Well it's been 6 years since I started my business providing parts for 014s. It's started as 6 only then included 4s as well. I have provided the following parts

-6 oil tanks
- 6 filler necks
- 6 headers
-6 heat exchangers
-6 mufflers
-4 mufflers
GT bumper cut outs
GT rocker flares
-6 sheet metal.

I was able to get help on the headers, mufflers, and heat exchangers over the years from a former welding student of mine that was looking to start a business. He was also building parts for a former company of mine so it made sense. Over the past year we ran into major suppliers issues and ultimately got priced out of the market which breaks my heart but it is what it is. I will no longer be providing any mufflers in Stainless and headers are going up by almost double in cost from 1400-2200 just to make them worth while. I am not sure how long that will even continue as even though there was a collaboration on the project it seems that there are some ownership issues for the design. I may do something entirely myself in the future for those looking for something special.

Now for the good news.

This will free me up to do all the items I do 100% myself.

I will continue to make oil tanks, GT bumper mods, engine sheet metal, GT rocker flares, and work through the oil lines as needed. I will also be looking for other items to add to support the 914 line. I can't thank this forum and all it's members for all the support over the years and I hope to be able to do it for many more years to come.


Thanks again
Ben

Ben,

Even though I haven't been a customer of yours directly; I know how valuable you are and will be to this hobby. We've had a few conversations and you are a true asset. Thank you for all you've done and will continue to do!

You're too damn good to tell you "Good luck"...you don't need it!

Cracker

+1 I'm with Cracker. Its business, you need to do what works. Your products are first class. Best, Mark

Can only state how glad I am that I got a set of pipes and both a /4 and a /6 muffler when I did. Your products are amazing.

This will be a real loss for the community as the others have stated. However, you have to make the business work and make profit on what you do. Your time and skills are valuable and you deserve to be rewarded for the value you deliver.

Thanks everyone.. I am happy with what I can still offer and happy that I am 100% in control of them and not dependent on anyone else. That was my mistake.

Look forward to seeing a picture of those steel GT rocker flares.

Oh man made 100s of those. Here they are welded on to a members car. Click to view attachment

Here they are on my car.Click to view attachment

Your car looks killer (!), and I'll echo those saying thank you for the superb products you have offered and continue to offer to our community. I hear nothing but rave reviews, and have long admired your welds and other work from afar. And I've seen some impressive work through my work.

While some business decisions are tough, I have no doubt you'll continue to do well!

Oh yeah I have seen these. The weld on ends very nice. When I saw the original post I was thinking complete rocker panel……

Ben,
Sorry to hear of the problems. Your quality of work speaks for itself, so whatever you decide to do in the future I'm sure will be equally successful if not more so. The oil tank, sport muffler and engine tins you provided are all superb quality. Thanks for all you've done to help keep 914s on the road.

Dan

Ben, you make the highest quality parts I have ever seen. I am sure as long as you make anything for our cars people will buy your products. Quality costs and most of us appreciate quality. I know I am honored to have your parts on my car.

I took one of your HE to a local PCA dinner years ago and passed it around. Everyone thought it was a work of art. I think it was the highest quality part I have on the car.

Best of luck, Ben.

BTW, I took your 914-4 muffler to a local welding specialist--an old school guy--to get an O2 sensor bung installed. He raved for about 5 minutes about the welding done on the muffler.

keep moving forward! I am so glad I have one of your mufflers on my car!

I'm so happy to have both, Ben's sport muffler and headers.Click to view attachment Click to view attachment

Well that just fucking sucks. You make great parts. Your a small business and you make great products. 1/3 of all small business closed in the US <admin censored for political content>
Matt

I will continue to make all the oil related parts along with sheet metal so not going away but changing.

And I should sat thanks everyone for your kind words.

Well...so far...I've gotten an oil tank, rocker ends, a muffler and had my bumper modified and I've been more than satisfied with the quality. I'm a long way off from finishing my car but I do alike where it is headed. Thanks, Ben.

Ben wondering if you have put any more thought to doing the GT valance cut out conversion? My beautiful GT bumper you did is crying to get rid of the crappy plastic one that doesn’t fit right and I have the old original valance in waiting.

Maybe. It's a bunch of work and I am not sure the market would support it? I am thinking it could easily be $400 for that if not more

It's a fairly simple job for a good panel beater
I'm sure someone here would make you a cardboard template of the face.

I never really liked the factory GT valance as it looks like the pattern was made using the cardboard from a cereal box. For Porsche at the time a simple pattern was likely. For my teen I'm making a custom valance that the GT opening is more molded, finer, sort of a pouting bottom lip, but it won't stick out as far as the GT lip.

So that's as a conversion to a good existing valance? Your early estimate doesn't seem exorbitant for good work and a go-to solution to me vs going with a fiberglass GT piece and making it fit the car—let alone converting it for use on a non-flared car.

And of the factory valances devised for the 914, the GT and LE are my faves.

Ben,

I wish you the best wherever the path leads.

The 914 community is fortunate to have suppliers of integrity like Ben. I am fortunate to have acquired one of his mufflers. Had some issues with UPS damaging product in shipment. Ben went above and beyond to make it right.

Cheers.

Mike

Certainly picked up a few parts from you and thankful you're still in the business.

Mike,

Thanks gosh UPS screwed that up twice. Not even sure how that was possible

Ben, It's been great doing business with you. Best wishes for your future products.

Have you considered making GT flared end pieces for the rear metal valence, similar to the GT flared end pieces you make for the side metal rocker panels?

Yes for sure. Maybe in the future.

Well that's it folks. Mufflers are done. Thanks again to all that supported my products

Still making tanks, sheet metal filler necks, gt rockers and will be working on oil cooler kits in the near future.

Great Guy ( @mb911 ) great products all the best Ben!

Thanks Glenn.. strange times..

@mb911 Wish you would make a nice racing style tow loop for the 914 front that works with LE spoiler. There don't seem to be any good options out there and I dread the day I ever need a flat tow.

Might be something to look at.. send me a PM let's talk about exactly what your looking for

Actually, I would like to add something on the front for my car to be easily pulled onto a flatbed rig for towing. (I mean, I hope I never have to have it towed again, but.....) I do not like wrapping a nylon strap around a control arm. But it seems other options hang down too low for street driving. I have a stock early front valance.

I had tow loops on the front of my teen, took them off because I hit them a few times. In my experience you don't want to hook (flatbed, etc) to the body, you want the wheels or outer suspension points. This allows the car's suspension to work, for one it makes for a much smoother ride.

What would be better is to weld in a HD mount for a 996 tow hook.

The bar I make works for the LE spoiler I made it that way so I wouldn't have to remover the lower vallance to tow. Rounded the front to hopefully help clear any bumps in the road. Made with 3/8" flat bar, and it's as close to the belly of the trunk as you can get.
Sits about the same height from belly as the A arm front guards. It actually replaces them. If you are going to leave one attached, it's my opinion that the 2 mount points should be attached, that way if you hit something, it will have additional rigidity.

They definitely need to be attached to the frame.
Also have the LE spoilers too. Perfect combo.

I like the front control arms. I know I can crank down the straps down really tight and not damage anything. I also like using straps around the wheels if they aren’t show quality. I just towed this one home last week. Straps are a little messy because my hands were cold. Practical went airborne over some train tracks but it all held tight.

Nice!

A little pucker factor. I'd have crapped my pants to see the back coming up

Quality costs money Ben, don't be afraid to charge a fair price for it.

I did one for a customer with your muffler installed, it was a LOT more work than I anticipated (to make it look nice)

@mb911 Something like the loop on this GT is what I had in mind:
https://www.ecurie.co.uk/blog/2017/12/16/19...porsche-9146-gt

Angled up like that would help it clear driveway or ramp when loaded on trailer or flatbed. Detachable from the mounting bracket when not in use would be ideal.

I'll PM you.

I strap my 914s to the trailer by tying down the wheels. I don't particularly like doing it that way, but it lets the 914 ride on it's own suspension. I like the tie down loops that bolt to the shock mount on the rear suspension, but I have not found anything comparable for the front.

Maybe somebody could make a replacement ball joint threaded collar that has a tie down attached to it.

I looked at that application considering a loop down/below so that the rotation of the collar would not affect access but then it would/may be affected my wheel fitment so I abandoned it.

I believe Rennline offers that item for 911 applications already (not detachable)

I’m still confused why people don’t just use the diagonal on the a-arms.

Thanks for the efforts @Mb911 - you are an inspiration and I am so happy I was able to snag one of your -4 1.7 mufflers!

They are not stressed to be used as a tie down, and you could end up with a bent control arm.

Clay