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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Access Panel Thru Firewall to Engine Comp
Posted by: Geo9146 Mar 13 2022, 03:00 PM
Does anyone have a template for cutting an access panel thru the firewall to the engine compartment?
Thx
George
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 13 2022, 04:14 PM
Nope.
You have to wing it like everyone else. ![popcorn[1].gif](style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
You want it big enough to pull your fan through the hole. 
Just don't cut into your wiring. 
I probably have the biggest access hatch in the whole 914world. 
Posted by: roblav1 Mar 13 2022, 06:44 PM
Many people, including Mark, have a lot of experience here. After welding up a firewall in a previous 914, and seeing how structural it is, I decided not to do that cut on both my conversions. Remove intake, and loosen shroud... and you can get the fan out.
Posted by: Steve Mar 13 2022, 10:17 PM
I bought the PMS panel and used rivnuts to hold it in place.
https://patrickmotorsports.com/products/bod914bhcpms?_pos=21&_sid=61eb8cbbd&_ss=r
Posted by: roblav1 Mar 14 2022, 07:09 AM
Rivnuts is the way to go! If you go this route.
Posted by: GregAmy Mar 14 2022, 07:11 AM
I'm thinking of doing this on my /4 just so I can use more rivnuts...love those things.
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 14 2022, 07:25 AM
Many people, including Mark, have a lot of experience here. After welding up a firewall in a previous 914, and seeing how structural it is, I decided not to do that cut on both my conversions. Remove intake, and loosen shroud... and you can get the fan out.
On my hatch I made a frame out of 16ga. steel, fully welded and then the panel is held in with 14 rivnuts. The frame is heavier than the 22ga. original metal. Also by using a frame I didn't need to source an oversize hatch panel.
BTW fan removal or install about 20 minutes, I've had to do it twice now.
Posted by: rgalla9146 Mar 14 2022, 07:47 AM
Not too convenient if you intend to keep your backpad.....no backpad is big invitation to NHV
But...excellent for access to ignition timing on 6 cyl. cars.
Especially if your flywheel is does not have timing marks
Attached thumbnail(s)
Posted by: Retroracer Mar 14 2022, 09:27 AM
I've lost the template, but you can get the idea from the pic. The panel has a slight taper to it (not rectangular). I went for a minimal size to maintain integrity, but enough to get my hand through. On a six, this still allows me to:
- strobe light the crank markings for timing check
- reach through to tweak timing on distributor
- adjust / replace fan belt
- turn over the engine easily when checking valve timing
Rivnuts or similar highly recoommended. Hoping this helps,
- Tony
Posted by: brant Mar 14 2022, 09:30 AM
aluminum for weight:
Attached image(s)
Posted by: troth Mar 14 2022, 09:56 AM
Anybody done this with a carpeted firewall care to share pics? I imagine it could be made to look ok.
Posted by: roblav1 Mar 14 2022, 11:00 AM
Ha ha! Maybe you guys are convincing me! A rivnutted shroud has a lot of benefit.
Posted by: ClayPerrine Mar 14 2022, 11:28 AM
This is my opinion, and I seem to be in the minority on here.
Having gone through an engine fire on a 914, I refuse to cut a hole from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment. It is called a "FIREWALL" for a reason.
I consider the engineers at Porsche to be smarter than me, and they didn't put a big assed hole in the firewall. They must have felt that the timing can be set without it, and you can remove the fan/alternator with the engine in the car, and not remove the intake. There is even a thread in the classics section on here that tells you exactly how to do it.
Posted by: Steve Mar 14 2022, 01:38 PM
With my 3.2 stock six, I had no problems replacing the belt or getting to the distributor, but I wasn’t going to pull the engine to replace the alternator, so I installed a panel.
Posted by: jim_hoyland Mar 14 2022, 07:43 PM
Didn’t Forrest Haagg make a FG template/Mold for a cover ?
Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 15 2022, 05:14 AM
This is my opinion, and I seem to be in the minority on here.
Having gone through an engine fire on a 914, I refuse to cut a hole from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment. It is called a "FIREWALL" for a reason.
I consider the engineers at Porsche to be smarter than me, and they didn't put a big assed hole in the firewall. They must have felt that the timing can be set without it, and you can remove the fan/alternator with the engine in the car, and not remove the intake. There is even a thread in the classics section on here that tells you exactly how to do it.
I see your point but VW bay window bus and vanagons, type 3 and 4 all have engine access hatches, those are steel lids with two clamps. Ford, Dodge and GM vans and many others have plastic and insulation engine covers. Hino, Isuzu and Fuso crew cab trucks have a sewn material engine cover that just hangs over a frame.
That said I will only use a steel cover with several fasteners.
Posted by: 73-914 Mar 15 2022, 06:24 AM
This is my opinion, and I seem to be in the minority on here.
Having gone through an engine fire on a 914, I refuse to cut a hole from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment. It is called a "FIREWALL" for a reason.
I consider the engineers at Porsche to be smarter than me, and they didn't put a big assed hole in the firewall. They must have felt that the timing can be set without it, and you can remove the fan/alternator with the engine in the car, and not remove the intake. There is even a thread in the classics section on here that tells you exactly how to do it.
Posted by: Mayne Mar 15 2022, 06:37 AM
Boxsters and Caymans have them from the factory, so there is that. A bit of work to get to, but very handy.
Posted by: mepstein Mar 15 2022, 07:32 AM
This is my opinion, and I seem to be in the minority on here.
Having gone through an engine fire on a 914, I refuse to cut a hole from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment. It is called a "FIREWALL" for a reason.
I consider the engineers at Porsche to be smarter than me, and they didn't put a big assed hole in the firewall. They must have felt that the timing can be set without it, and you can remove the fan/alternator with the engine in the car, and not remove the intake. There is even a thread in the classics section on here that tells you exactly how to do it.
Porsche also designed the 914 as a no frills intro sports car. Porsche made many production upgrades on all their models. A well done hatch just seems to be a positive.
Posted by: Shivers Mar 15 2022, 07:58 AM
This is my opinion, and I seem to be in the minority on here.
Having gone through an engine fire on a 914, I refuse to cut a hole from the engine compartment to the passenger compartment. It is called a "FIREWALL" for a reason.
I consider the engineers at Porsche to be smarter than me, and they didn't put a big assed hole in the firewall. They must have felt that the timing can be set without it, and you can remove the fan/alternator with the engine in the car, and not remove the intake. There is even a thread in the classics section on here that tells you exactly how to do it.
Good point. So a proper gasket and a good overlap on the hatch is in order, if I proceed.
https://www.grainger.com/product/56GV17?ef_id=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4cEDTdgF2Snca0TiSOZIBrmg6hz1-YIgKRHuKzKiw8ONLA-KfK5A9RoCrFwQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!281698275786!!!g!469890691366!&gucid=N:N:PS:Paid:GGL:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gclid=CjwKCAjw8sCRBhA6EiwA6_IF4cEDTdgF2Snca0TiSOZIBrmg6hz1-YIgKRHuKzKiw8ONLA-KfK5A9RoCrFwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Posted by: Lucky9146 Mar 15 2022, 08:42 AM
Anybody done this with a carpeted firewall care to share pics? I imagine it could be made to look ok.
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