T4 Decision

Pat F Supporting Member

Gentlemen, thank you for your initial input when I previously asked about engine cooling in the AZ desert. I have since been doing a lot of research, visited VMC and spoke with Greg and also Pat Downs. Both are standup guys which in today’s world can be hard to find.

While my first intro to Porsche was in 1973 when I bought a new 914 and graduated to multiple 911s on up over the years, I eventually considered myself a purist. The thought of a replica would have never been entertained. However, the thought of investing in an original and even driving occasionally to preserve its originality led me to this site and the decision to go to VMC.

I have now ordered a VMC Speedster with a Pat Downs T4. Both Greg and Pat have been accommodating realizing that there’s a limit to VMC’s willingness to go beyond their stock 356 and rightfully so. However, given all that I have read on this website has provided the confidence to trust the judgement of these 2 gentlemen.

Keep up the good work with the information you provide on this site as it’s valuable to newcomers and older Porsche enthusiasts looking to expand their love of the car!

read on this website

12/16/249:05 PM

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WOLFGANG'89 CMC FWB, FL Supporting Member

Costly but good classic choice! A T4 can be done inexpensively - do you need a totally rebuilt engine for a car only run 5k miles per year.

I've got two 1975 914 T4 engines sitting in my FL barn—a 1.8L (duel Solex carbs) and a 2L (duel Weber-Carter carbs). Both came from rusted-out NE cars and had the weak factory EFI.

I collected parts to convert one to the Cali upright cooling conversion. It takes the 914 and T1 cooling tins with a T1 shroud - plus some cutting and welding. There is a Cali manual available for $25. The forged 914 flywheel gets swapped out for a bus flywheel (or a custom modified one). I have bus heat exchangers for heat (for when I lived in VA not FL). The bottom end of the T4 is strong. Near all have aluminum cases and heads. The 1.8 and 2.0L engines do have some issues with cracks in the heads - the 1.7 seems not so much. The pancake engine can be installed flat in most vendor replicas. I have a CMC and a dune buggy.

Converting to an upright engine using the Raby DTM adds about $1k to costs. A good exhaust adds near $1500! Bigger pistons and cylinders are around $600. The FI cam doesn't work well with carbs so case has to be split.

12/17/249:12 AM

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