Cheap/free upgrades to stock 14, The little LeMons that could Options

[teamgravy]

We are trying to find some free/cheap upgrades to make to our stock(ish) 74 914. If you missed it, we are Teamgravy Racing (Teamgravy Facebook) and recently raced our car at the 24 hours of LeMons Eagle Canyon Raceway and took 2nd place in class as well as the Index of Effluency (most coveted award at a LeMons race).

Now we are looking for more speed. The LeMons guys talk about the 914 as a terrible option for endurance road racing and we are on a quest to prove them wrong.
See the wrap up video from our race where they dis the 14 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=playe...;v=jvtRq7rPn28#!

What we are looking for are some cheap to free options to make the car quicker but not sacrifice durability. The next race of the season for us is a true 24 hour straight race in MSR in Houston.

For example Mike (old914dog suggested at the last race we add some camber to the front end by loosening up the shock mounts and pulling them together with a ratchet strap.

What else is cheap/free? We are looking for a cheap dual carb setup (current single webber progressive 32/36) to get more power but looking for cheap reliable power if possible.
Thanks,
Daryl - Teamgravy Racing
car specs:
1974 914
1.8 with carb conversion
gutted no extra weight
roll cage
Stock gas tank
Stock 15" wheels 4 lug with dunlop direzza z1
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net-15128-1369930683.1.jpg)

[teamgravy]

Cheapest way to go faster is to lose weight. Completely strip the the interior and front trunk and do the same for the back trunk. Cut out trunk floor. You can also lose 40lbs (each) by stripping the doors, but make sure you have some NASCAR type door bars or the car won't be safe. Also build a CF or fiberglass roof and glue it in place. This will make the car tons stiffer and is lighter.

Switch to Lexan windshield/rear glass.

Lose the engine lid.

Next find some cookie cutters and put them on. They only weigh 13-14lbs so big savings there and it's all un-sprung weight. Yea you'd have to convert to 5 lug, but lots of information on this site how to do that cheaply.

Wilwood calipers will lose a bunch of un sprung weight

Fiberglass hood and trunks save a bunch of weight but not cheap.

Install needle bearings at every suspension point, i.e., trailing arms / torsion bars

Lose the headlight motors. When driving at night figure out a manual setup and lock.

What are you using for front and rear bumpers

Put an aluminum plate where the rear brake light assembly now resides and install a light weight cheap brake light.

Cut the rear valance out of the trunk

Carefully corner balance the car and set the camber / toe in. Vast improvement in handling here.

And remember:

Lots of pics on our Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/Teamgravy/photos_stream

We did most of the weight removal (see pics) already. Haven't cut any material out from body yet but may consider that.

Made a alu air-dam for the front, missing original valance.
bumpers are stock - nasty black rubber pads. They add weight for sure but not sure of the contact in LeMons racing we put them on.

No brake lights (single lightweight plastic wired up and sold originals for cash)
Rear window lexan now
Roof is already ALU rivited on
We have to run the engine cover per rules

Even removed the hinges and springs from hood/trunk, may try to make a fiberglass versions. We have taken most everything out to make it as light as possible.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net-15128-1369973323.1.jpg)
We rebuilt the calipers and put in porterfield pads so probably won't change brakes/rotors out for next race but wondering which willwoods fit the 914 (stock rotor or only 5 lug conversion).

So needle bearings for suspension bushing... Where can I find those? Hard enough to find the stock style suspension bushings.

Light assemblies are gone, anyone want to buy them? Items for Sale - we are going to need something for the next race it's 24 hours straight but have some cheap hella's from my off road car we can use.

May try to build a splitter, the front end gets loose at high speed when the gas tank gets low.
Any cheap options for back here: (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net-15128-1369973323.2.jpg) Someone mentioned a Holly option?