Love affair from the start, Build thread... She's a runnin! Options

[tscrihfield]

So .... here is the story. While in high school I received a job offer by a really nice guy to work in a Restoration/Body shop "Bennetts Rod Shop" in West Alexandria Ohio. I took it of course because I was an automotive student at a vocational school and could leave half a day early to go to work! So anyway while i was there I helped build a 1970 914-6 into a GT clone.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323973.1.jpg)

So this car inspired me GREATLY! I had to have one of my own... While working there I also got the opportunity to restore a 356 and do work on an old Nash, Also worked on a 70 VW Bus Limo! That was cool. My main job was fabrication, so I learned a ton while I was there!

In the Spring of 2008 I was getting married so I thought what better present to myself than to buy a 914 to restore. I had just bought a Garage (Just so happened to have a house on the same property...) so I finally had room to work. I bought a 74 sight unseen was told it had 38,000 Org miles and I thought... Well this couldn't go wrong... Little did I know it was a basket case.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323974.2.jpg)

Despite the look from this angle... It was a hunk of junk! Seriously it had rusted the rear suspension out! So this summer after working on the old bodies engine (building a 2.0 based engine) for the past year or so I decided this body just aint gonna do it. So....
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323975.3.jpg)
Yup I cut it in half! Tried to salvage what I could from it (which wasn't much) and move on. Then last month I found a nice donor for my new car... I knew that I wanted flares and have every intention on basing it on the car I had once completed. So My parents, Wife and I took a small vacation in Niagra Falls New York and just so happened to be that a 74 914 was for sale near there! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)
Here it is loading on the trailer...
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323976.4.jpg)
And My first picture with it... Not many have one of those!!! (Reference to my Shoulder)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323977.5.jpg)
My Awesome Folks always have encouraged even my most wreckless Ideas... Now they are even helping load the car!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323979.6.jpg)
The rig that brought here home!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323980.7.jpg)
Nestled into its new home!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i163.photobucket.com-12156-1286323981.8.jpg)

So now the Saga begins...

[Cairo94507]

Man you have some serious skills no doubt. How much did you move the strut arm? 19mm? 25mm? Inquisitive minds want to know.

[tscrihfield]

Man you have some serious skills no doubt. How much did you move the strut arm? 19mm? 25mm? Inquisitive minds want to know.

38mm or 1.5".

The reason I lowered the suspension in this fashon is because the stock Geometry is the prime handling of the car. (Hince why Porsche's engineers made it that way) But like most vehicles if you lower the center of gravity the body roll decreases and handling increases. So with this modification I have integrated both. Lowering and keeping stock geometry. The only downside is the bumpsteer gremlin.... Uhhg happens to almost every car when lowered**.... So in the Near future you will see my bump steer kit that I will make to accomodate the modified struts.

** for those who are unaware of Bumpsteer. It is a condition caused by changing a geometry in the steering set-up, Most often lowering. (Also happens to poor engineered automobiles as well!) All while at level ride height the vehicle may be aligned fine but when the suspension is compressed it pushes or pulls the tie rods or Heims whichever you might have, causing it to oversteer, understeer, pull or push.

Hope this helps and inspires!

Thomas