new to forum... can you install a 914 engine and transaxle?

Im new to this forum and never owned or built a spyer. Im just about finished with a factory five cobra replica and decided to look for a new project.

I do have a 914 porsche but the body and pan is rusted and im not going to put any money into it. so what i was thinking was to build a 550 spyder replica and putting the 914 drive train into a VW frame.

Is that possible and if so how much modification is involved. what 550 kit is best and which one is easiest to modify.

any assistance will be greatly appreciated.

Albert

Albert,

Congratulations on your FFR kit. I'm helping a friend build one now. The answer to your question is maybe. I have seen FFR kits with Chevy 350's in them. If you have skills and the stones to make modifacations to a kit that you just paid big bucks for then go for it. Thunder Ranch has a kit called the 550A6 that uses a 911 engine and they were very helpful in answering my questions when deciding to purchase a Spyder kit. Their website is thunderranch.com/.
Where are you located and who did you get your FFR kit through?

im in Corpus Christi, TX and drove to Factory five to pick up my kit.

thanks for the reply.

albert

Sure you can do it. I set up TIV engines for the purpose all the time.

Cruise my websites www.aircooledtechnology.com and www.massivetype4.com and you'll see just how easy it is.

Hi Albert!
A rusty 914 can give you a lot of great parts and let's face it, there's no beating the price. When we built our kit Thunder Ranch 550A-6, we wound up using alot of 911 and 914 parts. Depending on which suspension setup you could use, steering, front suspension, brakes, master cylinder and pedal assembly, engine, transmission and shift linkage. We also used hubs for 911 5-bolt and 911 wheels. I saw a really nice spyder down at knott's with a set of 914 gas-burner wheels there were polished. Alot of people dislike the Mahle gas-burner style wheels but these quite looked nice and were different enough to garner my attention.

We used 914 transaxle, side-shifter and all of the linkage including the portion that places the shift-lever in the car. The linkage is mechanical so shortening it was relatively easy. All the parts work and the bushings are stock 914.

If you are using a rack-n-pinion on your kit, look hard at your 914 setup as you may find that the steering column will also work for you, especially the universal joints. To use a center pinion rack like your 914, you will have to use double-universal joints. Scavenge them from your donor or pay dearly.
have fun building. angela