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Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:23 am

hello all, i am going to be restoring a '71 and '73 karmann ghia soon and i have a couple questions.. for the most part i will be using the nifty search feature, but for now i have a quick question... does a 1973 914 porsche engine fit into a either of my ghia's? ive done a little research and ive heard its been very possible but it would take alot of work and inginuity (sp?) ... i heard i would need to do some work on the transmission and also some body work because the 914 is wider than the ghia engine bay... any advice? i have a 1200 engine sitting in my garage about to get rebuilt and also the 914 porsche engine .... i have mostly inherited most of these vw' and porsche things i have and im trying to see if i can make due with what i have.. alrighty... thanks all....

Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:42 am

Here's some links to help educate you on type 4 (914) engines
http://tunacan.net/t4/news/index.shtml
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=fd4a04ad97330efbf2c470d84f67c8d0

Good luck

Sun Aug 31, 2008 4:27 pm

I have done It. There is no need to do anything to the body or trans.
There will be some flywheel mods to make. The 914 flat cooling tin will have to go (don't destroy it or throw it away, you'll need parts of it), And an upright type 1 style tin installed. Either buy one pre-made or make your own like I did. Joe Cali has a book on the conversion. The type4 fourm on STFis good. Jake Raby has a web site http://forums.aircooledtechnology.com/

Here's some pics of my 72 vert before and after the swap I'm in the process of restoring it. The body work in the pics had nothing to do with the engine swap. P.O. never repaired a hit and run, so I did it.
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=120875[/url]

Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:57 am

Ghias are the best conversion vehicles for the Type 4 engine. I have done dozens of Ghia conversions and have always been impressed with the compliment the engine gives to the Ghia's design.

Applying an upright conversion to the engine will be the best way to fit the engine into the car as this does not require any cutting of the car, you never want to cut a vehicle to fit the engine!

Pay particular attention to the proper flywheel to use, the mods that need to be done to it and what transaxle is used. We go over all this on my forums daily.

Fri Sep 05, 2008 9:10 am

thanks for you prompt reply... i have looked into the links you all sent me and im glad to hear that its actually a good idea to use the 914 engine.. im looking at buying the kennedy flywheel because its simply a bolt on... thanks for your advice and i will be browsing thru these forums and archives as much as possible ...