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Posted by: brant May 5 2003, 08:46 AM

HI everyone,

I've seen plenty of pictures here and there in the past, but don't know where to look now.

I need pictures of how others have cut this access "port".. for distributor service. I'm ready to cut, but wanted to see some examples.

and no I can't just put an electromotive on... its not legal in class... ha...ha...

thanks for anyones time and help
brant

Posted by: Lawrence914-6 May 5 2003, 09:10 AM

Hi Brant,

I admit it's a little tight in there, but what are you doing that you'd need access through a port in the firewall? I've learned that with a bit of practice, you can do about anything. If you want to set the points, put the car at Z-1, and just pull the dizzy.

-Rusty

P.S. I'm stocking the tank with feeder goldfish today to try and jump start the cycling. I haven't decided on lights yet, but it has good indirect light from the windows.

Posted by: Gint May 5 2003, 09:34 AM

Brant,

I wouldn't cut the firewall. I don't even use the inspection mirror any more. I can get to the dizzy clamp by feel now. When I need to get to the dizzy, I just pull it. It's sooooo easy to do. My little bottle jack under a control arm, 5th gear, turn the road wheel to get to #1 TDC, loosen the clamp, pull the cap and pluck it out. Then you can see everything and do whatever needs to be done.

Posted by: Lawrence914-6 May 5 2003, 09:41 AM

I don't even bother with the jack. Put the car in 5th and rock it forward a bit.

-Rusty

Posted by: brant May 5 2003, 11:45 AM

thanks for the input..
I'm still leaning towards a cut.. as I feel its a non structural area, and I can even save some weight by using an aluminum cover......

maybe have to re-think it...

does anybody have links to pictures of others who have done this..

JP don't you have an access hole?

brant

Posted by: Ferg May 5 2003, 11:48 AM

Brant,
I think mountain man has one on his yellow six as well, I don't have his direct email but I bet Ginter does or shoot a email to the club sight.
Ferg.

Posted by: J P Stein May 5 2003, 11:55 AM

Yes I have the hole.

It really dosen't do much for dizzy access, but works for fan belt/alternator/timing marks.

I can't post a pic as my puter is all frizzed up....well, I guess I could try. Dunno what will happen.....


Attached image(s)

Posted by: brant May 5 2003, 12:04 PM

JP,

if you had to do it over... would you move the hole up/down/smaller/bigger...?

thanks for the pic.
brant

Posted by: Brad Roberts May 5 2003, 12:05 PM

Brant,

This honestly isnt something that you are constantly fooling with. Most people I know that have cut holes dont even use them after owning the car for 8-10 years after cutting the hole. You have to think that the factory knew what they where doing.. a little bit. They didnt put a hole there... why should I ?


B

Posted by: J P Stein May 5 2003, 12:38 PM

I would prolly have made it a bit larger. I couldn't pull the alternator out thru this hole.

I use it for adjusting valves. I have the pulley marked for TDC of each cylinder. Twice around, and the valves are set. Also, setting the ignition timeing.

Should the fan belt break, one would play hell getting access to it without the hole.....reinstalling the shims without it would be an excersize in frustation.

Posted by: brant May 5 2003, 04:05 PM

Doesn't sound like there is a strong reason not to cut it on a track only (stripped out) car. It might make a few things a little easier, and I think I can make it lighter to boot....


P.S. A friend of mine has a track car (semi-tubed) with the entire firewall made from aluminum and moved forward about 4 -5 inches... really cool...

thanks guys..
(any more pictures?)
brant

Posted by: ArtechnikA May 5 2003, 04:32 PM

timing marks should be transferred to the flywheel, so you can see them through the hole in the bellhousing. i've never had to change a fan/alternator pulley, but exercises in frustration are about the only exercise i get these days. (well - that and jumping to conclusions...)

Posted by: J P Stein May 5 2003, 05:38 PM

Where is it written?
Who says?
Why?

Posted by: anthony May 5 2003, 05:53 PM

At least of a 4 cylinder car, if you mark the flywheel, you can adjust all the valves while under the car in one shot.

Posted by: Gint May 5 2003, 07:07 PM

No where that I know of officially.


Well, Rich did (obviously?)


So you don't have to cut a hole in your firewall?

I haven't had the pleasure of changing an alternator in a 914/6, but I don't think the access hole is going to help you there. I managed to change a belt and shim mine with some contortions. But I'm not as old as you are.

Posted by: ArtechnikA May 5 2003, 07:26 PM

well - before this gets too silly ...

i probably should have said 'timing marks should have been transferred to the flywheel' ...

this is the way it's done on the factory cars and i haven't had [m]any problems setting timing using this method - either initial static-time nor full-advance checking.

i don't expect anyone will do anything to his or her car just because i say so...

so - as for 'where's it written?' that'd be the factory workshop manuals and i believe there's a mention in Anderson about it - for sure they cover it in the class, and i can't cross-check with the books 'cause they're packed...

as for why - yes, i agree 'because that's how the factory did it' is not always the best answer, especially when dealing with 914's -- but i'm disinclined anyway to open the firewall, which is called that for a reason. if you have a track car, your sanctioning body will probably require a metal covering, and if they don't they 'should' (IMO of course...). probably the 'right' way to do that is with some Dzsus fasteners or something similarly aircraft-derived, and now we're back into trading lots of time, effort, and money for a few grams saved (if the access panel is aluminum). personally, i know i'm carrying many moire excess grams on my person than i'd hope to save in access panels. and losing them by getting into better shape would be a double-net gain...

as always - "it's your car, do what you want" but i don't consider timing mark nor fan belt access a sufficiently compelling reason not to use the factory machanism...

Posted by: Gint May 5 2003, 08:32 PM

Yeah, well, maybe, OK. That's what cheap wine gets ya.

I have to agree on one point. It's your car JP, do with it what you will. I will also say that your motor sure looks purty through that hole.