914 2.0 > 3.0 GT Conversion, On the road! Options

[defianty]

I've another thread running on another forum and I thought it a good idea to have one here too as this forum has taught me so much over the years. Quite frankly I'd never have started it without the knowledge you guys have shared. Thanks.

Some of the earlier posts are a few months old but I'll repost them in order here up to where I am right now. From there on I'll post simultaneously.

I've had the car now for coming up to 11 years. It hasn't had much use in the last few years due to personal circumstances but I've always wanted to do a flared six conversion, the dream I know a lot of guys share here. At the end of last year that dream started to become a reality (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

I tentatively put feelers out for an engine. Barely a week later I'd done a deal on a rebuilt 204bhp 3.0SC engine that was now fitted with PMOs. Exactly what I wanted.

I intend to do as much work on the car as possible, sure I'll need professional help down the line, my welding skills are limited. But I'll be giving it my all and I hope my perfectionist nature helps me achieve the results I'm after. The only part I know I won't tackle is the paint, that part will be done by a professional.

As a reminder this is how the car looked. It's a good car, not perfect but a very clean, solid example that had paint about fifteen years ago, it had also been converted to carbs many years back. There was a couple of small bubbles here and there but so far after further investigation I'm yet to find anything major.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1495877382.1.jpg)

Starting the strip down.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1495877382.2.jpg)


I'm looking forward to the journey and sharing it with everyone.

[defianty]

All very well but you may have noticed that I no longer have a fuel gauge!

Some of the GT cars had a gauge mounted on the dash in place of the radio. Here's a picture here you can see it's mounted at an angle to face the driver.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895120.1.jpg)

The last time I saw one for sale it was for an eyewatering amount. Again I had to get creative.

The case of these gauges had a 60mm circumference todays VDO gauges are just 52mm and all have a rather modern look. My first task was to find a 60mm case. VDO has made gauges for many manufactures and in the mid 60's they made this for SAAB.

And look... a lovely silver dot too.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895120.2.jpg)

Unfortunately the internals weren't compatible with the 914 sender unit, so for compatibility I got this.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895120.3.jpg)

Now it was just a simple case of merging the two together. :shock:


The really didn't want to come apart!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895120.4.jpg)

Saab gauge in pieces with the new gauge internals pictured.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895120.5.jpg)

I wanted to use the original spade connectors on the back of the Saab gauge so that meant modifying the new VDO gauge to suit.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895121.6.jpg)

The needle on the Saab gauge wasn't quite Porsche enough for me and it wasn't quite long enough either, so I went about creating a new needle. This was the final version and it was made from a milk jug (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Yes and milk jug!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895121.7.jpg)

It turns out Revell enamel Matt 25 is a great match for a faded Porsche needle.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895121.8.jpg)

To create the dial I used several images of GT gauges to create a new artwork I could print. These are just some of the early printouts.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895121.9.jpg)

As always happens I forgot to take photos of the build up but here's what I ended up with.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895121.10.jpg)

Together with the rest.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895122.11.jpg)


Another fun project completed. The last one I saw for sale was advertised for 950 euros. This cost me less than £70.