Safari 914 project, “Sufari” Options

[East coaster]

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

This one is from an early 3 series, but a 2002 works the same.

[East coaster]

Today was the day to see if it made noise. It fired right up and idled down nicely. It’s a happy day in project land!

It’s alive!!!……..in my best Dr Frankenstein voice

I have a video but can’t seem to get it to upload……I’ll keep trying

[strawman]

As a fellow Suby conversion addict, all I can say is congrats! The first start is always the greatest feeling ever. I've been driving my turbo Suby-powered 914 since about 2012, and I have successfully campaigned it at PCA and Vapor Trail Vettes autocrosses for several years now.

I recently bought out an estate here on the CA Central Coast back in September that included a sorta running/driving EG33 swapped 914 and a mostly complete parts car, five T4 engines, six transaxles and two pallets of 914, 912 and 911 parts that I've been slowly selling to fund my next project. I've been toying with the idea of building the parts car into a Safari 914 to cruise the gravel mountain roads around here. After reading through your build, I don't think there any question... now I just gotta find a running manual-equipped Suby parts car.

Enjoy driving it!

Geoff

[East coaster]

Here’s a pic of the ball valve I added to the stock fuel port. I figured it’s a lot better than siphoning the tank if I ever need to pull the tank and it happens to be full (which is very likely due to Murphy’s law). I was able to get fittings that convert the stock tank Port threads to AN threads. One port is capped and one has the drain valve. I’ll be safety wiring the ball valve lever to ensure it never drains accidentally.

[pek771]

Nice having a lathe isn’t it?
Are you above stock ride height?

[East coaster]

Nice having a lathe isn’t it?
Are you above stock ride height?

It’s awesome to have a lathe and mill. You can pretty much make anything. My lathe is over 100 years old and I can only imagine all the things it’s made over time.

I raised the suspension 2” with lowered spindles in the front and modified mount points in the rear.

[East coaster]

Just some random pics of wrapping up the wiring harness (now that I know everything works), and playing with trying to get my carpet uncurled from packing. I also installed and final adjusted the shifter and cables.

[East coaster]

Managed to get the hood on by myself today. I used some blankets to protect the cowl and went for it. Looks much better with a hood (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Also fitted up the roof rack for some final work on the latches at the rear.

[maddog]

I love this build! Cant wait to see it finished!

[Retroracer]

Something to think about: How about coating the roof rack and brush bar a dark brown to match the backpad - gives the car a nice two tone contrast to the black targa top, bumper tops and flares? Little bit of a nuanced difference to the obvious "blackened" approach....

- Tony

PS. Still loving this build BTW. Nice job on the engine firing up!!

[East coaster]

Worked on the final fitment of the roof rack today. It was pretty much finished a while ago except for a means of latching it down. I decided on a simple approach using some rubber rack straps.

I made some pins for the operating end of the straps and welded them to the support brackets. Then I welded mount points on the rack for the fixed end of the straps.

I’m calling it done (other than finishing and painting)!

[East coaster]

Something to think about: How about coating the roof rack and brush bar a dark brown to match the backpad - gives the car a nice two tone contrast to the black targa top, bumper tops and flares? Little bit of a nuanced difference to the obvious "blackened" approach....

- Tony

PS. Still loving this build BTW. Nice job on the engine firing up!!

That would look good. I’m going to stay with black for touch up reasons though. I have a feeling there will be spots to touch up on the regular and there’s nothing like the ease of flat black spray cans.

[rick 918-S]

Like this build. Lots of detail. You will really enjoy the result.

[DRPHIL914]

i am curious about where you sourced the flare material and how you came up with that design/shape? I like it especially your unique safari build.

Phil
ps awesome work btw, enjoying your unique approach with this yet using a lot of stock stuff like heater box for heat and so on, i am interested to see if that will provide enough air flow across the core to give you enough hot air for the cabin.

Phil

PSS - and i love the rack, i would like you to make me one when you are finishe with this build !!!

[East coaster]

i am curious about where you sourced the flare material and how you came up with that design/shape? I like it especially your unique safari build.

Phil
ps awesome work btw, enjoying your unique approach with this yet using a lot of stock stuff like heater box for heat and so on, i am interested to see if that will provide enough air flow across the core to give you enough hot air for the cabin.

Phil

PSS - and i love the rack, i would like you to make me one when you are finishe with this build !!!

Phil, The flares are just universal flares I picked up off eBay. I figured if I didn’t like them I could always GT flair it, but so far I think they’re right for the safari look.

I have let the car warm up and I seem to be getting good heat flow to the defrosters and floor vents. I put a new blower in the fresh air box and it really moves air. I’ll find out for sure when I start driving it in the cold.

[pek771]

How much do you think this weighs? And have you driven it yet?

[East coaster]

How much do you think this weighs? And have you driven it yet?

No idea on the weight. I was pretty conscious of weight as I progressed though. All the roof rack and supporting parts are aluminum and really pretty light. The front “stinger” bar is also all aluminum and weights less than the stock bumper tits. It’s not ready to drive yet, but hopefully soon. The only major thing left is to make my driveshafts.

[East coaster]

Made an air deflector for the Safari rack. Here’s fitting it up prior to final trimming/shaping/painting…..





I also finished and painted the trunk hinge supports/rook rack mounts and got them installed. Getting them through the grills and O-rings was a challenge but it came out clean looking.

[tygaboy]

Nice. Very tidy. To me, it's those little details that make all the difference. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[East coaster]

Finished painting and installling the roof rack, looks so much better painted.