BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Tygaboy's '75 LS3, It seemed a good idea at the time... Options

[Cairo94507]

@tygaboy - Of course we all knew you would take it to another level. I think that is going to look great. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[tygaboy]

You know you're getting down to the details when it's about interior courtesy lighting!
I went with some simple LEDs that I suspect are used in campers. Just to get things working, I used some small magnets and stuck one of these on the roof of the footwell, both sides. They have a switch for door, off, on. I wired them to the factory door switches. Simple, cheap and effective.
I know, I know... it's like a luxury car now, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOFZpU0BBL0

[markhoward]

We had a rain delay on the Red Barn meetup but today @buddyv and I came by to see @tygaboy ’s ride in action. Not only was Chris gracious enough to hand the keys over to both of us, he also treated us to lunch! This is the second time I have driven Chris’ 914 with the first being just after it first got running. That experience was great but I have to say the car has come a long way in this redux. Surprisingly, it is very quiet on startup. Definitely neighbor friendly. In the cabin, it is much louder but that is with no sound deadening, carpet, no dash, etc. The drive is quite nice. Steering is precise and the ride felt smooth and balanced. Needless to say, this thing is crazy powerful! Did not matter which gear you were in as there was more power than I would know what to do with. Suppose I could figure something out if I had to.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) The feel of the throttle is much better with the stock intake than it was with the Borla setup. Totally controllable and not abrupt. The clutch was super short in throw and quite heavy. Chris is working through that and is hopeful that smaller master cylinder with bring it in line. The gearbox is super tight and has a fairly short throw on the gear stick. I found myself shifting slow, mainly because I was not used to it and did not want to mess anything up. Overall, it was a great day seeing the boys. Only negative was having to drive my 944s2 home as it seemed to lack power after the 914 drive. Hmmm..

[tygaboy]

It was too much fun having @Buddyv Robert and @markhoward Mark drive the car. Watching them, I saw myself on my first few drives, a bit tentative, thinking "what's this thing going to do when/if I...?" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
But the car really is a nice cruiser. At least until you get with the go pedal. Then things turn serious, like RIGHT NOW!

Both commented on the ridiculously stiff/short-throw clutch set up. Yes, it's a thing and it's high on the "what's next to update" list.

It was also nice to get feedback on the digital dash. At first, everyone thinks it's too small. Both Mark and Robert commented that it works out just fine.

The other upgrade I'm likely going to do is swap in an Albins ring & pinion. They offer a 15% lower ratio which would be a big help. As is, virtually everything about the gearing is too short. Great for a track/autocross set up but 3K RPM at 70 MPH isn't doing my fuel consumption any favors. Plus, I have to get the LSD installed. The R&P are backordered so I'll wait 'til I can source one then do all the trans updates.

Until then, it's:
- refining the suspension / alignment settings to make it feel the way I want. It's still a bit darty for my tastes.
- finishing up the wiring. I need to add stuff like USB charging port for the phone and a couple other little things.
- start on the interior!

[Cairo94507]

Man, I can't wait until the next time I go to Chris'. Hopefully my car will be back on the road next week after some minor improvements so I can take a ride up to the Red Barn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[tygaboy]

@Cairo94507 Michael - I was thinking it might be time to host another Red Barn Workshop / Hang Out event. I'll PM you and we can work out a time that coincides with your visit.

[Cairo94507]

@tygaboy - Very cool; that would be a lot of fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[tygaboy]

I had a surprise visitor today. ClecoBoy stopped by the Red Barn! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
He asked about you, @Andyrew ...

[tygaboy]

And now that I see things more in place, I actually think the "all flat" looks pretty good.
I can always change it later.

[cali914]

I like the screen valance, but the muffler will not be that visible correct?

[BuddyV]

OK..... I got to drive this car the other day. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

I have been following this thread and watching this car being built for YEARS now!!!!!!

So.... what's it like? .... imagine you get to meet the actor from a favorite movie that you have watched 245 times. Is it a good thing? Will your expectations be squashed?

Nope.

This thing may not have an interior, but what it lacks in comfort it makes up for in RAW FU#@ING TESTOSTERONE!!!!!!! It's like a body builder wearing a custom tuxedo.

Chris constructed this car professionally. Where most of us focus on easy things like the paint, the trim, the wheels, the small parts...... not Chris..... not yet..... Chris is the King of the Big Stuff. Custom Stuff. It takes time. It requires one to LEARN those many, many things that few people ever need to learn..... and if needed, most of us would just HOPE that we can Google a local expert willing to fit us into his/her schedule to do the special work. Chris DID the specialized work...... and now the car fires up, purrs down the road..... waits for you to be less scared - just enough to press the right foot....... then becomes a FU#@IN DRAGON!!!!!!!!! A FIRE-SCREAMING DRAGON!!!!

I love this car the way you (kind of) love your neighbor's kids after you have watched them grow up. It's 98% done, in my opinion. Before driving it I would have said it was 55% done. But that's the me that spends my time ordering parts on Pelican. Experiencing this beast first-foot makes me more patient about seeing final paint, and more interested in having the clutch adjusted to less than 225 foot pounds (ok, maybe not that bad.... but HEAVY!)..... and maybe a few interior soft parts to keep the minor rattling down to a whisper.

This is the first V8 914 I have driven, so maybe I am just having a I-just-saw-Scarlett-Johansson-for-the-first-time moment....... but I wonder how many V8 914s communicate so fluidly between the Blueprinted motor, the Boxster trans, the digital dash, the dialed in suspension, the world class electronics (you get the picture) so well. So.... umm.....more than I expected. (It's not perfect. It's also not done.)

Yes, it's powerful.... we knew it would be. But once it's in 6th gear and you are cruising...... you realize that you could drive it to Santa Barbara - where before you wondered if you would put up with a 45 minute drive around the tri county area to Cars & Coffee. The quality of the build and the spare-no-expense parts shine during a ride. It's come together exactly as Chris sometimes doubted if it could.... or would.

Great car.

Now get it painted, you fu#@ing slacker!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

(Seriously, Thank you for letting me drive it. I went straight home and slapped my 914 across the 2056.)

[Cairo94507]

@BuddyV - Well written, entertaining summary of your drive. WCR is going to be a blast! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[markhoward]

Damn Robert! Well said!! @buddyv

[tygaboy]

I like the screen valance, but the muffler will not be that visible correct?

@cali914 - The bumper covers almost all of it. Only the exhaust tips and lower portion are visible once everything's in place.

[tygaboy]

@markhoward @buddyv Mark, Robert: Thanks for the wonderful comments. Knowing how particular you both are, I'm humbled to hear your reviews and certainly happy to hear my build has passed your tests! And thanks, as always, for your constructive criticism.

“The trouble with most of us is that we'd rather be ruined by praise than saved by criticism.”
– Norman Vincent Peale

[tygaboy]

Rear Panel Grill V1, with style points (and temporary pop rivets)
For this first go, I decided to try a panel in satin black and incorproate the standard trunk button. I have a solenoid latch that I could operate with a hidden lever and have this panel be blank in the center.
Then I noodled on it for a bit and figured that in a side view, you get the pop of door handle chrome and from the front, even with painted bumpers, there's the fog light grill chrome so from the back, maybe this dot of shiny is in keeping with that overall concept.

Plus, I can always make a "button delete" panel, if I end up wanting a naked rear. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

But at this point, I think this looks pretty good.

[roundtwo]

You know you're getting down to the details when it's about interior courtesy lighting!
I went with some simple LEDs that I suspect are used in campers. Just to get things working, I used some small magnets and stuck one of these on the roof of the footwell, both sides. They have a switch for door, off, on. I wired them to the factory door switches. Simple, cheap and effective.
I know, I know... it's like a luxury car now, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOFZpU0BBL0

Classy!!!

[Cairo94507]

@tygaboy - I like the trunk release on the panel. It adds just that bit of chrome that it needs. Will you be fitting the rear lid, bumper and valance soon? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[tygaboy]

@tygaboy - I like the trunk release on the panel. It adds just that bit of chrome that it needs. Will you be fitting the rear lid, bumper and valance soon? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

@Cairo94507 - Michael, The rear bumper is expected back from chrome pretty soon. I may look for another bumper to paint, too. The rear lid is set on there now, but I need to work out the air box. I don't think I want to use the rear panel for air intake after all.
No plans to run a rear valance at this point.
But I will say, just putting on a crap looking trunk lid makes a huge difference. Once the bumper is there, I think it'll come together nicely.

[Cairo94507]

@tygaboy - You are absolutely right - a rear lid makes a huge difference. Looking forward to seeing it with the rear bumper too. But I would suggest just holding a short rear valance up under the bumper and taking a look... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)