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I'm a 50something tinkerer, not a real mechanic by any stretch of the imagination, who decided to rescue a nearly abandoned 914, perhaps as a means of recapturing a portion of my youth that was entwined with a 62 beetle and a lifelong fascination with Porsche. I figured I could do nearly all of the restoration, although slowly. I even considered rebuilding the engine, which I alway wanted to attempt. As I looked at options, I came to the conclusion that I could rebuild a Type IV, but it wouldn't give me the power that I wanted. A well modified 914 engine that would put out considerably more than 100 hp seemed beyond my grasp. So, I started to look for a builder. I heard of Jake from posts on the Pelican Parts bulletin board, and started to ask some questions. Jake was generous with his time in the fall of 01, and asked quite a few questions about how I was going to use the 914 and how hard I was going to drive it. I chose a version of the 2270, then went about the task of pulling the engine, crating it, and shipping it to Georgia. Throughout the building process, Jake kept me well informed of its progress, answered my questions promptly, and extended a great deal of patience to a customer who was obviously ignorant of the process of building a 2270. I never felt that he was talking down to me, or that he was too pressed for time to thoroughly answer my questions. Jake more than met the agreed upon deadline for completion, and I had my engine back in my garage long before I had the chassis ready to install it. I take a good deal of comfort from what I've heard about Jake on the bulletin boards that I frequent. I've seen that he stands by his work, and that he stands by his customers. Though I paid a large sum for the engine, I have a feeling that it's going to be a bargain in the long run. I'd like to offer comments about the engine's performance but, as I said, I'm not a real mechanic, and my project is dragging way behind. I have to learn to weld and take care of some structural rust on the unibody below the battery tray before I put the engine back in, but that's another story .......
Go with Jake - you won't find a performance builder who is as knowledgeable, honest, and as true to the VW community and spirit as he is. I regret nothing from my dealing with him, and would like to consider myself one of his friends, even though we've never shared a beer yet. I hope to write another E-mail about the engine's performance once I finally get my act together and the 914 is completed.
Bob G
Rleog@aol.com
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