2009?

Well the Challenge is over. Every year, sometimes for a week, sometimes longer, I get the urge to go back. I haven't been to a Challenge since $2004 where I blew the motor and never left the parking lot. Every year I remember the help I received when the Bus wouldn't start. That's was a good thing. I also recall the trip down the east coast towing it with the family and a dog in a chase vehicle. Not so good. I think about the people that stepped in to help with time and tools when they had their own cars to deal with. Poor Renee was inside the BatVan trapped on the inside opposite wall when a radiator hose blew filling the inside with steam. It got deathly quiet for a few seconds and then this little voice from somewhere inside the belly of the beast says "I'm OK, try 'er again". I really had a good time but blew the clutch on the tow vehicle on the way down in Jacksonville. More fun. I think about the Awards Banquet (I don't relish the spotlight) and receiving a trophy for best visual package my head looked like a blood blister.

Joe Gannon of Dragnet fame said it best: "There are a million stories in the city, this is one of them". With all the competitors, their friends, families trial & tribulations and travel missteps, hotels, such a diverse group of people and the stresses of competing; I really have to take my hat off to GRM Staffers for pulling this off every year. How many other events have youy been to with 100+ people AND alcohol and not one fight or argument broke out. Everyone has a story, too bad they all can't be told.

So there's a roller coaster in my head, man I love the Challenge, laying on a concrete floor of an unheated garage in February that affection wanes, but there are ups and downs to the whole cycle. Right now is an up time and this poor 912 has been languishing behind my buddy's garage for too long. I can get it for a six pack of Bass Ale.

Good deal? Yeah, now. Wait til February and we'll renegotiate.

Awesome find.

Make it a German army car caricture with leaves on it's hat and run it in the next LeMons!

hmm.. northstar v8, TT mitsu 6g72, 4g63, ummm... anything transverse and crazy has potential. doooo ittt!

EJ20 TT from a BG Legacy GT-B?

Win!

I regret not buying that Northstar V8 a few months back because cars are so easy to find.

4.3L Chevy Vortec? Someone probably has a cheap (ish) Renegade adapter for a SBC...

WRX motor. Do it. Do it now.

For graphics, copy the old school 70's RS. White with Blue.

DILYSI Dave wrote: WRX motor. Do it. Do it now. For graphics, copy the old school 70's RS. White with Blue.

for under $2k?

Sure, why not?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SUBARU-EJ20-T-TURBO-ENGINE-JDM-DUNE-BUGGY-5spd_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c39Q3a1Q7c66Q3a2Q7c65Q3a12Q7c240Q3a1318QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem170269431962QQitemZ170269431962

Sell transmission to recoupe. Make Kennedy style adapter to hook engine to OE trans. Use bug parts for rust repair.

914Driver wrote:

DILYSI Dave wrote: WRX motor. Do it. Do it now. For graphics, copy the old school 70's RS. White with Blue.

for under $2k?

A couple years ago I bought a complete rolled '03 WRX for under $2k. I had big plans for it (even thought about a $2007 car) but had to sell it not long after for some quick cash. The deals are out there. I've got a Chevy 4.3 V6 mated to a 901 trans (out of a 912) in my VW Bug for well under $2k, actually the engine/trans/swap parts cost a fair bit under a grand and that was with a new (old stock swap meet) KEP adapter and flywheel plus a new (actually new) KEP clutch. My bug is a baja, so I didn't have much for space constraints with bodywork and really only went with the V6 because a SBC was overkill and I got a killer deal on the adapter plate, with a Porsche I'd do a Subie engine.

Have fun. :)

Bryce

Bryce, was your 4.3 mated to the stock transaxle or was the axle flipped and the V-6 ahead of the transaxle; like in a 914?

I looked for V8 swaps and saw a few with the 350 behind the tranny, as in stock 911. I think this amount of weight out back could be a problem.

Dan

Around here, WRX motors cost no more than NA 2.2s. There's a lot of spare WRX motors around after hooligans wreck the car.

put a turbo rotary in it

914Driver wrote: Bryce, was your 4.3 mated to the stock transaxle or was the axle flipped and the V-6 ahead of the transaxle; like in a 914? I looked for V8 swaps and saw a few with the 350 behind the tranny, as in stock 911. I think this amount of weight out back could be a problem. Dan

My 4.3 is mated to the 901 transaxle in the "normal" VW orientation (I wouldn't dare say stock about much on my bug!), engine hanging out the ass end attached to a regular 901 trans out of a 912. Like I said, my bug is a baja (big tires, jacked up suspension, bobbed bodywork, etc.) so the increased weight in the back end wasn't a big deal (more traction for running in the sand).

A 4.3 is heavy, iron block and iron heads mean even newer ones with everything else being lightweight plastic/aluminum still gives you a heavy engine. A Subie engine would be much more sensible if you're planning on pavement racing, IMO, if I was to start over today I'd use a Subie engine...I will probably stick one in my bug eventually (now that I'm water cooled, swapping from a 4.3 to a Subie 2.5 would be pretty easy). I'm just about done putting a Porsche 2.7 (and 915 trans) into a Karmann Ghia and when you've got bodywork to consider, those extra couple of cylinders sure make packaging tight. We have to install the engine and trans as an assembly and even then we have to pull the apron back just a tiny bit as the engine goes in. A Subie boxer would fit much better, make more power, cost less, etc. but my buddy wanted a Porsche and he wanted it air cooled.

Bryce

Poking around looking for V8 Porsches.....

oy.

http://jalopnik.com/cars/engine-swap/engine-swap-of-the-day-junkmans-small+block+powered-356-295418.php

215 olds/ Rover..

Cheap , don't have to run it backwards...ect...

320Lbs , probably the same weight or lighter then a 911 6.

You could run a rear mounted honda 1/2 rad to cool it and avoid having to hack up the front. It's low on torque , high on revs (for a V8).

i'll sell you a 4.3 for $5 for your build, since i've offered it for free to others but if i give it to you you'll have to FMV it.

914Driver wrote: I regret not buying that Northstar V8 a few months back because cars are so easy to find.

I know the guy that bought it. Got a WRX motor too.

BTW- we miss you!

Wait, is the guy using the Northstar? Can I beat him out of it?

Dan

I've had a line on a '74 911 Targa for about 5 years now with no engine or tranny and the guy won't sell it. It continues to sit in his garage...

I thought it had Challenge written all over it (in dust) and was thinking about using the drivetrain out of a 914 and using 912 parts where needed. I think a V8 in one of these would be too much, but are there any other options using an existing mid-engined car like a Fiero or something?

Stan

I've heard of a 350 in a Fiero, but I don't have access to a cheap one, I do a 912. All the swaps I see are with the engine aft of the transaxle.

If I can't find what I want, I'll find something else.

BTW I woke up at 2:18am this morning with a Buick Grand National engine in my head. That's a bad sign....

Can't be that hard for someone like you,

I think you'll have to remove the rear seats and firewall.

Just look at mid-engine 911's for inspiration. Use an Audi transaxle from a 944 (cheap and reasonably durable) and it will also keep the entire solution shorter from nose to tail.

If you feel adventurous, an Audi V8 or twin-turbo V6 would bolt up to the 944 transaxle.