5 Lug Fuch's conversion Questions. Options

[Flycut]

I love the look of the 911 5 lug fuch's, I want to know if it's as easy as just changing out the rotors and buying some 5 lug fuch's.
What would be the preferred rim and tire size of the 5 lug fuch's and what exactly is involved with this conversion. I have owned my 914 for exactly 5 days and am very excited to know everything there is to get to know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

[Lou W]

A good option is located in the 914 Resources, Parts and Products, under Eric Shea's 5 lug conversions.

[grasshopper]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) It is really simple actually, but can cost some money. You can get the entire front suspension..EVERTHING: A-arms, crossmember, struts...etc...etc... Just unbolt the old and bolt up the 911 suspension. The rear is a little more complicated. You have to buy new 914-6 rotors, and 914-6 rear calipers, or 914-4 front calipers (loose the e-brake) . You also need the 914-6 hub. Eric Shea sells them in the resources forum. While you are in there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chairfall.gif) (just kidding....) You probably should go ahead and get new shocks all around, and new rear springs. The wheels cant be any bigger than 6"....there is also a 5.5" 911 fuchs wheel. The usual diameter is 15" but the stock 914-6's used 14" rims.

[turboman808]

I love the look of the 911 5 lug fuch's, I want to know if it's as easy as just changing out the rotors and buying some 5 lug fuch's.
What would be the preferred rim and tire size of the 5 lug fuch's and what exactly is involved with this conversion. I have owned my 914 for exactly 5 days and am very excited to know everything there is to get to know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

Just sold my 5 lug fuchs with new pilots yesterday


Seems the 225s on the back would fit with a little fender massage
205s on the front should fit fine

[Cap'n Krusty]

The 911 front end you buy MUST be from a 1969 or newer. Most folks like the 911SC units because they have nice big rotors and pads. The rear is simple. You buy wheel bearings, redrilled hubs and rotors. You'll need a set of lug nuts to go with it. if your car uses the ball joints with the curved slot, you'll need new ball joints to match your struts (assuming you buy 1972 or later struts). Plan on a grand, possibly more, depending on the cost of the front end, and whether you need shocks or not. Plus wheels. The Cap'n

[Krieger]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) I just did the rears and you don't need to go quite that far. I just did this in may. The key is locating early 70-71 914-4 rear hubs (the part the rotors bolt to. Easy in emeryville ca has them for $50 each. They have the boses on them for a good machinist to drill out and press in 5 studs and they fit the 914/4 axle hubs. The difficult part for some people is pressing out the old hubs/bearings and then pressing in new bearings and your new hubs. By doing it this way you use your stock rear brake calipers, and if there is enough material on the rear rotors (near new) have a machinist drill the 5 bolt patern, otherwise replace them with 914/6 rotors. A much cheaper and just as strong way. Good luck!

[Flycut]

What if you had a good machine shop weld up the 4 lug pattern and drill and tap the 5 lug pattern on front and back?
I'm also wondering if it would make more since to keep things as original as possible, Would a porsche purist think this conversion is pure blasphemy.

[Mueller]

What if you had a good machine shop weld up the 4 lug pattern and drill and tap the 5 lug pattern on front and back?

No welding required, for the rear, holes are drilled and reamed (4 new holes, use one existing hole) backside of hub (for rear) is spotfaced and you press in studs.
The front hubs can be done in a similar manner, only problem is that the front rotors on the /4s are one piece, so you'd have to machine a new set of rotors when it was time for new rotors.


I'm also wondering if it would make more since to keep things as original as possible, Would a porsche purist think this conversion is pure blasphemy.

As modifications go, the 5-lug conversion is generally accepted with no issues. It's up to YOU how original you want to keep it...considering that you are putting carbs on the car you are already going past the point of originality.

A 5-lug converson can help increase the value of the car (if done correctly, especially if using 911 front struts).

No welding

[ConeDodger]

What if you had a good machine shop weld up the 4 lug pattern and drill and tap the 5 lug pattern on front and back?
I'm also wondering if it would make more since to keep things as original as possible, Would a porsche purist think this conversion is pure blasphemy.

A Porsche purist would already think you were driving a VW.

[AZ914]

Easiest method up front is to drill and add studs to the front rotor/hub assembly... but you need to do this any time you need new rotors.

Rears are the same as mentioned above.

[Mueller]

Easiest method up front is to drill and add studs to the front rotor/hub assembly... but you need to do this any time you need new rotors.

Rears are the same as mentioned above.

any drilling should be done professionally, not with a hand drill or even a drill press (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)


See the resource section, Eric Shea has professionally re-drilled front hubs with press-in studs at pretty good prices, he also has the rear done already for purchase. Unless you have a machine shop or have access to one, I don't think you'll beat his prices by much.

[Flycut]

Does Eric Shea have a website? How do I get a hold of his services?

[grasshopper]

Here

[Joe Bob]

Welded and drilled rotors....work.....then figure you have to do it again if ya bugger up the disc or wear it out....

Do it right the first time.

[tracks914]

What is the difference in the "A" arms and the struts?
Is the track (width) different with the 911 suspension bolted into the 914?
Why do some switch them both and others just redrill the hubs?
Will the boxster rims fit on my (flared) 914 with this conversion?
Tx

[Mueller]

What is the difference in the "A" arms and the struts?
The internal splines have a different count for the torsion bars, the 911 struts have larger wheel bearings.

Is the track (width) different with the 911 suspension bolted into the 914?
No
Why do some switch them both and others just redrill the hubs?
Cost and/or ease of swap....the easiest is the re-drilled front hubs, all you have to do is know how to change wheel bearings to do that swap
Will the boxster rims fit on my (flared) 914 with this conversion?
Since you can run many of the Boxster rims on a stock bodied car, then yes, with GT flares you can run wider Boxster rims (up to 9" wide in the rear easily with the correct spacers)
Tx

[tracks914]

What is the difference in the "A" arms and the struts?
The internal splines have a different count for the torsion bars, the 911 struts have larger wheel bearings.

Is the track (width) different with the 911 suspension bolted into the 914?
No
Why do some switch them both and others just redrill the hubs?
Cost and/or ease of swap....the easiest is the re-drilled front hubs, all you have to do is know how to change wheel bearings to do that swap
Will the boxster rims fit on my (flared) 914 with this conversion?
Since you can run many of the Boxster rims on a stock bodied car, then yes, with GT flares you can run wider Boxster rims (up to 9" wide in the rear easily with the correct spacers)
Tx

?? 911 struts have larger wheel bearings?? or is it 911 hubs??
Will the 914 shock/strut fit into the 911 wheel/hub assembly?
Tx

[Mueller]

?? 911 struts have larger wheel bearings?? or is it 911 hubs??
That would one and same...only 911 hubs fit 911 struts

Will the 914 shock/strut fit into the 911 wheel/hub assembly?
The 914 shock "insert" should fit into the 911 "strut" ....where you run into problems is that some 911 struts are shock specific, such as Koni or Bilstein, then you can only run that brand (easily)
Tx

[Flycut]

I went the easiest and cheapest route and bought some wheel adapters.
Cost me about $200.00 with the empi repro lug nuts. 14x5.5 Fuch's with 1 inch wheel adapters. Better pic's in the morning.

[Joe Bob]

Well....the good part about where YOU live....is that you probably can't go fast enough on the island to hurt yourself.....4-5 lug adapters aren't the most accepted way to do it. Most if not all race scrutineers would fail you at tech inspection.

To me, the construction of most of them reeks of bad chesse....

So, I would periodically check them.