Project Turbo 914 begins..., (yes, I know you can't turbo a 914) Options

[RJMII]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/coolpics.gif)

:drool:

They look like they should be able to flow nicely!

[HAM Inc]

We are going with 40 x 36mm valves. I want to make sure David has a very high I/E flow ratio for the turbo, and we want to make sure the engine is responsive at lower revs, hence the smaller intakes. This should be a very snappy combo!

I do not like large bores for turbo T4 engines. The small bore, long stroke set-up will keep as much head strength as possible and put the torque at the RPM's David says he want's it at (same place I like it too); down low and mid range. I'm eager to see how this combo suits him.

[ottox914]

Getting closer now... a little more head porn... talked to Len today, he expects them to be done soon now. Next steps, cc the chambers and get with Jake on the specs for the J & E pistons. These are the "magic bullet" that makes this all work, being sized for my cyls, and having a correct pin height to work with the crank and rods I'll be using. Bummer? 6-8 weeks or more for the J/E's to show up. I thought I was giving myself enough lead time, but, oh well, not going to hurry this along and mess something up. After all, I an always drive my wife's M car to auto cross while I get the 914 turbo motor built. Now, a couple pics of the heads, and the spare auto crosser...

[ottox914]

Back from the dead- My wife needed to have BOTH her ACL's replaced this summer, so I've been a little busy of late. Taking care of her, doing everything she usually does around our house, and looking to suck up all the OT I can from work, as she is self employed and there is no ST or LT disability to claim. Finally got the engine tore down and the last parts sent to Jake for inspection.

The P/C's didn't look bad at all, they'll probably be sold, as will the 2.0 heads. I think the problem with the oil burning of the motor was an esxhaust valve guide, as when I took the kerry hunter apart, 3 of the 4 header tubes were bone dry inside, but one was had oil inside it. The heads, didn't look bad at all either. For a n/a motor, the guide might be just fine, but with some extra pressure from the boost, its weakness became apparent.

Now some pics: P/C's

[ottox914]

...more pics, cam and lifters. (ouch!)

[ottox914]

cam and lifters.

[ottox914]

bearings...

[ottox914]

crank and rods

[ottox914]

crank and rods- close ups

[ottox914]

Last but not least, the miata seen in prior pics has been replaced with this: a 2000 Audi TT. 180 HP, fwd model, 70K one owner miles, and note the back of the car- no "bird perch" spoiler. This is an un-modified car. Audi offered a factory "update" to the suspension, which served to basically dull the response of the car. You can tell the updated cars as they all have the rear spoiler, this one does not. Its not a 914, but its also NOT a miata...

[ottox914]

Getting closer... Len has been holding off on the heads until the rest of the parts are ready. Case, crank, rods have been sent to Jake for inspection and re-manufacture. While getting the bits and pieces together, I sent the exhaust system out for Jet Hot coating. Thats pretty cool stuff. I got the extra high temp coating, so its not a chrome bright finish, but still silver and shiny. They coat the inside and outside of the headers and collector. Should look nice with a turbo tacked on the back of it.

[ottox914]

Good news, bad news, and an plan...

Got a call back from the Blake in the shop, working on my parts yesterday...

Good news: The crank looks great, has not been messed with, is std/std, should need only light polishing to be ready for balance. The flywheel needs only a light cut to be ready. The rod big ends are in spec, need no work, the bushing in the small end showed minimal wear, was in spec as well. They test fit the new JE pistons and pins to the rods, everyone was happy, nothing to tight, nothing to loose. So polish the crank, assemble the flywheel, clutch, pressure plate, clutch disc, crankshaft, fan, and then balance/index the whole assembly, do an oil system mod to the rods so they will get some oil up on the underside of the pistons, balance the rods, and its all ready to come home.

Bad news: The case has its issues. The crankshaft bore was in spec, however the end bearing by the flywheel has enough wear on the thrust surface that this should be addressed. An odd and tricky bit of work, you need the right tools to get it done right. The shop to do this is in CA. So more shipping there and back, and as it was explained to me, to machine the case to resolve the thrust surface issues, the case will be align bored, the thrust surface cut, and a special ($$$) new bearing will be needed. The estimate, and this is just a guess, is 4-500 to get this done, shipped, and back to the shop in ACH, then they can check/confirm its done right, and more shipping back to me.

I have another case at my father-in-laws place, collecting dust in the barn. Over Christmas I'll be hauling that one home, taking it apart, and seeing if maybe an aircooled oriented shop in the twin cities can be found to have a look at case #2. If thats in better shape, I might be dollars ahead just to tap and plug that case and move on.

[ottox914]

UPDATE: Found a (sort of, he's a good 2 hrs drive time each way from my place) local aircooled machine shop to have a look at my spare case. Talked to the guy today, after leaving a ton of messages, he sounded excited by the turbo 914 project. He has been doing type 1 and type IV work forever, does air craft conversions of air cooled motors, comes well referenced by some other folks in the MN 914/Porsche community. He also does work on Model "A" motors. His machine shop sounds huge, and includes an engine dyno for the aircooled motors. He has used SDS on many of the aircraft conversions, and is familiar with that system, which, oddly enough, is what I'm running.

So, once I get my plan "B" motor torn down, it'll go to his place for inspection, and if it looks better than the 2.0 case that Jake and Co. should be sending back with my shiny new parts, I'll build off that one. Blake thinks a week or so to get the last of the work done on my stuff, so hopefully, soon, I'll have photos of a massIVe project to get started on.

And- anyone have any thoughts of the condition of the parts pictured above? I was suprised that no one chimed in on them. The pistons and cyls didn't look all that bad, but the cam and lifters looked a mess.

More updates to come!

[ottox914]

PARTS ON THE WAY!!!!!

Got an email from Len that the heads should be done and on the way monday or so. Can hardly wait to see the magic he has done to them. Of course I'll pitch up some pics when they arrive.

[rick 918-S]

I (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) this project! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[ottox914]

Was expecting from MR. UPS a box on tuesday... found an odd large box at home today after returning home from a funeral... box is from some guy named Hoffman?

[ottox914]

MMmmmmmmm...... shiny new parts...

[ottox914]

Intake and exhaust:

[rick 918-S]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) keep em coming Dave!

[HAM Inc]

Glad to hear you like the heads Dave! I was very happy with the way they turned out! When do we get to hear it run?

BTW, I hope your cat wasn't offended by the scents left behind by my shop cats (Blanche & Blossom) rubbing on your box! My girls mark every package that enters or leaves the shop!