Hey all,
I'm a contributing editor of http://www.drivingsports.com, which is a relatively new, nationally distributed automotive publication. I am also a long-time Rotary Engine fanatic and run a web site called http://www.rotaryengineillustrated.com. Anyway, in looking for an interesting project car, I came across a Porsche 914 lacking an engine and transmission and basically left for dead. $100 cash. Seemed ideal for a conversion project, so that is what I am doing. Can't get into the details, but it will be pretty extreme. Look for the debut/intro in the March issue. I'll probably be hanging out here a bit and asking some newbie questions in the mean time. Also, does anyone have links to existing rotary engine 914 conversions? BTW, I am aware of the Kennedy adapters, but will probably do something custom. Thanks.
http://web2.airmail.net/atl/Rotary.html
I'm in the same boat as you, but saving and starting the project in spring. I'll get together a large sum and do as much as possible at once.
I'm probably going to use a 13B-T from a TII, since it's the cheapest option, I can get a jspec with tranny and all parts for $900 US and sell the tranny. I'm aiming for a wild setup as well, but will probably just try to get it well rounded and BPU+ in spring, and then keep upgrading from there.
Unfortunately I'm not a 914 purist, and with the power I want to run, room for huge rubber out back is important. I've been looking at this rebody, but without the hood or wing:
http://www.kw-enterprises.com/fzero.html
I've done a quick chop more true to how I'll have it:
http://www.masterydesign.com/crap/F-Zero_mod.jpg
Anyhow, hello everyone, I'm another 914 n00b with a similar project
Interesting
Blake, this sounds interesting. I've done a Lotus 7 with a 86 13B & weber. Ultralight & flies. Maybe you have seen it at bremerton? Very interesting.....
Well, as long as we are sharing body kit ideas, here is what I was thinking of:
Basically, I'd like to make it look like a car Porsche could have built; sort a 914 meets 911 thing. We'll see....
Before you start collecting expensive conversion parts, check the chassis for rust
Keep us posted!
cheers,
Jeroen
Oh, thought I'd share a page I found with various body mods and kits:
http://members.rennlist.com/914_collectibles/Wild.htm
If I were to keep to the original body, I think just getting rid of the part that comes up behind your head and putting in a hoop behind each seat would make the car look much better. There are some great examples of cars with that part that look great, but I'd prefer it without, it makes the lines much cleaner.
I see you are in Seattle , Blair or I could look at it to see if it needs rust repairs.
Blair drives a Turbo 2 with 300hp and is on the RX7.com BBS
Geoff
yeah id check your car out give you some pointers. My suggestion for a power plant is the 13b-re motor form japanese only cosmo's. A very very stout motor with plenty of power potential and a awsome looking intake manifold. Maybe if im still aorund the seattle area and you finish your car ill race you in my turbo2 and see if you can hang
Thanks for the offer of help, but I'm not a project car newbie; just a 914 newbie. This was my last project:
The car will be worked on at http://www.racetechfab.com in Portland, where I do all my fab work. Engine will be done at http://www.pineappleracing.com and I have a VW/Porsche transmission guy to build the tranny. I'm going to SEMA in a few weeks and will probably line up all the other vendors at that time, as well as solidify the plans.
is that a RAAM car?
ahh i know you then, we met at pineapple last year going down to SS5 i believe. i was wondering if that was you after i posted.
Show us a picture of the trailer.
Paul
Looks like a good use of an RX-7.
Haven't updated that site since my 8,000 mile trip, earlier in the year. Here are some (slightly) newer photos:
BTW, an interesting thing about the trailer is that is retains the stock fuel tank and fuel pump and there is a dry-break connection for the fuel line to the car. I have it wired so that, by switching the defroster switch, the trailer fuel tank refills the fuel cell in the car. This gave me 30 gallons on-board capacity for the long trip to Florida and back, minimizing stops. The defroster light comes on when pumping and the symbol seems appropriate for the repurposed task. Also, the stock RX-7 hood almost perfectly fit the front of the trailer after cutting the car in half. Freakishly close. Same width, same hight, same compound curve at the top. The only cutting I had to do was to trim the hood where it met the b-pillar and knock a couple spots off at the bottom.
looks neat, but how is the aerodynamic drag from that flat front end of the trailer, granted that once you mount the tires on the rack that changes things...........
Are there laws for the refueling while in transit? Just wondering???
My only suggestion (well, not only) is to not buy the 100 dollar car. It'll have rust.. crazy rust.. even if it doesn't look like it. Go grab one from California where we can't give away rust free cassis and cut them up. Well.. sometime we can give tehm away.. but we cut them up a lot too.
-Aaron G.
Actually, it is a California car, LOL! Most of my project cars come from down there. I always get them after they get transported up and then sit in a field for a year -- just long enough to get lots of surface rust with no structural issues. I've got pictures of the whole underside and so forth (including battery box area) and it's really not that bad comparred to other projects I have done. The RX-7 trailer was made from an unsalvagable rust bucket, for example. Some large areas were like rice paper, as water sat in it for many years. I was lucky to save as much as I did!
Also, I lied. I paid nothing for the car; a vendor donated it. He paid $100, but it was a very good deal nonetheless. If it won't work, I've got another lined up.
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