Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

> Sway Bar Confusion, Anyone seen this before?
MAD914
post Feb 12 2014, 05:38 PM
Post #1


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 23
Joined: 3-August 11
From: La Verne, CA
Member No.: 13,390
Region Association: Southern California
This is my 74' 2.0. I took the gas tank out in preparation for installing an anti-sway bar (among other things), and this is what I found:


Attached Image

The passenger side is fine, all ready for a mounting plate. But then:


Attached Image

On the driver's side, there is a stock plate spot-welded in, but neither the bolt holes or the hole for the bar are punched through. What the hell? Now I guess I have to drill out the spot welds, take the "stock" plate off, and install a proper reinforcement on both sides?

I also thought of trying to thread a bolt into the existing nuts and maybe snap them off by hitting it with a hammer. Then I could leave the existing plate in place, and just drill through it to mount my new plate on the inner (gas tank) side of the sheet metal - but what about the nut that's down below the existing crosspiece?

Oddly enough, the A-arms also have the stock U-tabs on them, even though the car didn't come with a front bar.

I'm thinking maybe the schnitzel truck pulled into the Karmann factory early, and Gunter and Helmut didn't want to be last in line, so they just left the assembly line with the car halfway prepared for a sway bar.

Anyone seen anything like this, or have any advice on the best way to proceed?

Thanks,
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
2 Pages V  1 2 >  
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
Replies(1 - 19)
914werke
post Feb 12 2014, 06:14 PM
Post #2


"I got blisters on me fingers"
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 10,141
Joined: 22-March 03
From: USofA
Member No.: 453
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Thats F'n weird.
Never seen that one. Although it looks like that rail flange has been chewed on?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Feb 12 2014, 06:17 PM
Post #3


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 41,680
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
Just by looking at the quality of the welds, i highly doubt this was done at the factory ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jcd914
post Feb 12 2014, 07:07 PM
Post #4


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,081
Joined: 7-February 08
From: Sacramento, CA
Member No.: 8,684
Region Association: Northern California
The passenger side seems to have seam sealer sprayed on the rear seam (behind the wire harness) and the driver side does not. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Any odd seams where a section may have been grafted on?

Jim
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Jeff Hail
post Feb 12 2014, 07:43 PM
Post #5


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,141
Joined: 3-May 07
From: LA/ CA
Member No.: 7,712
It was for the mid level 914-5 that was never put into production.

Half a 4 and the half a 6.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Krieger
post Feb 12 2014, 08:25 PM
Post #6


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,728
Joined: 24-May 04
From: Santa Rosa CA
Member No.: 2,104
Region Association: None
looks like a plate was spot welded on the inside of the fenderwell. Got a pic from that side. PO probably realized it was crap work and maybe stopped himself with his good hand.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Feb 12 2014, 10:43 PM
Post #7


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
Factory nut plates were welded on from the outside.

My first suspicion is that your car has a large section welded on from another car.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mepstein
post Feb 12 2014, 10:55 PM
Post #8


914-6 GT in waiting
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 19,316
Joined: 19-September 09
From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE
Member No.: 10,825
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
QUOTE(McMark @ Feb 12 2014, 11:43 PM) *

Factory nut plates were welded on from the outside.

My first suspicion is that your car has a large section welded on from another car.


Is your car black or just the trunk. Black trunks on a different color car are usually a tell that something went wrong in the past
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Rob-O
post Feb 13 2014, 01:11 AM
Post #9


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,252
Joined: 5-December 03
From: Mansfield, TX
Member No.: 1,419
Region Association: Southwest Region
I agree, those welds don't look factory. Looks like an inner wheel well was grafted on. To me, it looks like the old inner wheel was pulled/pried off. See the wave in the metal next to the bottom sway bar mount is? Then when the new wheel well was butted up, they drilled holes in it and welded them from inside the wheel well. I'd check for welds in the wheel well area. But that doesn't help to explain why a sway bar mount was welded to the outside of the wheel well, when it obviously wasn't needed.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ChrisFoley
post Feb 13 2014, 11:40 AM
Post #10


I am Tangerine Racing
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 7,935
Joined: 29-January 03
From: Bolton, CT
Member No.: 209
Region Association: None
Unfortunately, it looks factory to me.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
balljoint
post Feb 13 2014, 11:48 AM
Post #11


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 10,000
Joined: 6-April 04
Member No.: 1,897
Region Association: None
Stay tuned folks, for the continuing saga of Helmut and Gunther and the distracting schnitzel.

Could be a parts bin mix up, could be a sinister schnitzel scheme.

Perhaps there is another '74 rolling around out there with the opposite pair of fender wells.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif)


To be completely honest, I have, from time to time, been accused of wearing one brown sock and one black sock in my sandals, of course leaving an identical pair at home in the drawer for later use.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SLITS
post Feb 13 2014, 12:02 PM
Post #12


"This Utah shit is HARSH!"
**********

Group: Benefactors
Posts: 13,602
Joined: 22-February 04
From: SoCal Mountains ...
Member No.: 1,696
Region Association: None
It was for NASCAR "down under", where they only make right turns.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
MAD914
post Feb 14 2014, 02:48 PM
Post #13


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 23
Joined: 3-August 11
From: La Verne, CA
Member No.: 13,390
Region Association: Southern California
I had no idea that a sardonic sense of humor was so closely tied to 914 ownership.

I've looked carefully at the area, and can't find any seams, cuts, or welds that would make me think there was a large graft from another car. The seam sealer on the driver's side is just out of the frame of the photo I took, and it looks stock as well. This is the fenderwell with the [matching] VIN stamped on it, so again, I think it's all stock. The holes for the bolts and the bar are very cleanly "punched", not drilled, as far as I can tell. I've owned the car since 1983 (the whole car has always been black), so PO damage is possibly less likely.

I guess my next move is to clean off the wheel well side, take a look, and possibly start drilling out spot welds to take this thing off. In keeping with "balljoint's" comment, I've begun referring to this thing as the "schnitzel plate" (as opposed to a "taco plate").

Any other ideas?
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Eric_Shea
post Feb 14 2014, 03:26 PM
Post #14


PMB Performance
***************

Group: Admin
Posts: 19,278
Joined: 3-September 03
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Member No.: 1,110
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
Looks factory to me as well...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
scotty b
post Feb 14 2014, 03:44 PM
Post #15


rust free you say ?
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 16,375
Joined: 7-January 05
From: richmond, Va.
Member No.: 3,419
Region Association: None
QUOTE(MAD914 @ Feb 14 2014, 12:48 PM) *

I had no idea that a sardonic sense of humor was so closely tied to 914 ownership.





you taint seen nuthin yet buddy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
scotty b
post Feb 14 2014, 03:45 PM
Post #16


rust free you say ?
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 16,375
Joined: 7-January 05
From: richmond, Va.
Member No.: 3,419
Region Association: None
look both wheel wells over VERY closely for sand scratches, or grinder marks under the paint
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bulitt
post Feb 14 2014, 04:35 PM
Post #17


Achtzylinder
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,188
Joined: 2-October 11
Member No.: 13,632
Region Association: South East States
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)
Looks like sprayed on seam sealer on one side and not t'other (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
nathansnathan
post Feb 14 2014, 04:37 PM
Post #18


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,052
Joined: 31-May 10
From: Laguna Beach, CA
Member No.: 11,782
Region Association: None
QUOTE(Eric_Shea @ Feb 14 2014, 01:26 PM) *

Looks factory to me as well...


I agree, It looks spot welded, which few people would have the means to do, especially right there.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
McMark
post Feb 14 2014, 09:44 PM
Post #19


914 Freak!
***************

Group: Retired Admin
Posts: 20,179
Joined: 13-March 03
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Member No.: 419
Region Association: None
QUOTE(nathansnathan @ Feb 14 2014, 02:37 PM) *

QUOTE(Eric_Shea @ Feb 14 2014, 01:26 PM) *

Looks factory to me as well...


I agree, It looks spot welded, which few people would have the means to do, especially right there.

Yes I agree. But the other side could be the replacement. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
r_towle
post Feb 14 2014, 11:42 PM
Post #20


Custom Member
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 24,591
Joined: 9-January 03
From: Taxachusetts
Member No.: 124
Region Association: North East States
QUOTE(MAD914 @ Feb 14 2014, 03:48 PM) *

I had no idea that a sardonic sense of humor was so closely tied to 914 ownership.

I've looked carefully at the area, and can't find any seams, cuts, or welds that would make me think there was a large graft from another car. The seam sealer on the driver's side is just out of the frame of the photo I took, and it looks stock as well. This is the fenderwell with the [matching] VIN stamped on it, so again, I think it's all stock. The holes for the bolts and the bar are very cleanly "punched", not drilled, as far as I can tell. I've owned the car since 1983 (the whole car has always been black), so PO damage is possibly less likely.

I guess my next move is to clean off the wheel well side, take a look, and possibly start drilling out spot welds to take this thing off. In keeping with "balljoint's" comment, I've begun referring to this thing as the "schnitzel plate" (as opposed to a "taco plate").

Any other ideas?

German workers union rules allow for two liters of beer during the lunch break ( no kidding)

Let's guess what time yr car was built
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif) then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif) then (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

2 Pages V  1 2 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Switch to: Standard · Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 10th June 2024 - 11:48 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...