation is complete. Our engine mount is a full cradle mount wich I believe will hold up better than the other available options out there (cantilever mount).
to answer some of the other questions...
the stock 914 1.7liter produced around 70hp and 45 ft/lbs of torque.
the stock 914 transaxle (901 transaxle) can handle right around 300 hp and 300 ft/lbs torque after that, you will need to get into a 911 transaxle (915 transaxle) which is good for around 450, from there you move into the 930 transaxle which will handle around 700 ponies...
FYI...
We are just about to begin the fitting of the new WRX engine. I have purchased a complete wiring harness, ecu and all of the necessary adaptors. It is just a matter of time before the installation is complete. Our engine mount is a full cradle mount wich I believe will hold up better than the other available options out there (cantilever mount).
to answer some of the other questions...
the stock 914 1.7liter produced around 70hp and 45 ft/lbs of torque.
the stock 914 transaxle (901 transaxle) can handle right around 300 hp and 300 ft/lbs torque after that, you will need to get into a 911 transaxle (915 transaxle) which is good for around 450, from there you move into the 930 transaxle which will handle around 700 ponies...
Last edited by Audio Culture; Jan 4, 2005 at 04:31 PM.