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

[defianty]

Ever had the sick in your stomach feeling?

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497597464.1.jpg)

[914dave]

Nice fab work! From the looks of your skills, that body work will be no problem to sort out.

[defianty]

Nice fab work! From the looks of your skills, that body work will be no problem to sort out.

Thanks very much. However before starting this project I'd never done anything like this and I've only been welding a few months. I love a challenge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[914dave]

Nice fab work! From the looks of your skills, that body work will be no problem to sort out.

Thanks very much. However before starting this project I'd never done anything like this and I've only been welding a few months. I love a challenge (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Same here. Worth the effort! It's gratifying.

[FourBlades]

Great build, you are doing a fantastic job! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

This will be an awesome car when done.

John

[pete000]

That's a lot of plastic on that quarter !

[defianty]

That's a lot of plastic on that quarter !

There sure is! I suspected some there and I'd already sourced a quarter to replace it with. Sadly I'm going to need a new door too as this one has a lot of bondo in.

[pete-stevers]

Don't let a little bondo get in the way of progress!!!

[banananose914]

Great attention to detail on the parts. Looks good.

[defianty]

Whilst hiding from the car and it's filler problems I turned to another little project.

I plan on having a very stock interior in my car, most of what was in the car was already in great condition and the few parts the weren't, have been replaced.

The dash and gauges were in a lovely original condition and fortunately didn't need refurbishment. However now having a six cylinder engine I wanted more information on the dashboard.

Being an early 914 the car had silver dot gauges. It's common with six conversions to swap out the large 914 fuel gauge and replace it with an oil temp and pressure gauge from a 911. Unfortunately those gauges are expensive now and I really wanted a cheaper solution.

My engine is a '83 3.0l and more by luck than anything else I managed to get hold of a reasonably priced gauge from the same era. The lucky part being my sender units on the engine were a perfect match to the gauge. The only problem with these gauges is the lack of a silver dot. But not for long.

911 oil gauge on the right and partially torn down 914 fuel gauge.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895097.1.jpg)

Silver Dot from the 914 gauge not stuck on to the 911 oil gauge.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895098.2.jpg)

Reassembled - A trio of silver dot gauges.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i176.photobucket.com-6621-1497895098.3.jpg)

[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.

[tygaboy]

Dude! So awesome. Great job and fabulous result! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[mepstein]

Outstanding job on the gauges.

[defianty]

Time for a little update after taking a bit of a break from the car.

As seen earlier I made a GT style fuel gauge, no it was time to create the pod for it to sit in.

A previous owner had installed something other than the standard size in the radio aperture, step one was to fit that. Tough welding as the metal is so thin!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731039.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731041.2.jpg)

Although it'll be covered by the fuel gauge, if I want to install a radio I'll have the option.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731041.3.jpg)

A piece of 61mm ID tube and sheet metal cut to size is all that's needed.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731042.4.jpg)

In primer...

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731042.5.jpg)

No more Bahia Red!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731042.6.jpg)

Many thanks to Garry at Classic FX for the basketweave.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731043.7.jpg)

All safely stored away in the loft until installation time now.

[defianty]

Back to the front of the car to complete the oil cooler installation.

The trouble I went to finding someone to make the louvred panel for me was ridiculous. No one would reply to my enquiries and I end up using a guy that took about a week to reply to each email. Soooooooo frustrating! Even more frustrating was after stumbling across a time-warp metal merchant locally earlier this week, that whilst lovely old boy there hobbled off to cut some sheet to size I find myself staring at a sign - 'Louvred panels made to order' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Anyway, here's my original front trunk floor looking rather shabby, a previous owner had mounted a kerb or similar and made a bit of a mess. This was the perfect opportunity to rectify that.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731107.1.jpg)

Most of the damage repaired and offering up louvred panel.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731108.2.jpg)

Lots and welding, grinding and swearing later! Ta da!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731108.3.jpg)

I can now finish off the front grill I made and get everything dry fitted.

[sechszylinder]

Time for a little update after taking a bit of a break from the car.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/s6.postimg.org-6621-1503731042.6.jpg)

Many thanks to Garry at Classic FX for the basketweave.


All safely stored away in the loft until installation time now.

That is an awesome work!!!

Did you forgot the cutout for the 914/6 steering column with the left hand iginition switch in the dashboard ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Keep up the excellent work!
BR Benno

[defianty]

Did you forgot the cutout for the 914/6 steering column with the left hand iginition switch in the dashboard ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Keep up the excellent work!
BR Benno

I decided a while back not to convert the ignition. The price of the parts versus what it gives you in return isn't worth it to me.

[sechszylinder]

Did you forgot the cutout for the 914/6 steering column with the left hand iginition switch in the dashboard ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Keep up the excellent work!
BR Benno

I decided a while back not to convert the ignition. The price of the parts versus what it gives you in return isn't worth it to me.

ah, o.k. ...

if you browse through the forum here you will find some instructions, how to convert 911 and 914/4 steering columns to a 914/6 replica steering column.
I did this my self and it's very easy and not so expensive ..

anyways, great work !

br

Benno

[Cracker]

I don't know how I missed this (or do not remember) but what a GREAT job on finding solutions around the problems - especially the gauges! Very interested in following it form now on!

T

[914forme]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Now just on more thread to follow, and (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) Over keep up the great work.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) as to why people have such a large fear over doing instrument work. I can understand Quad cam carrera engines, and even a 911 engine , but gauges come on they are so simple to work on. Really like your setup.