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Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:00 pm

Ok, I know this has come up a lot. I just want to know, do any of the engines fit directly? Is there such a thing as a 4 speed porsche engine? Or do I have to get a 5 speed gear box and transmission as well? I've heard of 914's being good for this...but what years would fit? And where would I find one of these?

Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:26 pm

Did you check in the performance forum?

Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:34 pm

yeah i did a search for porsche and wasn't really satisfied with what i found. But i think is spelled it wrong so I'll try again.

Mon Sep 01, 2003 9:49 pm

So ask the question over there then. or get this moved there. I am interested in the response.

Tue Sep 02, 2003 12:15 am

Yeah you can put a porsche 914 engine in a t3 but its not a direct swap. You can probably get a clutch/flywheel adapter from kennedey engineering products just to get started. You also have to fabricate parts so the 914 engine seals to the engine compartment or uses the cooling air intake boot and make the rear engine hanger fit. These are just some things off of the top of my head. I've seen some installs that looked and perfomed very well but I'm sure it takes lots of work, time and patience.

Tue Sep 02, 2003 10:13 am

Ok here is what I did...

The 914 and the buss have the same engine core except the 2.0's have different heads.
I took a bus engine and made the notch a IRS with engine hangers from a donor car. Then I used a early bus type 4 flywheel (72-73) it will not quite fit so I ground out about a 1/16in with a dia grinder out of the bell housing and mated the engine. Then I cut a wedge out of the front part the bus rear engine mount, bent it, then welded it. The air bellows from a stock type 3 is bigger than the type 4 in dia. So I creased the bellows from underneath and clamped it.

I did this out of necessity 12yrs ago and drove it for 2yrs without a problem. I know there are better ways of doing it, but this works and the kicker is the way I did that the type 3 engine is just a mear swap, no modification required.

The alternator is the only thing that needs to be addressed, I rigged it so it's just a swap of one wire to the regulator.

I hope this helps with some questions.

Sat Sep 06, 2003 2:27 am

Hey 1notchup the bus didn't come with an air bellows but the 411,412 did. Do you know where to find these parts? As I understand it they're pretty rare. I've been thinking of doing one of these swaps someday mysef and finding parts instead of fabricating would be awsome. Iv'e owned a few late busses with the fuel injection and loved the engines in those things.

Sat Sep 06, 2003 5:07 pm

josh, you are right. And the parts I have I used to buy whole engines from a salvage dealer by the pound. I think I paid $100 for this one and I also ran into 2 914 2.0's for about the same price. I haven't seen that guy for many moons. I can't get the deals anymore sorry.

Sun Sep 21, 2003 8:14 pm

the full explanation of the conversion and tons of info on type 4 engines
http://www.tunacan.net/t4/tech/type3.shtml