Power to weight

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 7:46 am

So how much does a 914 1.7 weigh in as?

I was wondering about power to weight ratios and all that.

Lotus Elise comes in at 750kg unladen with 150 bhp from a 1.8.

I want to kick some Lutas ass one day so was wondering how much my 914 weighs and also how much i'd need to up the bhp.

maf 914 · Post by **maf 914** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 9:55 am

I believe the weight varied from around 2050 lbs (932 kilos) for early models to 2250 lbs (1022 kilos) for later US spec big bumper cars. Quite a bit more than the Lotus.

Mike

Ryan72 · Post by **Ryan72** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 9:00 pm

The weights ranged from ~1950lbs to ~2100lbs. I believe the 1972 was 1980lbs.

rookie · Post by **rookie** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 12:39 am

you'll never whoop an elise... far too nimble.

I understand you been chatting to my mate fonzy.. how's the new car going anyway?

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 3:15 am

Ok so were are part of the fat brigade.

I guess its no surprise Lotus use Glass and ali and mag wheels and all that other light as air stuff.
Colin Chapman did say you must add lightness.

914 is all steel.

Bullocks, just need more BHP, give em a run for their money for a car that probably costs just over a quater of what the Lotus does.

Rookie: is that Luke? Yeah I have been chatting with the Fonz. We are trying to hook up at some point in the future. Small world.

If that is Luke, how do I join your 914 club? I saw you guys hook up at shows.

My 914 is running really well, I added the badges and stuff and now people may have a clue to what it is. Rather than kitcar or bloody Fiat!
I am going to take pictures this weekend and post them up.

johnhora · Post by **johnhora** » Tue Dec 03, 2002 3:03 pm

Porsche Technical Specifications Book
VW/Porsche 914
May 1, 1974
1st Edition
Covers all 4 cyl models.
page 61 shows:

"Curb weight according to DIN"
(who ever DIN is)

970 kg
2139 lb

Max total weight:

1220 kg
2690 lb

Max axle load:

Front
650 kg
1433 lb
Rear650 kg
1433 lb

The PCA Club Racing shows the Power /Weight as:
1.7/1.8 2139lb/72.5hp=29.5

2.0 2139lb/91hp=29.5

914-6 2075lb/110hp=18.86

John

rookie · Post by **rookie** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 4:06 am

yeah, it's me. the club chat board is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/uk914/messages

glad to hear that the car is going well. we'll have to meet up sometime and compare. kep hearing about this ace cafe. is it good enough to warrant a blast down the M40?

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 4:51 am

Thanks buddy.

Well the Ace cafe is really good. People come down from as far as Peterbourgh!

Last VW night there was a burnout competition with the VW boys and and 2.6 T1 Bus was doing massive burnouts and the odd donut!

However each night follow a similar pattern, however some nights are more exciting then others. Executioners HotRod and custom night is this wednesday and is always pretty good.

Later

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 4:53 am

thanks John.

Dave_Darling · Post by **Dave_Darling** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 10:12 am

DIN is the German standards bureau. They specify standards for all kinds of things. Relevant to this discussion, they specify the way you measure the car's weight. As I recall, the DIN weight is not the "empty" or "dry" weight. All fluids are included, possibly even fuel. And there may be an extra load specified as well (e.g., driver and/or luggage).

--DD

------------------
1974 VW-Porsche 914 2.0 (Type IV powered!)

Pelican Parts' 914 Tech Geek http://www.pelicanparts.com

Brian G Miller · Post by **Brian G Miller** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 2:11 pm

My 1974 owners manual says that 2139Lbs (970 kp) is the Unladen Weight... I can't find the documentation right now, but I know I have a manual somewhere that specifies this weight is with all major fluids and 1/2 tank of fuel (petrol).

So my 1974 with Jake's 2270 should be pretty quick. (dyno'd at 170 on bench 150 with all drive accessories and exhaust installed)

2139/150 = 14.26

So to get better ratios with 150 HP:

13.36x150 = 2004 Lbs = to 160 HP with stock weight
12.58x150 = 1887 Lbs = to 170 HP with stock weight
11.88x150 = 1782 Lbs = to 180 HP with stock weight
11.25x150 = 1687 Lbs = to 190 HP with stock weight
10.69x150 = 1603 Lbs = to 200 HP with stock weight (now we know why all those TYPE IV powered Beetles are so damned fast)

Adding lightness would certainly make the car faster but even with fiberglass and carbon fiber everything it would be tough to lose over 500 Lbs of weight in anything resembling a road worthy car.

My Boxster owner's manual states an "empty weight" of 2777 - 2954 LBS (1260 - 1340 kg) depending on options. (I hope 177 Lbs of options includes a hard top). The base Boxster has 217 Hp.

Boxster average weight of 2865/217 = 13.20 or about equal to a stock 914 with 160 HP

Boxster S average weight of 2943/250 = 11.77 or about equal to a stock 914 with 180 HP

Bleyseng · Post by **Bleyseng** » Wed Dec 04, 2002 4:10 pm

You can get down to 1700lbs without too much trouble, even seen 914lite? That was a autox project car which I think can still be seen at Pelicanparts.com.
Strip everything off and add fiberglass hoods, bumpers and you are there.
Just add a 3.6L six and you can have your creature comforts.
1850/250=7.5 equal to one fast car
Geoff

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76 914 2.0L

Dyno Soar · Post by **Dyno Soar** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 3:53 pm

Guys next year is gonna be the year.. I am gonn step up to a 2.0 hot motor and then simply add Turbo (as they say on those cooking shows)

+ 911 front brakes.. not so shure about the rear brakes though.. 914/6 ??

Bleyseng · Post by **Bleyseng** » Thu Dec 05, 2002 5:15 pm

IF you can find a set of rear 914/6 calipers they are rare as hen teeth. Leave em stock with better pads.
Geoff

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76 914 2.0L

Dave_Darling · Post by **Dave_Darling** » Fri Dec 06, 2002 1:32 pm

You can leave the rear brakes stock; it's the easiest thing to do. The rears don't contribute that much to slowing down the car anyway.

You can also install 911 rear brakes--but you will need to do some adapting (probably bracket fabrication) and some mucking about to get the parking brake mechanism to work. There have been posts on the Pelican Parts 914 BBS by a couple of people in the process of doing that swap. You might try heading over there and using the search function.

--DD

------------------
1974 VW-Porsche 914 2.0 (Type IV powered!)

Pelican Parts' 914 Tech Geek http://www.pelicanparts.com