Apollo Racer Build Thread, Numeric 981 Shifter Upgrade Options

[rnellums]

I am starting this thread to document the build of my recent acquisition of a car I am going to name Apollo. It was previously owned by a fellow out in Illinois and was sold to me via 914 LTD. From what I know It was a purpose built Auto X car, but only has about two hours of run time on the engine.

Here are the specs as I received it:

Exterior Mods:

• Factory Steel Flares
• Newish Silver Base/Clear
• Fiberglass 916 Style Front Bumper
• Fiberglass Stock Style Rear Bumper
• Fiberglass Hood With Headlight Delete
• Fiberglass Trunk
• Fiberglass Painted Rocker Panels
• Painted Targa Top
• Lexan Rear Window
• Lightened Door Skins
• Original Doors, Hood, Trunk
• No Wipers, Headlights
• Rear Porsche Reflector

Interior Mods:

• Koenig Race Seats
• RaceTech Leather Wheel
• Amco Console with Assorted Gauges
• Welt. Short Shift Kit
• Bolt in Cage with Door Bars
• Simpson 4 pt. Harnesses

Suspension Mods:

• Rich Johnson 5-Lug Conversion
• Front Volvo Big Brakes
• Front Vented Rotors
• 911 Front Struts
• Koni Adjustable Shocks
• 914-6 Rear Rotors With Stock Front Calipers
• 22mm Front Torsion Bars
• Welt. Adj. Front Sway
• 180 lb Springs w/Adjustable Perches
• Hoosier Road Race Radials

Engine Specifications:

• Front Mounted Oil Cooler
• 2.4 L 4-cyl built by ROCS auto
• 103mm J+E Forged Pistons
• 1.8L Stroked to 2.0 Specs
• 48mm Intake
• 38mm Exhaust
• Chromoly Pushrods
• High Flow Oil Pump
• MSD Ignition w/ Adj. Rev. Limiter
• 44mm Dual Webers
• Lightened Flywheel
• Kennedy Engineering Stage IV Clutch
• Ported, Polished Heads with 10:1 Compression
• Port Matched Manifolds
• Kerry Hunter Headers
• Claimed 180 HP
• Claimed 170 ft-lbf Torque

Transmission Specs:

• Recent Rebuild by 914 LTD
• Quaffe Torque Bias Diff
• Shortened 5th Gear

Misc:

• 5 Gal Fuel Cell
• New Bearings and Bushings
• Blue Brake Fluid
• 8x15 Fuchs
• Claimed 1600 lb Weight

And Now the pictures!

[ChrisFoley]

Nice buy, lots of potential there.
Do you know what camshaft was installed?
RPM limit?

A few things I see:

Your header is way too small for a 2.4L.
I guarantee it's holding the engine back - a lot. There's at least 10 more hp & 10 lb-ft torque available just by replacing the exhaust.

You should have 4 EGTs to monitor the fuel mixture of each cylinder at WOT.
Single O2 sensing doesn't have much value on a race car.

I don't understand why the oil thermostat would be placed in the front trunk so close to the cooler.
It should be closer to the engine to shorten the route when the oil is cold.
Also, IMO hoses that long should be -12, not -10 (definitely not -8).
No tuna can, or accusump? The engine won't last long once you start pushing it around at a competitive event.
You should consider moving up to a dry sump oil system right away.

5 gal fuel cell isn't going to get you far. Fine for an AX toy but not big enough for even one on-track session.

I'd lower the rear another half inch.

Where's your adjustable brake bias control?

Front anti-sway bar is too small.

Stage 4 clutch is overkill. Your leg's gonna get a work out.