Rally car build., In need of suggestions. Options

[Silverstreak]

I recently aquired a 74 2.0 and plan on building it to rally spec. Nothing to serious, just gravel, clay, and not so rough dirt roads. So, I've been hunting arouund for 914 build threads and have come up dry. Has anyone here had experience with such a build? I realise I'll need to sure up the chassy and suspension. Wondering if I could get suggestions on what shocks and springs to use, anti roll bars etc. Any advice would help. Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Josh

[stewteral]

I recently aquired a 74 2.0 and plan on building it to rally spec. Nothing to serious, just gravel, clay, and not so rough dirt roads. So, I've been hunting arouund for 914 build threads and have come up dry. Has anyone here had experience with such a build? I realise I'll need to sure up the chassy and suspension. Wondering if I could get suggestions on what shocks and springs to use, anti roll bars etc. Any advice would help. Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Josh

Hi Silverstreak,

Bravo for building a 914 rally car!

I've read all the postings to date and your work looks very good.

Here's some thoughts I wanted to contribute:

-If the rollcage is in and the doors still close, then you obviously got the tip about bracing the door openings to prevent them closing up when the welding cools.
Whew! That is always an issue.

-Your skip plate looks well thought out and I can't tell from the photo, but I would suggest LOTS of bracing to the frame so that ONE BIG ROCK doesn't push it up and take out the trans or exhaust. If you can jack the car up via the skid plate you are safe.

-THE BIG ISSUE will be what the suspension will do when you raise the car. Once you move out of the DESIGNED range of operation, behavior will change a lot.
I have a V8 conversion car for road course play and had to start from scratch on the suspension settings as there was no "record" of how to set such a car up. I've learned a lot and would recommend reading the Paddock posting: "Alignment specs for V8 DE 914". I posted a lot of info on what the suspension does through its travel:
It is a certainty that when the car is raised, the rear will TOE-IN seriously (.200" for 2" of travel).

With the car raised, the front camber and toe setting will also have to be looked at and bump-steer corrected . Just as a thought: you could install SPACERS to lower the entire front suspension as a unit to gain 1" - 1-1/2" ground clearance with minimal affect on the range of operation of the lower suspension arm.

Best of luck!....send more photos as you progress.

Terry