Hypothetical Q..adding subframes to the 914, where would you attach it to on the 914? Options

[Mueller]

Ideally it would seem that tying to a central cage would be best, but what if you have no cage?

Does anyone think the firewalls are suffiecient to weld plates to that the subframe could be bolted/welded to it?

Looked an a Ultima frame and suspension* yesterday which got my pea-brain thinking and dreaming (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

*not impressed, seemed "cheap" for that kind of money...

[TonyAKAVW]

If you welded a plate across the bottom half of the firewall, and then plates over the longitudinals from the firewall up to where it meets the rear trunk, and used heavy enough material that might be one way to go. Basically box in the engine compartment with 1/4 inch plate. Kind of like a reverse Engman reinforcement kit, this time for the engine bay.

You could use the rear suspension mount points as well, also the shock towers. Between all of those spots you should be able to come up with something.

I'm welding in 1/4 inch plates at the upper end of the longs (at the trunk firewall) for my Subaru engine mount. That steel is pretty thick there, but for a whole suspension you'd definitely need more.

-Tony (not a structural engineer, nor an experienced racecar builder)

[URY914]

If you welded a plate across the bottom half of the firewall, and then plates over the longitudinals from the firewall up to where it meets the rear trunk, and used heavy enough material that might be one way to go. Basically box in the engine compartment with 1/4 inch plate. Kind of like a reverse Engman reinforcement kit, this time for the engine bay.

You could use the rear suspension mount points as well, also the shock towers. Between all of those spots you should be able to come up with something.

I'm welding in 1/4 inch plates at the upper end of the longs (at the trunk firewall) for my Subaru engine mount. That steel is pretty thick there, but for a whole suspension you'd definitely need more.

-Tony (not a structural engineer, nor an experienced racecar builder)

1/4 plate is WAY too thick to properly weld to the thin sheetmetal of the car. And the weight of 1/4 is a little over 10 pounds per square foot . You should use 10 gage sheetmetal which is about 1/8" and drill it for spot welds. Building a 1/4 " box around the engine is a bit too much.

But getting back to the original question I don't think you could properly add sub frames to the front and rear w/o having a cage. The connection points of tubing to sheetmetal would not be ideal. I'm not saying it can't be done, but I won't.