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

[Rod]

Well I just had a really enjoyable hour reading through your thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) great car, well done, your attention to detail is superb, the grill is by far the best I have seen yet and I love the colour..

I live in the UK and have a 1.7L teener in need of an engine upgrade, reading that has encouraged me to think seriously about the V8 route - don't thonk there are any others here in the UK???

Cheers, nice ride. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[computers4kids]

Well I just had a really enjoyable hour reading through your thread (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks Rod. Building a V8 teener has been a lot of fun.

One of the items I've been meaning to do was drop my car 1 1/2 all the way around. I was able to pickup a nice set of Bilsteins which I added a set of 200lb springs to. The stars must have been lined-up for me today. I decided to move the circlip to the middle position to start with to see if the ride height would be where I want it....got lucky, it was just right. I figured I'd have to move the clips at least a couple of times.

Here are some current pictures with the new ride height.

[computers4kids]

Another

[dkjens]

That's a very nice looking little sleeper. I bet you can acquire many new cars racing for pinkslips he he.

[pktzygt]

I don't know what it is about this picture, but WOW!!!

Someday....

[computers4kids]

I decided to remove the aftermarket steering wheel (5 bolt) that came with one of my parts cars and go with a MOMO (6 bolt). The black leather looks perfect with my interior.

Parts used:
MOMO adapter for a late 914...part #8082
MOMO 13" wheel...with my gauge cluster it's perfect
Turn signal canceling ring with horn contact...113-415-660-A (bug aftermarket part that fits Beetles 71-79, Ghia 71-74, Bus 74-79) This part is a great addition for MOMOs on our cars.

Tips: I used a waver thin washer on top of the cclip that is a stop for the adapter on the steering column. This gave me the little bit more space that I wanted between where the adapter and steering column meet.

For the horn button, I took the large washer that goes under the big steering wheel nut and soldered a ground wire to the washer. Some MOMO horn buttons have one connection while others have two (hot and ground). Eventually I'll put a porsche horn button on (I think) and I'll be setup for both types of horn buttons.

[computers4kids]

This is a little bit of a side trip to my thread, but I've been looking for quite a while for a good deal on a trailer (my 914 chariot) for my 914. I finally found one that had everything I wanted & more for a good used price of $1300. I'll paint the trailer semi-gloss black to go with my 914.
Features:

• It’s a low boy trailer with a very gentle 3' dove tail....my car is very low to the ground and I wanted a trailer that would be very easy for loading. I also have water lines under my car to add to the mix.
• The trailer doesn't need ramps it's a full tilt trailer. Mounted on the front is a large hydraulic ram that can be operated by hand pumping, or it also has an air pressure device mounted to the hydraulic ram that when connected to an air source will operate the ram tilting the trailer.
• Extra wide diamond plate runners...the 914's wheel based is exactly dead center on them....some trailers the runners are space out wider.
• New 3000 lb electric winch with hand control inside the tool box mounted up front.
• 2 5/16 ball
• Hitch connector is the horse trailer type that allows you to slide into a trailer, not the typical ball type.
• Brand new tires

Bottom line, it's a great trailer for the price well suited for hauling a 914....I'm thrilled.

[dkjens]

Nice trailer. I bought the $80.00 wireless color back-up camera from Pep Boys to allow me to hook up to my toy-hauler on my own, love it.

[JRust]

Nice Mark, Great buy & definately well suited for all the parts cars you bring home. It's been a while so you should be coming accross one this week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) .

Seriously though it's a nice trailer. Be kind of a pain to open your car door to get out. Guess that is only the case if you drive it up. With your winch that will be a piece of cake. Good score (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[computers4kids]

Nice Mark, Great buy & definately well suited for all the parts cars you bring home. It's been a while so you should be coming accross one this week (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) .

Seriously though it's a nice trailer. Be kind of a pain to open your car door to get out. Guess that is only the case if you drive it up. With your winch that will be a piece of cake. Good score (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Hey Jamie. Actually you load the car with the trailer in the tilt mode. When in tilt, the doors easily clear the fenders and open and close. So if you drive it up in tilt, just drive up, stop, get out, lower the tilt...pretty trick...or, like you said, just drive half way and let the winch pull it the rest. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)


Little paint and TLC and my 914 chariot is ready for the road.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-4253-1238371055.jpg)

[TC 914-8]

Hi Mark,

Excelent score, I have an eye out for a trailer too. hope I can find a deal like that.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif)

[charliew]

The car really looks sleeper and nice.

It also looks like it has trailer brakes. Actually if the doors will clear the 914 is light enough you could push it by hand to center the weight over the axle after you get out. You might want to make some chocks that drop in some holes in the floor to set the front wheels against when pulling on to avoid rolling into the front braces. Just pull up till it touches the stops, lower it, and roll it back to where you want it. If it's running you could also back it on.

You might want to look for a tool box to put beside the ram to hold the tiedowns and maybe some chain and a come along and gloves incase some unforseen thing happens to the winch. Jegs had the best prices on tie downs when I got mine but check other places also.

It's amazing how many new friends you will make once they know you have a car trailer and how many things can get screwed up when you loan it out. Bent wheels, knocked of dust covers and tail lights usually are where to check when it gets back home.

[computers4kids]

I decided to make an investment...that is, in my car--I bought a Renshift. I've been drewling over this shifter by JWest engineering for quite a while, but always seemed to need something more important. I always thought my shifting was pretty good...that is for a 914. Even so I pulled the orginal one and went for it. What an amazing piece of work. Along with the shifter I also installed all new bushings (originally I thought they were OK, but the cup bushing had cracked somewhere in time, which explained why my 4th-5th shift was not quite right).

[computers4kids]

Wow...what a difference! My 914 now shifts like a modern car, each shift feels so positive. I can't rave enough about this improvement, one of the best things I've done. Now with the new cocoa mats that just arrived, I'm pretty happy with the way it all turned out.

[JRust]

Glad you got the adjustments all worked out. I am definately going to pony up for a REnnshift after I finish the LE. Looking forward to seeing your car in person very soon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[computers4kids]

One of the issues that I had to work out (aggravated when I lowered my car) was the tight clearance of the OEM shift coupler and the SBC fan belt. When moving into 2nd and 4th gears the rod rotates the coupler and would rub the fan belt. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)
Coupler Search
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-4253-1240780950.jpg)

Thanks to Stephen (smdubovsky) a solution was found. Stephen makes six rods using a 360 degree rotational coupler. Stephen's machine talents built just the coupler portion for me, which replaced the OEM coupler. Now I have almost 5/8 of an inch clearance through all gears. As an added bonus of the couplers design along with the newly installed Renshift, I have a nice shifting v8 914 now. I can't thank Stephen enough for his helpfulness and talents.

[computers4kids]

I also added some tie-down brackets from David Lee to make securing the 914 to the trailer easy. His rear shock bolt brackets were a no brainer bolt-on.

However, the front loops that attached to the torsion bar mounting points just hung down too far. My car is very low, especially with the spoiler. The loops hung down a a couple of inches below the spoiler. I wasn't happy with the look or the fact the loops would drag if I tried to load it on trailer. It was my lowering of the car that made the problem.

So I decided to mount my old flat tow kit and remove the cross bar. Then I removed the tie down loops from the brackets they were welded too. Now with a set of tow bar pins, adding or removing the loops are simple when needed. Nothing shows when not pinned, yet hangs down to nicely clear the spoiler for the tie-down straps when trailering.

[computers4kids]

A little bored today, so I decided to build a flap for the dizzy cutout. Not really necessary since, you can't see anything once the targa lid is in the trunk....which is usually 99.99% of the time. I almost always have the top off.

[computers4kids]

Also had a little surprise when I went to put the targa top on for the first time--nothing that a razor blade couldn't fix...early lid brackets rubber bumpers are taller than late lid bracket bumpers.

WCR2009 in just a few days...I'm ready--it will be so much fun. Car is on the trailer and ready to go. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/MDB2.gif)

[JRust]

What you mean your car is working allready? Thats just not right (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) . There are still a few days left (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Seriously though good to know some are ready. Trailer looks nice repainted. Be seeing you soon (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)