914 WRX Build Options

[waltonsm]

After seeing some recent posts, I decided it was finally time to thank everybody on this forum for years of encouragement and scope creep on my long term project. As with every real project, this will never be done, and there are certainly many things I would do differently a second time around. But I am 80% of the way there, and I am enjoying driving it as much as I am working on it for the last year or so.

I plan to add more photos of my build process over the next few weeks. You may see some of the advice you gave me realized, and probably some bad or good ideas in metal, fiberglass, and wood.

Hopefully I can help someone else out too.

-Steve


Here are some recent photos:





And a few from about 4 years ago:

[DRPHIL914]

Super cool! Very clean and professional looking. Good job.

first comment is : WOW!! nice job! of course I am partial to the color being a L99k owner myself. its not easy to get seats like that in a 914 those look super comfortable!, only thing I would pick at , not my taste is the fenders, but that's just because there is nothing else to pick on.. but really maybe some factory GT fenders at some point to really clean it up but, this may be my favorite suby build yet. Partly the color, but mostly because you really did everything yourself and at such a high level too, I cant imagine how much fun it is to drive a 350hp 914!!! well done sir!

Phil

[waltonsm]

Super cool! Very clean and professional looking. Good job.

first comment is : WOW!! nice job! of course I am partial to the color being a L99k owner myself. its not easy to get seats like that in a 914 those look super comfortable!, only thing I would pick at , not my taste is the fenders, but that's just because there is nothing else to pick on.. but really maybe some factory GT fenders at some point to really clean it up but, this may be my favorite suby build yet. Partly the color, but mostly because you really did everything yourself and at such a high level too, I cant imagine how much fun it is to drive a 350hp 914!!! well done sir!

Phil

Thanks Phil! It certainly is more than a handful. I may put an M3 standalone traction control system in this winter. But that will require additional brake lines. Not a deal breaker by any means, but annoying for sure.

I went on a hunt for viper green or copper. This is the one I found that I could only put screwdrivers through the floor on.. with a plan to cut.

The fenders... I went back and forth, a LOT! I decided I wanted to do this style because it is so obviously far from stock. I do plan to paint these fenders copper as well, but I have more composite work to do before getting stuff painted. some of it might be a bit controversial too.

It took me an absurd amount of time in glasswork and fairing to get the fender edges right from every angle. And then I wanted to have no fasteners... When you have a sharp edge like that it it is much more difficult than with fairing in a smooth radius. maybe there is a lesson there, steel would have probably been less time honestly.

I have a giant carbon fiber wing I have built (which is the rear bicycle and surfboard rack point. I have made fork mounts that are installed in the factory targa bar points already. I haven't decided on wing mounting, and I wont do it until I am happy with it, but I need/want the downforce and roof rack.

I also have mocked up many different iterations of 904/GT40 style B pillar scoops for the intercooler and intake. I also haven't pulled the trigger on this yet, but probably will have both of these done before winter. So maybe next year the fenders will be L99K.

Steve