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Posted by: drive-ability Apr 17 2006, 08:38 PM

I have V8 car and would like to set the trunk to open from the rear. I am having a hard time visualizing how I might accomplish this. Does anyone have any examples?

Posted by: maddeye Apr 17 2006, 08:46 PM

Not to hijack this but i would be interested in seeing the front trunk opening in reverse.

any pics would be appreciated



George

Posted by: Jeroen Apr 17 2006, 08:47 PM

IIRC, the orange car featured in last months Excellence used BMW hinges

Posted by: pib Apr 17 2006, 08:52 PM

This went by in a post a few days ago...
http://www.scari.org/914.8_phi-.html


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Posted by: Rand Apr 17 2006, 09:01 PM

Check out Dougv8's car!!




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Posted by: boxstr Apr 17 2006, 09:05 PM

Here is a local car.


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Posted by: ajracer Apr 17 2006, 09:39 PM

Drive-Ability:

Recently I came across a vehicle (914 somewhere) and the owner installed
a modified BMW front hood mechanism (on the front or back hood). The type
that moves forward a few inches and then tilts forward to open. I believe it was
used on several models including the old 2002, 535's etc.; should be able to locate
through a salvage yard and then rework to do the trick ! Get idea and then we'll
all follow your progress and then copy/duplicate your installation !

Your car and progress has been very interesting and also sounds like a handful
to handle. I noticed elsewhere your comments to the 16 yr old that a V-8 needs
to be handled by an experience and very capable driver I Agree. My 95 LT1 350
with a late model Boxster tranny is a little scary even with prior racing experience.
Seems the teener wants to take-off even without any wings ! If you know what I
mean. I'm only running around 300 HP and it still will take a little getting used to
this new found power. I guess the only good part is, I had never previously driven
a 914 before. So what is a 4 cyl. teener like anyway ? Appreciate any comments
or replies.

Allan

Posted by: drive-ability Apr 17 2006, 10:18 PM

First off my 16 year old wouldn't be driving a V8 914, no way. Too much car for an inexperienced driver. Surely you can't get them to see that but we know its true. The BMW was the first thing I thought of as I had a 530 which had just such a hood. I am sure I can find one at the local pic-A-part. Just transferring the parts so it works surely will take some R&R work but that's the essence of building a V-8 car.

The first thing I noticed driving my V8 car is that you can feel the effects of torque/horsepower acting upon the chassis. Just going light on the throttle the car runs and handles great but poor on the power and you can feel how the car doesn't fit the engine. That is my main reason for building up the frame. I am not saying I can feel the car twist but you just instinctively know there is a loss of balance. I, like yourself have never driven a 4cyl 914 ether. I love the car and its ability to accelerate, however when I put the hammer down it does scare me a bit. The few times I have really nailed it through 3 gears I am amazed how fast it is. I would like to find a place I could slide it around a bit to get a feel for how it would react but haven't found one as yet. I am doing all the work on my car and it shows in many areas but as my skill improves often I re-do things and make them a bit better. Now welding is a new skill I don't have but its getting better

Posted by: JOHNMAN Apr 17 2006, 11:26 PM

Try a PCA DE event. I have a feeling that they may have one or two in the state that you live in (I could be wrong).

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 17 2006, 11:55 PM

Are these example of the "trunk" opeing from the "front" what you are invisioning? The rear trunk already opens from the rear. If you are talking about the front trunk, it would hinge at the front with a couple of gooseneck hinges from a variety of donor cars. Opel GT, Lancia Scorpion, Fiat x1/9, Lotus Europa, are cars I'm familar with. You will likely need a prop rod too.

The 300E benz has a nice hinge design that allows the lid to open 90 degrees vertical for service.

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 17 2006, 11:58 PM

Allan,

I've never driven a 4cyl 914 either.

BTW, how are you doing your speedometer? Boxsters don't have a sensor in the transaxle...

Posted by: Air_Cooled_Nut Apr 18 2006, 12:09 AM

If you have a functional targa then the rear hinged rear trunk would be a PITABT (Pain In The Ass Big Time)! Imagine trying to strong-arm the roof into the storage space...my back would rip itself out of my body and slink away if it had to do that everytime I needed to insert/remove the targa.

Posted by: redshift Apr 18 2006, 12:11 AM

hahaha you guys have never driven a /4... hahahaha... You have NO IDEA what you are missing.

Yeah, 100 takes a bit to get to, but you can do it in a 7' circle.


M

Posted by: jonwatts Apr 18 2006, 12:22 AM

Not necessarily. As long as you're fabricating you could come up with trick way of sliding the top back into the open trunk. Getting it back out again would be a little harder I think.

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 18 2006, 12:34 AM

or you can build one of these


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Posted by: Andyrew Apr 18 2006, 02:03 AM

There slow as a MO FO.. You step on it, waiting for it to hit its power band... or for the turbo to kick in... or what not... and it just puts... I put new tires on my car, and I couldnt get the tires to squeek or anything any way I tried..

Posted by: VegasRacer Apr 18 2006, 04:14 AM

I WANT ONE !!!

Posted by: URY914 Apr 18 2006, 06:29 AM

Here are a couple of shots of one....



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Posted by: ewdysar Apr 18 2006, 12:08 PM

I got the impression that Driveability was asking about the front trunk opening at the back. Interesting that there are a bunch of photos of cars that have reversed the rear trunks, but so far, nothing for the front. It would make for easier access to the gas filler. Pulling the spare out over the fender would be a drag (no pun intended) but for those of us who are watercooled, screwing with the radiator shouldn't be a constant thing anyway.

Driveability, keep us posted on any progress that you make with the front hood...

Eric

Posted by: jonwatts Apr 18 2006, 05:01 PM

Deploy air brake... ... ... ... ... PSHHHHHHHHHH

Posted by: jonwatts Apr 18 2006, 05:02 PM

Ewww, 911 targa

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 18 2006, 05:42 PM

Dood! Lotus Elise!

Posted by: SirAndy Apr 18 2006, 05:58 PM

learn how to drive ...

seriously, ANY production car built in the last 40 years can be driven fast ...
unless you're thinking "drag-strip", which i don't consider driving ...

i'll take you for a spin in my 1.7L and i promise you, you'll be holding on for dear life ...
yes, there will be corners involved ...
Andy

Posted by: byndbad914 Apr 18 2006, 06:14 PM

not a 914, but a simple way to make a hood flip forward.


I am going to do something similar to my 914 tube car in the next couple of weeks using a mounting flange that ties into the two threaded holes for the original hood latch.

For a stock 914, could make a simple pipe assembly that bolts across the front into the stock headlight bucket area (like his upper radiator support he built) and have the second pipe assembly bolt to the center hood latch area. then either fab up a latch mechanism to the back center of the hood, or just use hood pins at the rear corners (which is what I will do), or I think what this Nova has is the BMW rear latches (though not sure of that, but looks like what I recall BMW stuff looking like).

Notice the angle to the attaching "links" that bolt into the radiator support brackets. That will cause the hood to move up and forward as you open it to clear the nose. In this case, look how far down the nose of his hood is relative to the fenders! Don't need that for a 914, but need it to move up and away to not dig the nose into the bumper.

Posted by: neo914-6 Apr 18 2006, 07:48 PM

http://www.bellstrim.com/danfinkhoodhingekits.html