Engine Dilemma

I was just getting ready to pull my engine and put in a new cam, rocker arms, Berg oil pump and DTM fan shroud, T4 oil cooler, when a friend of mine who owns a Porsche repair shop has offered me a 912E engine and 901 transaxle.

The 912E engine was rebuilt 2 years ago with a big bore kit bringing it up to 1750 - has ~4k miles since rebuild.
The engine doesn't leak any oil and runs great (he started it up on the ground!).
Leakdown test revealed ~8% on all four cylinders.

After spending several thousand dollars on parts over the past year including new heads, pistons/cylinders, A-1 merged exhaust system, Berg oil sump to rebuild my existing engine I'm a little reluctant.

The shop owner offered to put the 911E engine in my car and let me drive it for a week, if I'm satisfied, he'll remove my transaxle and install the 901 with the 912E engine.
Price - $2,300 installed.

What do you guys think

Installing a 901 in a swing-axle car is a BIG undertaking, and it's not that simple in an IRS car, either. Methinks he might be biting off more than he can chew? On the other hand, the engine might be a good deal, and you get to try it for nothing.

The 912E is a 1 year only car --- it has a 2L (1971cc) VW Type 4 engine in it (came in the 72-76 VW Buses and the VW 411/412 too - as a 1.7L as well as a 1.8L). Originally it was fuel injected. For the test period you said 911E - assume that's a typo! He can't simply put the T4 engine in your car with the existing T1 transaxel --- usually a 210mm VW bus engine flywheel is used with a special T1 bearing pressed in (depends on transmission year of the T1). Additionally if it is fuel injected there is alot of wiring and new fuel pump (and extra return gas hose) that would need to be exchanged. Suspect he'd have to modify the heat exchangers/exhaust too. If its a late 65-69 912 engine then its the same as the 356 engine --- very, very costly to rebuild down the road (but a nice engine especially with the 901 5 spd!) Even the T4 is about 3-4x the cost of a T1 to rebuild - but a powerful, reliable engine. The trans takes some work to install too. At $2300 he is essentially giving you free labor - and probably doesn't realize the amount of work involved!

My car has the 912 engine (1969 model) with the 5 speed. I have driven a type 1/4speed and a type 4/4 speed buggy which is essntially the same weight a demension of my speedster. I can say that the 912 motor is smoother that the others. Power is better than a type 1 1600 (by about 40 horse) and actually seems to have more torque than the type 4 1.8 ltr. I do like the five speed but I can't say how it does on the highway as I haven't licensed it yet.

All in all, I like the 912 motor best for the 1.6 ~ 1.8 ltr range for torqe and smoothness, but I am not sure I would go out of my way to put one in for the price if it wern't already installed. For the same money you can buy a pretty healthy type 1. Type 4's can be pricey as well, plus theres the whole convert it to an upright thing.

My 2 cents
Ben

What kind of motor do you have now? You may be spending money that won't gain you much if any.

Thanks to all who responded.

Wolfgang and Jake were correct, it's not a 912E, it's a 912.
I'm not going to purchase the engine, as I have too much invested in my current engine.

Thanks again.

Dave

The 912E engine (I have two of them and build more "E" engines than anyone in N America) is to the T just like the 76 914 US spec engine. The only difference is a few differences with the stock FI..

I'd take a worn out Type 4/914 over pretty much any new Type I..

BUT, how are you installing it?? What upright conversion?

Now, it sounds to me like the engine he has is not from a 912E, but rather an early 912- Big difference!

Contrary to popular belief the Type IV does not cost 3-4 times the cost of a TI to "Rebuild"

Especially after around the first of next month!

The 912 (as opposed to the 912E) is basically a 356SC (later versio0n of the Super 90 engine).