Labor of Love: A Build Thread, Or: honoring my fathers 914-6 Options

[BillJ]

Adding some in flight pictures for everyone's amusement. Let me know for questions!

[BillJ]

A few more.

[BillJ]

So a bit of a bummer just now. As buider was torquing the head studs, two of them pulled out. Now have to take the engine back down and do timeserts for those two. Not a huge deal from what he tells me but definitely costing time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) It was looking nice too....

[BillJ]

So big milestone today ss the long block is assembled and tight! Next are cams and timing.

Very excited to get to.this point for sure. Should be starting the process late next week of getting the rest assembled and getting it in the car.

[Dr Evil]

Happy and honored to be part of this build. I am about to wrap up the 6 case build. This build was started with a barren 6 case (used, not NOS), and after a long discussion Bill decided what gears he wanted to go into it; A, GA, O, V, Z. We used data on my site to see what was bolted to similar engine configurations, and what goal was at what RPM. Today is final assembly and then ship it out.

Step 1, the case and cleaning with the laser.

[Dr Evil]

Next, now that the mag alloy is bare, time to put protectant on it to prevent future oxidation. I like Gibbs. Easy to use, lasts a long time.


Freshly lasered


Gibbs


After Gibbs

[Dr Evil]

Next, onto the usual work of setting everything up correctly. Since this was a barren case, I had no start point as I couldnt use the pinion, or diff that came with it so I had to get close and then adjust from there. It didnt take but two adjustments for the pinion and one for the diff to get preload, back last, pinion depth all set perfect.

the N number on the head of this pinion was 10, and I just happened to hit that mark dead on. Tolerance is +/-0.03mm.


Using prussian blue I check the contact pattern of the ring and pinion. I do this with all builds because rarely, but not never, you can set everything perfectly to spec and it will not have the right contact pattern. The newest of these is 47yo or so, there will always be some wear. It calms me to take this extra step.

[Dr Evil]

On to the gear selection and assembly. Chosen from my stock were A, GA, O, V, Z. New teeth, sliders, bands affixed, everything assembled and forks adjusted.

[DRPHIL914]

very nice! Curious what the stock 914/6 gears were vs what was selected, what was the goal, is it racing?

[BillJ]

Hey Phil. Yes race only. Stock gearsets and ratios for a standard 6 box are A 3.091, GA 1.778, O 1.217, V 0.9259, and ZA 0.7586.

So essentially i am only changing the last gear from ZA to Z 0.7931. Doesnt seem like a lot but that ZA gear is way too long and the rpm drop too great to be effective coming out of a faster corner like last corner at Road Atlanta for example. The gear selection keeps me in the anticiapted power band for every gear.

My former box has M, S, X as final gears and i would run out of rpm on the straight at most tracks i run. Was very frustrating to watch other cars creep away as i had to hold at 125mph basically. No fun.

[DRPHIL914]

Hey Phil. Yes race only. Stock gearsets and ratios for a standard 6 box are A 3.091, GA 1.778, O 1.217, V 0.9259, and ZA 0.7586.

So essentially i am only changing the last gear from ZA to Z 0.7931. Doesnt seem like a lot but that ZA gear is way too long and the rpm drop too great to be effective coming out of a faster corner like last corner at Road Atlanta for example. The gear selection keeps me in the anticiapted power band for every gear.

My former box has M, S, X as final gears and i would run out of rpm on the straight at most tracks i run. Was very frustrating to watch other cars creep away as i had to hold at 125mph basically. No fun.

I had rebuilt mine back about 8 years ago and changed the 4 & 5, to i believe a HA and x- what ever the 3rd was in stock box flipped for 5, making 5 like a 5.5, i got great mileage on highway and it wanted to cruize at about 80-85 but lower than that not enough rpm for proper cooling and too big of a gap between 3&4 for using 4 in the hills and mountains, but i used it in and around bluffton HHI on the highway. so when i pulled the trans a few months ago to do new seals etc i put those back to stock .
Is that Z going to give you the ability to get up above that 125? what do you think your top end MPH will be?

Phil

[BillJ]

With my redline and tire size we are looking at around 142.5mph.

[Dr Evil]

Last before its packed and shipped.

Selected a tail cone from a donor, dirty but not corroded. Had concretions and all manner of crap contaminating it. The laser, preceded buy a little elbow grease, made short work of it.

Scrape of the chuncks.


First pass patch with the laser to assess wattage and duration was appropriate.


After I let'er rip.


After Gibbs treatment and installed.

[gms]

Hey Phil. Yes race only. Stock gearsets and ratios for a standard 6 box are A 3.091, GA 1.778, O 1.217, V 0.9259, and ZA 0.7586.

So essentially i am only changing the last gear from ZA to Z 0.7931. Doesnt seem like a lot but that ZA gear is way too long and the rpm drop too great to be effective coming out of a faster corner like last corner at Road Atlanta for example. The gear selection keeps me in the anticiapted power band for every gear.

My former box has M, S, X as final gears and i would run out of rpm on the straight at most tracks i run. Was very frustrating to watch other cars creep away as i had to hold at 125mph basically. No fun.

I race on low speed tracks and high speed tracks to I have 2 gear boxes
I find that a 4 speed meets my needs for the short box
Short Box gears A-H-Q-X
Long Box gears A-H-P-V-ZA

[BillJ]

Thanks for.those setups Glenn! Our gear stack is really close. I do have a 904 mainshaft waiting for a future build as well to get creative. Is a 4 speed 901 gearbox easy to come by?

[Dr Evil]

Thanks for.those setups Glenn! Our gear stack is really close. I do have a 904 mainshaft waiting for a future build as well to get ceative. Is a 4 speed 901 gearbox easy to come by?

You can convert any 4 to a 5 and any 5 to a 4. No problem.

[BillJ]

Things are starting to come together. Engine will be at the shop on Tuesday. Transmission arrived yesterday. And today they started the install for the oill lines. I have taken the decision to replace essentailly all the lines and a new cooler up front. The oil tank was professionally cleaned as well. Also adding a thermostat and second oil filter. Not leaving anything to chance.

A couple shots of the install so far

[BillJ]

Throwback time while i am cleaning the garage. My dad 23 years ago. Same car

[914werke]

Thanks for.those setups Glenn! Is a 4 speed 901 gearbox easy to come by?

You can convert any 4 to a 5 and any 5 to a 4. No problem.

That may be a interesting tech video? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[BillJ]

It is a good.day.... engine is assembled by Charlie and ready to install flywheel and clutch. Trans will follow and be ready to install! We do have a slight delay as the oil lines are not fully installed yet.