PMB Performance - Project 914 ORV!, Yup, we're building a 914 for Utah's backcountry... Options

[Eric_Shea]

We've been playing with this one in our spare time. I don't think I ever put an official thread up here on the site so, here goes!

This piece of crap will soon become "Project 914 ORV". Actually what looks pretty bad on the surface; is pretty bad "on the surface".

As many 914's go, someone tried to make this one something it isn't. It isn't a "slant nose" no matter what you do to the fenders. And, I don't care how many Miami Vice episodes you've watched, that rubber whale tail thingy and the rear reflector are just plain "wrong".

But wait... Speaking of "just plain wrong", were going to carve this late model, big bumpered version of of 80's lust into a high-rise, fiberglass skinned, tubed tub that's ready for Utah's backcountry. That's right; White Rim Trail here we come!

Fear not, we're still thinking "all things vintage" so, we'll be pouring over factory rally pictures and builds to make sure we can learn all we can from the engineers at Porsche who went before us.

Here it is as it arrived:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net-1110-1396236965.1.jpg)

Mmmm purdy huh? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236967.2.jpg)

Time to get busy. Shovel loads of crud came out of the trunks and interior:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236967.3.jpg)

Bummer... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol3.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236967.4.jpg)

Getting there:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236968.5.jpg)

Buuuu-Bye:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net-1110-1396236968.6.jpg)

Ooooh, the comedy never stops when you're working on a 914. Farm and Fleet tractor implement lights silly-coned on for turn signals! Yee-Haw!!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236968.7.jpg)

Rio inspecting the progress:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net-1110-1396236969.8.jpg)

Off come the body panels. Special thanks to Elli-rot who went before us. He sent a bunch of pictures of his Dzuz fastener locations and offered advice on where to put them as we cut the panels off. Here you see pictures of his cars taped to the body as we taped and cut. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236969.9.jpg)

That there's a good 1 1/2" of Bondo. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol3.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net-1110-1396236969.10.jpg)

Done:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236970.11.jpg)

Nice solid tub is what we were looking for and it appears that's what we got.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236970.12.jpg)

More panel cutting:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-a-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236970.13.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net-1110-1396236971.14.jpg)

Here you can see what we're aiming for. All of the QRS panels from Jeff are laid on the car in a mock assembly. Already looking 100% better! Next it's off to sand and soda blasting.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net-1110-1396236971.15.jpg)

[Eric_Shea]

Ooopsie... I've been so swamped. Business went gangbusters this summer and I have an Elderly father in Michigan to look after. Stimulating times to be sure. I've been doing a few things here and there on the beast but haven't had much time to update the thread. Here's a few:

Fuch's have all been powdercoated:



The tires were toned down a bit but, now they're absolutely perfect for the chassis:



Plenty of meat here but, believe it or not, they're basically a stock diameter:



Mr. Zarbo provided us with some amazing luminage for the front. NOS Cibie Bi-Oscars will probably be mounted in the shell of a bumper. I plan to literally build the bumper opening around the lights:



These are massive! Like dinner plates. It will be hard to get them in the bumper spot but, if all goes as planned, that's exactly where they'll be:



We've all seen this before but, it's basically ready to bolt on. We'll be using our PerformancePoly bushings throughout. We'll be using alignment washers for a low-friction mount and decambered ball joints to deal with the raised ride height suspension geometry. (more on that as we mount everything up)



Bilsteins on the tallest setting with stock springs. The top body-mount with be lowered and strengthened and the ears will be lowered and strengthened as well:



Artsy hub shot:



These will get 930 spacers and Brembo calipers:



These get 930 spacers and our rear VB914-6 calipers:



Yes, I actually bought one of those old style Dymo label makers to make the factory style dash labels... it's the "details".



And finally, here's a sneak-peek at the cage going in.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/thriftwayautobody.com-1110-1417464816.1.jpg)

This will be more of a cruiser/rock crawler cage with ties to all of the suspension points to make a fairly rigid chassis.

Engine and drive train plans are coming together as well. Initial plans are looking like a basic 3.0 with the newer CIS cams and maintaining the stock CIS induction. We're looking to mate this to a side-shift, short-geared box via a solid linkage kit and updated bushings. All tucked under a nose-to-tail aluminum skid plate.

This should give us turn-key performance in a reliable package that's capable of operating at various altitude settings. This is very important as we can be at or below sea level a few hours south of us or, 12,000 ft. above in the mountains behind the shop.