Here are some photos of the new aluminum oil tank. It has stock OEM fittings, and is a direct bolt in for a factory tank. It has additional oil capacity of about 1 1/2 quarts.

I've got one more in stock, and I've got all the factory tank seals, boots, and 914-6 oil lines.

PK (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)
914 Network
a914man@netease.net

Another photo

A detail shot of the critical area. It uses a stock Porsche filter console. Sorry the res. isn't better.

PRICE... we need pricing. Much better than the cast Vellios stuff... but he really needs to find a better welder or have the sheet pieces cut to tighter tolerance.

I know it goes in the fender... but quality..quality..quality.


B

OH.. can I order them with AN fittings in the -20 variety and -16 ?



B

It looks like it was Mig welded. I wonder why it wasn't Tig'd? Or he just used waay too much rod.

If the pieces dont fit.. the welder has to "fill the gap".

I know Dave Shepard has contacts with Ron Davis. You would think that RD could whip this out "total pro" like their radiators.


B

It does look quite "home made" for lack of a better term. I guess price is the key thing, but honestly I would not be inclined to use a clone part for a crucial application like this unless it were 1/2 (or less) or the real thing became totally NLA.

Don't take the above the wrong way...I am definitely always stoked to hear when people are making specialty 914 parts. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

More capacity is gooder. 9.5 to 11 quarts in a stock system.

I do hope that's a prototype... or if not, is priced accordingly.

Are those large seams going to rub anywhere (i.e. through paint and cause rust long-term)?

-Lawrence

Perry,
I think that looks very nice! Contrary to the amateur critics around here. :finger2:
A good welder who can make strong and consistantly attractive tig welds in aluminum is hard to find. I don't think there is anything wrong with those welds.
If it were being made in production quantities I might expect a higher level of precision in the weld beads.
If it fits and doesn't leak it is much better than the cast aluminum tanks.

Being an amateur critic myself, from what I've heard alumn is very tough to make pretty. I think people are too used to seeing master welders on TV shows making alumn welds look like a stack of nickles (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) If the price is low, maybe there will be more 6 cyl converts out there (even though I like the oddball stigma of a big 4).

Looks damn good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap56.gif)

Is there any baffles inside ??

How many hours and at what hourly rate does it take to weld up a tank like this? I would think that is where most of the cost is.

Perry,

sorry for all the anoying questions...
I'd be interested in the weight of this one?

do you really think it will be lighter than stock? looks like a toss up, but its probably unreasonable for me to guess on a picture.

thanks and no rush
brant

Yes! And that goes for all of the other stuff that shows up around here.

This is the best reproduction oil tank I've ever seen AND, it's made from a material that's not going to rust. Mechanically it is identical to the factory tank, ie baffling, bolting up, filter console and filler neck mounting, boots, OIL LINE CONNECTIONS, etc.

The factory tanks weigh right at 7.6 lbs and these weight 5.8lbs.

At this time there is not, or has not ever been a reproduction 914-6 oil tank like this.

If you wanted to convert to AN, you can remove the factory oil line fittings and use M22 x 1.5 adapters. AND, it holds more oil.

It may be hard for some to understand this, developing a tank like this takes time which equals money. Not everyone is going to go through the trouble of disecting a factory tank, developing the designs for the custom machined internal parts, and then GIVE IT ALL AWAY, or post all the blueprints on the internet and HOW YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF!

The suggested retail price is around $700. Factory tanks are now over $800.

The Velios tanks were/are like $495 (if you can get one or would want to get one after seeing these tanks), and from my experience one out of four is a leaker. AND they weigh in at probably three times the weight of this new tank. At this point, and the problems I had dealing with George Velios, I wouldn't sell any of his products. In addition to the fact that I've heard he's gone out of business anyway.

$700 to $750 was my guess on price. Hand built and worth every penny. This is the product I will recommend to any -6 conversion customers I have in the future. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Thanks Perry!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

BTDT. Before I found my original factory tank I did some measurements, drawings and two protos. My problem was the welding. I was not satisfied with my welds (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)



Are you going to post the blueprints and do some DIY pages ?? That would be great idea, but I think I misunderstood something....... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Not to piss on this parade, but the fact that aluminum does not "rust" does not in any way say that you won't have any problems. I had an oil filter console (aluminum) where the flange outside of the O-ring was completely corroded away. Actually, rust is a particular form of corrosion that affects iron and steel. The biggest problem is where aluminum and steel come together and you get galvanic corrosion. You only have to take a look at any aluminum parts on the car to see what problems can develop. That said, I'd go for an aluminum tank myself. Just install carefully.

The tank looks nice, I have used both factory and the cast tank from V. As long as you get the later tanks from V with the baffle in it, you should be fine. Yes, it is pretty heavy, but aslo pretty sturdy. If you can find a factory tank, use it. Many backyard "Bob's" can make parts, but cannot compete with the money spent to develop a part like the factory can. If this tank is truly in the $700 range, I would opt for a factoy tank. Otherwise, you might as well go buy a good universal tank for $250 and stick it in the front trunk. You can have a 20qt system if you want then, plus lines already run for a cooler etc. I make quick six bars and 914-6 tin for my conversions. But nothing I would want to sell. It all looks like hell, but works great. It takes so long to make the stuff, I would have to charge a lot of money to sell it just to break even. This tank looks like the same? If it could be produced in numbers and the price dropped some, I might pick up a few.

Just my 2 cents.

Oh, V is still around, disapeared for a while, but I picked up a tank from him not too long ago.