PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912? - Jalopnik Comments

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

joeaverage — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:13:10 EDT

I'll take the 912.

(I've got to go finish my Corvair implanted VW Westfalia...)

joeaverage

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

NotACoolGuy — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 01:10:58 EDT

912, no question.

A Porsche with an American engine that came straight out of an airplane? With a turbocharger, no less? Sign me up. I'll go run down Ralph Nader.

NotACoolGuy

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Bad Juju — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:26:45 EDT

This might be the first time I have to say 'neither'. They're both positively awful...each unproven engine swaps into red-headded stepchildren of the Porsche family. If pressed, I supposed i'd have to say 912, because at least you could still find folks interested in the VR6 engine.. Any 'Vair (let alone turbo-Corvair) fanatics tend to resemble that weird old guy in suspenders milling around talking to himself.

Looking forward to the 2017 PCH with 5th-owner Boxsters + Subaru engine swaps.

Bad Juju

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

ceokhan — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:46:49 EDT

Good luck with that card board box... I wouldn't get myself into that.

ceokhan

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

FuzzyPlushroom — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:17:21 EDT

I friggin' hate you guys. Seriously. That goddamn 914 is less than an hour from me.

Stop tempting me. Not that it's much of a temptation, but Jesus... I love the combination in theory, but MAN, that's Hell right there. So I voted for it, to make myself forget then and there about even possibly, remotely considering it.

That's two PCH candidates from New Hampshire so far, right? This one and the ambulance?

FuzzyPlushroom

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

CptSevere — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:55:32 EDT

Oh, this is terrible. Both cars were just arrogant VWs when new, and these swaps just make everything worse. Our 912 broke constantly (my stepdad had to buy a beetle to drive while the 912 was in the shop). Mom thought about buying a 914 once, and i talked her out of it. I voted 914 because this poor little car is such a hopeless ugly hack job that it embodies PCH. The 912 is close to being that bad. It's kind of like pulling the six out of a 240Z and replacing it with a Dodge flathead six. I have a headache.

CptSevere

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

hootjigga — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:14:39 EDT

914 owners often talk about the 914-6 when that starts-with-a-V car manufacturer is brought up.
Volvo
[\italics]

hootjigga

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

MadHungarian — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:11:01 EDT

@graverobber- Same great taste, new low price!: Probably the donor Vair was even rustier. Many Spyders and Corsas were ragtops, thus facilitating the car rusting from the inside and outside at the same time.

MadHungarian

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

DrJimmy — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:06:03 EDT

Unfortate combinations. 19xx with Corvair engine=towtruck heaven.

DrJimmy

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

SLR_BlowerMania — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:53:33 EDT

Anybody who's been a professional for 30 years at anything gets my vote.
That 912 looks way too close to be an actual driver.

SLR_BlowerMania

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

smalleyxb122 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:45:46 EDT

Wait just a minute. Let me get this straight. Everyone seems to be overlooking a very vital bit of information. i.e. There are professional ocarina players?

Hell hath come to meet us.

smalleyxb122

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

1600mkII — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:41:27 EDT

Just once I'd like to drive this 912. I'm assuming they've got blocks under the rear to make it look like that 500 lb behemoth is being supported by the original suspension. The reason I voted is the possibility of having to replace the clutch (remove the engine / trans) AND the infamous belt of death (remove the engine / trans) at the same time. How much easier can things get?
Now - what was the comparative between EU 90 hp and US 140 in those days?

1600mkII

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

akirachan — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:11:23 EDT

912. because ass matters.

akirachan

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Schm, lord of Torques! — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:58:10 EDT

The 912, becouse I could give em' a serious ROD. . .

Git yer mind outta the gutter.

Schm, lord of Torques!

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

NovaloadMissesPolar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:57:31 EDT

@graverobber- Same great taste, new low price!:I'm with you. 914 for the nightmare. If you need to buy another 914 to complete a 914, why not just skip the first 914 and go for the second one? Otherwise I see an infinite regress of 914 after 914 after 914 to infinity + 914.

NovaloadMissesPolar

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ - Also smoking his cigar in the CSRSL — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:48:55 EDT

914, looks more hell. It will be hell because Pinochio is the seller. "The fabrication work is very clean and proper, done by a 30 year professional, over 200 hours of fabrication, all steel panels and wide body fenders"

BЯдΖǐL-ЯЄРΘЯΤЄЯ - Also smoking his cigar in the CSRSL

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

dculberson — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:46:36 EDT

Think about just how hard it would be to work on a VR6 through a mail slot.

That's assuming you ever got it together enough to worry about servicing it in the first place.

dculberson

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Mrb00st — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:37:47 EDT

914 + VR6 + open exhaust + T3/T04E turbo = pure bliss.

That is if you got it to work. And didn't die.

Mrb00st

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Deartháir and his eight little drained beers — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:36:27 EDT

914, because it had a Corrado donor, and come on, if anything is going to cause you hell, it's anything you take from a Corrado. You're right, you really wanna make it hellish, add a G60, because nothing would make an evil project positively satanic like adding an explosive, high-boost miniature blower. Bonus points for making artwork out of the supercharger shrapnel when it goes violently wrong.

Deartháir and his eight little drained beers

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

TheBrewPub — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:25:00 EDT

@marc2068: I'm with you brother. I can't cast a vote for fear it might come true.

TheBrewPub

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:11:58 EDT

914. It's so much more butchered, yet the (very strictly) hypothetical payoff is enormous. Said hypothetical payoff is also less likely to have you sliding sideways into various objects and geographical features next to the road.

Admittedly, the 912 is pretty awful, but it's got an air-cooled engine. What fun can you possibly have when you don't even have to re-engineer the car to make then engine swap work?

Paul Y. can't think of a better, shorter handle

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Mad_Science — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:50:55 EDT

@marc2068: Yeah, that's kindof the point.

I say 911, b/c the relative completeness is a perfect siren song. Sure...it "just" needs a few things to get running.
...until the floor pan welds crack.
...and then the trans mounts tear through the body
...and then the turbo melts
...and then your wife leaves you
...and then your dog eats what's left of the interior.

Mad_Science

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

morrisseyscoot — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:31:01 EDT

VR6 in the three box Porsche all the way. Weld in stupid looking radiator in front and add some stupid wheels and get stupid. It's 600 dollars, come on already!!!

morrisseyscoot

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

dohcspit — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:27:45 EDT

I'm a sucker for modern engines, so make mine the 914

dohcspit

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

OrangeBoss9 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:20:36 EDT

914. It's so much more worthless by the time it nears 50% completion, and it's not nearly as interesting!

Plus, who knows what devils lie beneath that "professional" glass job.

OrangeBoss9

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

TheAstronot — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 18:02:20 EDT

New engine Old car gets me hot to trot.

TheAstronot

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

XDoctor — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:59:13 EDT

No.

XDoctor

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

muleshoe — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:59 EDT

I'll take the 912, If you're going to hell in a bucket baby at least you can enjoy the ride.

muleshoe

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

nitroracer — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:55 EDT

The sound of a VR6 wins this one hands down.

nitroracer

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Dr.Danger, I run the Death Star — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:47:17 EDT

VR6 FTW

Dr.Danger, I run the Death Star

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

DrJeffie — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:46:40 EDT

912 - there are some interesting things that can be done to that engine - too bad about the rust. I figure all new floors.

DrJeffie

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

voodoojoo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:45:51 EDT

If I got a 912, I would just want to restore it until it looked just like that DOTS one we had a while back. Nothing more, really. Cars are hellish when they lure you back into their fiery embrace. You get burned and you swear off of them, but, but, you just can't turn away. Sure it's stupid. Sure it's a waste of your life and money and time and family and friends and sanity, but just look at it!

voodoojoo

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

graverobber- My Yugo Nova! — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:45:37 EDT

I went with the 914 as the seller comments that completing the project may require another 914 to complete the project.

The 912 is just makes me sad that this effort seems to have ruined two interesting cars- the 912 and a corvair monza.

graverobber- My Yugo Nova!

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Skydiver — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:44:21 EDT

I've been tempted to take the Bathysphere Repairman course when I've seen it offered on late night TV. Unfortunately, I chose "data wrangler" which led to be being chained in a cube all day.

Skydiver

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

boosted-lego-wagon — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:43:53 EDT

@PatFromGundo: 914, because I plan on pushing my car through the gates of hell.

boosted-lego-wagon

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

lowmiles — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:42:42 EDT

912. I'd finish the paint job and give it some sweet graphics emblazoned with the name "Nader Gator."

lowmiles

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

beta.rogan — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:34:05 EDT

The 914-(VR)6 for sure. For starters, it doesn't look like much other than wide fenders and and the VR6 sitting there. Other than that, it ALL needs to be done. On top of that, I do believe that it has been modified to use VW Rabbit rear tail lamps.

If you ever managed to get that thing rolling under it's own power, the VR6 is more the capable and with a modest turbo can push out 350hp+. So it would still be a bucket, but a fast one at least.

beta.rogan

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Sth002000 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:32:19 EDT

kinda like buying a box of chocolate because you like cardboard.

Sth002000

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

marc2068 — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:31:44 EDT

No Vote. Both are POS's

marc2068

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

PatFromGundo — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:30:36 EDT

912, because I plan to drive through the gates of hell upside down, backwards, on fire, and painted Viper Green.

PatFromGundo

PCH, No Escape From Engine-Swapped Porsches Edition: VR6 914 or Corvair 912?

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:27:13 EDT

Which one with the Northstar V8 fit in?