Safari 914 project, “Sufari” Options

[East coaster]

Ok, so……I finally finished the exhaust. I wanted an exhaust tip that was reminiscent of the vintage bomb sight megaphones, and I wanted to make a tip vs buy. I started with a flaired tube (2.25” to 3”) and put a 1.25” tube inside. It’s all stainless like rest of the exhaust.

Once it was welded on it was time to cut the valance.

[East coaster]

Also mounted my “stinger” and installed/connected the lights mounted in it.

[Retroracer]

The exhaust tip is a great retro "nod" to those early performance exhausts, as well as being basically a work of art by itself! The way its kept up high and peeking through the valance is in keeping with the offroad, "minimum overhang" vibe too.

Love the Design thinking and details on this build.

- Tony

[East coaster]

Got my rear valance painted and mounted, and mounted up the rear bumper. I’ve had numerous 914s over the years but never had body colored bumpers, I’m really liking it. I wired up the license plate lights and installed them, and with that, I’m calling the rear lighting done.

[East coaster]

I tend to put off tasks that I know are going to suck. This was one of them…..I decided to tackle my fresh air box today. I’ve read the tips and tricks on getting the box installed and used some of this advice. In the end I used a couple of wire ties to keep the seal in place and a pry bar under the box to compress the seal once in place. I thought it would never raise enough to get the bolts started but after about 15 mins of expletives and sweat I got the bolts started and ran them in…….a moment of victory!

I connected up the air ducts, wiring, and heater core hoses. I also torqued down my wiper mounts so it’s officially done. Now I can move on to getting my tank installed once I get it cleaned out and painted.

A day of victory over my nemesis the air box!

[East coaster]

Got all my water lines plumbed up today, including the heater valve and control cable. This is controlled by the temp selector in the dash (I’m using the Suby hvac controls). It’s a long run for the cable but it seems to work great. It runs from dash through the heater tube in pass side long, then to valve.

Also got my rear window installed today…..progress!

[tygaboy]

Coolest build on 914 World. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

[East coaster]

Coolest build on 914 World. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

Thanks, it’s hardly that, but it’s been fun and is keeping me out of trouble in my retirement (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[East coaster]

Had some interior fun today. Installed my rear window, new seat belts (seatbeltUSA), my targa trim, engine lid cable, and my back pad. I’m loving the color contrast ext to int.

[tygaboy]

Coolest build on 914 World. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

Thanks, it’s hardly that, but it’s been fun and is keeping me out of trouble in my retirement (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Dude. Don't argue with me. I'm an expert on what's coolest - and it's your work/your car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

[East coaster]

So in between other little projects it was tank cleaning 101…….I made block off plates for the fuel fill and the Subaru fuel pump openings, then filled with 7 gals of vinegar and sealed it up. Rotated the tank for a couple days to get good coverage, then drained vinegar and filled with water/baking soda mix. Rotated a couple more days, then drained the mixture and put 1-1/2 gals of wd40 to treat the fresh metal.

Hopefully tank will go in soon after a couple coats of paint.

[Montreal914]

Had some interior fun today. Installed my rear window, new seat belts (seatbeltUSA), my targa trim, engine lid cable, and my back pad. I’m loving the color contrast ext to int.

Beautiful back pad! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

Is this an original in nice shape or something reupholstered?

Really nice build! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[East coaster]

[/quote]


Beautiful back pad! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)

Is this an original in nice shape or something reupholstered?

Really nice build! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
[/quote]

It’s actually original. The bottom is a little rough but better than most I’ve seen and is still solid. The seats and door panels are in similar shape, so I didn’t have to deal with upholstery other than whatever I come up with for a center console.

[East coaster]

So it was a milestone day for my project. After countless hours paring down the Subaru harness to fit the 914, modifying the gauge cluster and its wiring, extending the engine to ECU harness, and generally adapting the Suby harness to work with 914 lights, wipers, fan……….I connected the battery for the first time and no smoke or flames came out!

Along with no smoke or flames, everything works (all lighting, cold air blower via Suby controls, wipers, flashers, turn signals, brake lights, gauges, radiator fans, and even cranked over when I hit the start button…..yay!

I have to say I feel a great level of relief that it all works and nothing sizzled. That said, I still have to wire the fuel pump once the tank is in, so there’s still an opportunity to screw it up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[East coaster]

So……we just enjoyed a 30 hr power outage due to the kick ass storm that hit us. That delayed a little of my progress but picked it back up now that we have power back.

I have a Weltmeister sway bar that I bought for the project but it came with no bushings. I couldn’t seem to find any so I made some. I turned down some delrin to make the bushings where the bar passes through the mounting brackets. I got the bushings done about an hour before we lost power. Today we got power and internet back and I was able to get the sway bar installed. I used the 914 Limited sway bar install plates and they make the job easy (my car came without sway bars/mounts).

Here’s a couple pics of bushing making 101….

[Shivers]

So it was a milestone day for my project. After countless hours paring down the Subaru harness to fit the 914, modifying the gauge cluster and its wiring, extending the engine to ECU harness, and generally adapting the Suby harness to work with 914 lights, wipers, fan……….I connected the battery for the first time and no smoke or flames came out!

Along with no smoke or flames, everything works (all lighting, cold air blower via Suby controls, wipers, flashers, turn signals, brake lights, gauges, radiator fans, and even cranked over when I hit the start button…..yay!

I have to say I feel a great level of relief that it all works and nothing sizzled. That said, I still have to wire the fuel pump once the tank is in, so there’s still an opportunity to screw it up (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I find myself smiling after every installment. Lights look like they belong there.

[East coaster]

So, it’s like -125 out or something and I needed something to work on in the heated part of my shop. All I could think of was modifying the BMW mirror to fit the 914. I had one of these in my last 914 and really liked it. I didn’t add the visor pins yet as I’m not sure I’m going to install visors. If I do, I’ll add the pins when I install the visors.

[East coaster]

Got a couple things checked off the list today. I put the tank in place, plumbed fuel lines, and added a block off and a drain valve to the outlets on the bottom of the tank (since the Subaru pump feeds from the top). Also finished the wiring for the fuel pump and connected it up……..it’s ready for some fuel and an initial startup.

[tygaboy]

All of that looks so good. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[Lof8]

what model BMW is the mirror from? I recently cracked my windhsield installing a mirror with the adhesive pad. Car look fantastic!