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]

We may yank the bar. That section was done without me seeing it. I'd "like" the potential to be in SCCA rally cross events and a one piece hoop is manditory.

[r_towle]

We may yank the bar. That section was done without me seeing it. I'd "like" the potential to be in SCCA rally cross events and a one piece hoop is manditory.

I would suggest you pull all of it out.
The welds would concern me, especially the passenger side angle bar and how it meets the long at the bottom.
Not going to pass a tech inspection.

You might want to consider getting Foley to ship you out his precut bar and base setup to start with, then you have at least that bar, the base plates and the rear cross bars all fitting correctly.

He sells it like that, a shipped, you weld it in , roll bar, or semi cage.

You can add tubes from there, but the stuff from Foley would be a great place to start.

I think it might be worth giving him a call to talk about what he can fabricate for you that could be pre done , just for ease of putting it all in place and having it all fit.

Rich