Project 914-LT1 Canadian V8 conversion, Getting Started with Engine Build-up Options

[neo914-6]

Joe,
That looks like the car recently sold on eBay. Post some pics of the GT40 donor! (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif) I'm adding you to the list (see link below my signature)

[serge914]

Hi Joe Welcome to the club. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/agree.gif)

[Garland]

QUOTE (ajracer @ Jan 23 2005, 12:08 AM)

I have more recently spent two years restoring and a complete build up of 1972 Super Beetle for my beloved daughter.

Let's see a picture of that 72 Bug. Like mine?
Picture from Woodward dream cruise 2002

[ajracer]

Garland:

Yes I like your Beetle very nice car !!
Sorry I don't have any pictures available since my baby is in storage for
the winter, BUT let me say this if we were parked side by side at 100 yds
you would not likely be able to tell which one you owned and which one
was the Canadian cousin from Toronto.

Yes my baby is also a yellow with black interior, stock exterior other than
slightly lowered in the front struts, has a 1641 engine with standard carb.
Phase II was to install a Porsche 2.0 which I already have a complete one
rebuilt (long block) in my garage. Then came the interruption to my plan a 914
showed up in my driveway and now I have a new love !! and she requires
my daily attention !! (Photo to follow if and when I locate one for the VW)

Allan

[Quebecer]

Hi Allan,

Welcome to the 914Club!

Great work on the LT-1, looks good, keep it up!

You're lucky not to have to tackle structural reparations of your baby like most of us do, before we can even think of upgrading the engine.

See you around!

Dan

[ajracer]

Progress Report # 3

Well things are moving along, howbeit sometimes slower than I wish, but with wife,
baby daughter and two in college there are"Other Things" that demand our time !
The rear control arms have been prepared and are now ready to reinstall, picked up
a new set of Koni rear struts and Koni front struts recently. I also have a set of HD
new rear springs which I have installed on the rear struts; so ready to go. Used 911
front strut housings were purchased with "3.5 inch spacing" for some bigger brakes.
I have a set of Wilwood racing type calipers which I plan to install and use for the
short term; need to locate 30mm front rotors to bolt to my 944 front hubs (hopefully
I can use them since they look workable ??) For the rears I have 944 turbo calipers and
will be running Carrera rotors. Will need to fab some type of caliper adapter ! Anyone
have a template or suggestion (from 3.0" to 3.75" spacing on rear calipers mounts ??)

While picking up parts the other day I also scored a new set of turbo tie rods, 20mm
torsion bars, stainless steel hoses, and 911 rear five bolt hubs. (Looking for used
spacers soon for my late model ROH wheels, likely need 1.5 - 2.0" spacers/adapters.
Right now just getting some machine work done through a friend, and getting ready
to attach the engine tranny combo and then looking for 100mm C/V and axle combo.
Which I understand the VW Bus is a good place to start and they also will handle the
rear axle angles better than stock 914 axles.

The "Hell Hole" I THOUGHT was great and never needed any work ! but after a serious
examination of the area and the unibody I decided to upgrade and install additional
reinforcement in front of the trailing arms. I do have a ROLL BAR - CAGE unit installed
by the PO, but I just wanted to make sure everything is the way I want it and that I am
comfortable with it. I have also enclosed a picture showing the roll bar. Photos are
attached below in no specific order since I'm not real good with the posting methods
and computer technical stuff, but I try my best.

Allan

[ajracer]

Many More Photos to follow:

[ajracer]

another

[ajracer]

another, another ....

[ajracer]

and more

[ajracer]

hell hole# 2

[ajracer]

Was $ 50 a good deal on NEW Koni Front 911 Struts ?

I thought it was for adjustable ones

Allan

[ajracer]

Garland:

Here's a photo of my VW getting ready to put back on the street next month. As you can see the snow is gone from Toronto for this winter.
Now back to that 914 - twin 4 (chev 350 !)

Cheers;

Allan

[Garland]

Allan,
Great looking bug, I like the color! Glad you found a picture to post. If you don't know SNOW is falling in Michigan big time.

[ajracer]

Greetings teeners !

Looking at the photos of the WCC in California makes me a little 914 home sick; seeing all the great machines and the uniqueness each person brings to their vehicle It is really great to have another family to belong (914 club family). Trust everyone is doing well and looking forward to a great summer season with their teener. I am personally hoping to get things moving ahead quickly and ion the road this summer before the snow flies again in Toronto later this year.

Seems we ALL run into more work than planned, and the old 914’s always need that extra TLC just like our families and other we hold close to our hearts. Well here’s an update on the project and where things are TODAY !

-Front Wilwood racing calipers, medium pads, home made spacers 5mm, new 911 koni struts/ boge housings, 944 rotors, new bearings, new brakes hoses, ball joints replaced, etc everything is tight and solid and should be ready to roll on the front suspension.

- Rear suspension requires a little more work but to date, new koni rear struts, high ratio springs, new axle bearings, modified control arms (for 944 turbo calipers), caliper shims, five bolt hubs, large 911 stub axles and wheel spacers. In addition welding in place of steel support and side braces along the rear part of the “longs’ where they meet the outer control arm mounts, every little bit helps, right ?

- Coolant lines and radiator set-up has begun and moving along. What a slow process of measuring, calculating, gently bending, measuring, re-measuring and then more gentle bending of the coolant lines. In my case I decided to use thick wall Aluminum tubing, since I thought it would be better and relatively easy to work with ! NOT so sure about the easy to work with part, even though I secured an professional pipe bender from a friend to help persuade the pipe. After seven hours with a friend any myself we got the dirt rotten “pipes” to go OUR way and they fit rather nicely up into the under carriage. In order to help prevent the hoses from coming off )under pressure) we decided to thread each end about 1 – 2” then I will seal and double clamp them to hopefully never move again. No welding of the aluminum just lots of bending and trial fitting. See the attached pictures, look quite good to me; then again we tried our best and this is it ! The radiator is a new three row high efficiency unit with corvette end tanks, and Toyota twin fans systems, with built in thermostat switch electronics (yet to be checked and make sure works at the temperature I desire for my Chevy) The actual radiator unit is about 30” x 18”, it will be a snug fit and make use of most of the front area of trunk enclosure will be a complete aluminum arrangement with the venting out the “bottom” as well a removable top sections to allow easy access to the hoses, temperature sensors and anything else that might be necessary from time to time. (See attached trial fitting of radiator.) Hopefully I may even have a little bit of storage space in the front.

Next I will need to finish up the Radiator installation and then move to the engine compartment in preparation for the engine tranny combination, hopefully within the next few weeks I can do a trial fitting and get some ideas if further modifications are going to be necessary. Progress is coming even though slow at times. Have a great day

[ajracer]

wilwood's

[ajracer]

radiator trial

[ajracer]

coolant lines

[ajracer]

Greetings V8 teeners:

Just thought I would post a couple of recent pictures from a trial fitment today
with the LT1 and after my friend Paul had stopped by a loaned me his engine
hoist. Still lots of work to actually do, but still hoping to do some cruising on the
streets of Toronto this summer.

Everything is moving a least forward, as well a braking some new ground as some
might notice form the attached photos. Already done most of the design work and
still planning to run a cable (kevlar disc) clutch set-up which is being made by a
local clutch shop in Toronto.

More photos and progress to follow soon. Thanks for checking out my project.


Allan

[ajracer]

another photos (YES the wood is just temporary for spacing and trail purposes)