Installing a V-8...a few questions, Progress thread & 914 makeover Options

[wallys914]

Where did you get the paint done?

When I bought my car 1 years ago the date it has to be re-registered is my anniversary with my wife! Strange Shit....I had to get the car, i can never forget the registration LOL

[echocanyons]

Lookin' good!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

Congrats on the anniversary too!

[TC 914-8]

Hey Mark,

Wow lookin sharp. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Take your time with putting all the bling back on, give the paint some time to cure. I'm not too far away from you in Sac. too bad I can't go south and see it in person. I can't wait to see it all together, I think your a canidate for COTM, soon.
Congrats on the Car, Your annaversary, and most of all having a 914, 29 years ago.

Tony

[Coy]

Mark,

That looks really great!!

Congrats! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[computers4kids]

16 months after I drug my 75 project home from Oregon and a few engine diversions (subaru and big4...couldn't decide), my V-8 project is pretty much done....well, :Qarl:as much as any 914 is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
I still need to rechrome the back bumper, install my AC unit and install my new door inside sill trim, but hey...close enough. Additional "now painted thread"

[JRust]

Looking absolutely sweet (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) !

Congrats Mark. Your 914-8 is as nice as I knew it would turn out. Still not sure I like the polished wheels over polished lips & painted centers. It does look very nice on your car though. You ass end seems like it sits kinda high? Maybe it just looks that way to me as mine sags a little (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[marks914]

Mark,
That looks just right. The only thing you may want to do down the road is the tall gearing. That was the best thing I did for my car. Brad Mayeur did mine for an excellent price. (around $1300.00)

Nice job

Mark

[computers4kids]

Mark,
That looks just right. The only thing you may want to do down the road is the tall gearing. That was the best thing I did for my car. Brad Mayeur did mine for an excellent price. (around $1300.00)

Nice job

Mark

Thanks...yeah, first gear is worthless and could use at least a taller 5th for the freeway. I figure when I can justify the expense (not right now) I'll have the gears spread out and a taller 5th.

PS Do you recognize your handywork on the gauges...they look great and stock!
Thanks again,
Mark

[computers4kids]

Thanks to one of our member vendors, Raul, I was able to install his reproduction door sills...a nice finishing touch.


One of the things that has been bothering me is the noise level at an idle and the resonation in the cab below 2,000 rpm. Currently, I have new turbo mufflers with the pipes going up and over the axles after dumping out of the headers. There isn't much room to play with for larger mufflers or anything else....so I started doing a lot of reading on the net about sound waves that accompany exhaust gasses. I didn't want to kill to many horses but wanted it quieter.

As a result, I decided to have a crossover pipe, sometimes called an H pipe installed between the two exhaust branches. There is a lot more to it that just welding in a pipe that connects the two, length, size of pipe, and position along the exhaust route all play into it. Now on most cars there is plenty of room...not is a v-8 914! My crossover pipe begins by branching off the elbow on the high side of exhaust pipe that goes over the axles. It then heads towards the rear of the car above the turbo mufflers across the rear of the car and then back up the other side. A junction was placed in the middle of the rear of the car so when I need to work on one side of the engine etc, I can disconnect and drop the exhaust either the left or right sides.

Bottom line, what a huge difference the pipe made...it did exactly what I had hoped for! My exhaust is still throaty, but mellowed and the resonation is gone at all rpms...that was a bigge. I could not tell any performance change, but the car sounds sweet and perfect for driving now...even my wife will come along (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)


(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-4253-1233890821.jpg)

[computers4kids]

I can't believe what a good chrome shop can do with metal! I took my rear bumper to them to be re-chromed and have some ripples and dings removed...the bumper came back like it was new. I know where the issues were and I can't even tell.

Also here is a tip to save everyone some $. My plastic chrome bumper plug needed re-chroming. Many great tips came in from other members how you could go to a hardware store and get a plug cheaply. Yes the cheap part is true, but the chrome is cheesy. A tip from my chrome guy led me to the "Harley Davidson" shop in town. They have some quality chrome plugs for $2 out the door (item #GW43578) that when snapped into place looks perfect.

[computers4kids]

One of my next projects on this car is to re-gear the transmission. I need a higher geared 5th. 1st is pretty much useless right now. Here's a suggestion that one 914 member suggested...he said it made a big difference on his v8 teener.

You lock out 1st
2nd is stock
3rd is a flipped 4th (V)
4th is a flipped 3rd (N)
Throw away the stock 5th ((ZD) and install the H or HA flipped

I was able to recently able to pickup an H gear for a good price, so now I've got to make some gear decisions.
Here is the stock gearing in my 901 case. My tires are 23.5 inches.


Here is what I am thinking...I know, the topend is insane, but the RPMs should be good at 70. A (locked out); F; N; V, H

Here is a cutout 901 just for fun...not mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[echocanyons]

Great news with the crossover pipe I thought it sounded super when I was down but a bit quieter is probably a nicer ride.

What shop did you use for the chrome?

I wonder if we could round up a few more of the regional people and plan a drive, Sequoia park maybe (springtime of course)?

[marks914]

That is my reccomendation for sure. decent spacing, kind of like an old camaro. Best money I spent on my car. It is a real blast dropping it down in 2nd on the expressway. Its nice that I can hit 60 in 1st and 100 in 2nd, never wound out 3rd though.

Mark

[computers4kids]

Great news with the crossover pipe I thought it sounded super when I was down but a bit quieter is probably a nicer ride.

What shop did you use for the chrome?

I wonder if we could round up a few more of the regional people and plan a drive, Sequoia park maybe?

A ride always sound like fun! The chome shop that I have been using is "Visalia Chrome" on Switzler street in Visalia. It's a one man show (I think)....family business, father now the son is running it. He does excellent work. No checks, cards etc...only cash, and you have to leave a deposit for the work. I would say his prices are average, but the work is superior.

[TC 914-8]

One of my next projects on this car is to re-gear the transmission. I need a higher geared 5th. 1st is pretty much useless right now. Here's a suggestion that one 914 member suggested...he said it made a big difference on his v8 teener.

You lock out 1st
2nd is stock
3rd is a flipped 4th (V)
4th is a flipped 3rd (N)
Throw away the stock 5th ((ZD) and install the H or HA flipped

I was able to recently able to pickup an H gear for a good price, so now I've got to make some gear decisions.
Here is the stock gearing in my 901 case. My tires are 23.5 inches.


Here is what I am thinking...I know, the topend is insane, but the RPMs should be good at 70. A (locked out); F; N; V, H

Here is a cutout 901 just for fun...not mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Wow Mark, I told you it never ends. Where did you find the 5th gear at a reasonable price?

what is the purpose in flipping 4th to 3rd?

We'll have to talk about this gear ratio stuff in detail, I have the same problem.

I'll be working at a Food Max west shaw in Fresno, I'll drop you a PM to get your # maybe Wed or Thurs night we can get a burger, I can come your way, I Have to see your car in person.

Tony

[marks914]

One of my next projects on this car is to re-gear the transmission. I need a higher geared 5th. 1st is pretty much useless right now. Here's a suggestion that one 914 member suggested...he said it made a big difference on his v8 teener.

You lock out 1st
2nd is stock
3rd is a flipped 4th (V)
4th is a flipped 3rd (N)
Throw away the stock 5th ((ZD) and install the H or HA flipped

I was able to recently able to pickup an H gear for a good price, so now I've got to make some gear decisions.
Here is the stock gearing in my 901 case. My tires are 23.5 inches.


Here is what I am thinking...I know, the topend is insane, but the RPMs should be good at 70. A (locked out); F; N; V, H

Here is a cutout 901 just for fun...not mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Wow Mark, I told you it never ends. Where did you find the 5th gear at a reasonable price?

what is the purpose in flipping 4th to 3rd?

We'll have to talk about this gear ratio stuff in detail, I have the same problem.

I'll be working at a Food Max west shaw in Fresno, I'll drop you a PM to get your # maybe Wed or Thurs night we can get a burger, I can come your way, I Have to see your car in person.

Tony

Tony,
Take a look at my gear chart above, "flipping" 3rd andt 4th gives you the right spacing. If you leave 3rd and 4th where that are, its a long way to 5th. I dont show 1st (locked out)
Mark

[TC 914-8]

I see said the blind man, When you say "Flipping" you mean changing / Switching the order of the gear on the Shaft? I tend to think it is the set, the pilot and output gear? I do understand the concept of closer ratio but I need to get up to speed (no pun intended) on phsycally moving the gears around on the shafts. It seems you would have to move both ? to maintain the distance between the center point of the shafts, which would be Down shifting going fron 3 to 4th. Give me some time and it will come to me.

Are there any good threads showing gear box construction?

Thanks Mark,

Tony

[marks914]

The swapping is just like this:
You lock out 1st
2nd is stock
3rd is a flipped 4th (V)
4th is a flipped 3rd (N)
Throw away the stock 5th ((ZD) and install the H or HA flipped

which means:
Lock out 1st
2nd is stock
3rd: take the set off and replace it with the 4th gears reversed or "flipped" (drive gear is now the idle gear)
4th is the old 3rd gear flipped
5th is a H or HA (2nd out of a 901 box I believe, not a 914 box) flipped

Mark

[TC 914-8]

That makes sense, Fliping means moving the position on the " drive and Idler" along with the order on the cluster. Right?
So when I get there, which will be some day soon, where and what do I look to buy for the 5th gear?
I do agree 1st gear is useless with a V-8, but I do use it for the uphill starts, parking lot, slow stuff. I know it is very fragile but do you really want to lock it out?

T

[Dr. Roger]

in hind sight i'd have kept the first gear for hills as stated above. but i live close to san francisco and experience steep hill starts.
you'll never "accidentally" start in first with a lead foot....

i had no idea they came in a narrow and deep rear valence. good to know. keep up the good work.


has anyone mentioned that you should prepare for smiling muscle cramps?