Bee Jay's 914-six Conversion, The car just burned down! Options

[GeorgeRud]

If you have the original shiftbar, you can also just cut out the 'bent' part and replace it with a straight section of tubing to make a 914-6 bar. Obviously, you need to keep the length the same and be sure to keep the end pieces aligned corrctly, but it's not hard.

Looking around eBay, Samba, or 911 sites should easily find the other parts you're looking for.

BTW, I was told (but don't know from personal experience) that the 914-6 stock air cleaner assembly is not as tall as a 911 one, so check before buying one. The 'rainhat' style air cleaners work well and sound great on a -6.

As you've found out, it is much less money to buy a running conversion, but it's infinitely more fun to do your own, and the experience you gain is worth a lot.

Enjoy your project in good health!

BTW, my wife and I are flying out to attend the Rennsport Reunion in October, would love to see the project there! The riunion should be a good inspiration for you to get-er-dun!

[GeorgeRud]

If you have the original shiftbar, you can also just cut out the 'bent' part and replace it with a straight section of tubing to make a 914-6 bar. Obviously, you need to keep the length the same and be sure to keep the end pieces aligned corrctly, but it's not hard.

Looking around eBay, Samba, or 911 sites should easily find the other parts you're looking for.

BTW, I was told (but don't know from personal experience) that the 914-6 stock air cleaner assembly is not as tall as a 911 one, so check before buying one. The 'rainhat' style air cleaners work well and sound great on a -6.

As you've found out, it is much less money to buy a running conversion, but it's infinitely more fun to do your own, and the experience you gain is worth a lot.

Enjoy your project in good health!

BTW, my wife and I are flying out to attend the Rennsport Reunion in October, would love to see the project there! The reunion should be a good inspiration for you to get-er-dun!

[patssle]

Looks nice BJ! I just got my Webers back today, fully rebuilt and no missing parts. Need to pull the 911 into the garage and start tearing off the CIS.

I don't know of any place to get PMO manifolds cheaper. But I talked to a guy who knows Weber/PMOs well and he said it's fine with Weber manifolds.

Why are you changing the shift bar? I thought the original will work fine?

Also, some say the trans bellcrank for the throttle isn't necessary. Might want to test it without the cable to see if it's practical.

And which air cleaners are you planning on using? I have some K&N with some missing parts, and see a couple posts that they are not good to use.

[Bee Jay]

I bet a few of you had a good laugh at me last night. "Ha, he thinks he's gonna install the front engine tin with the engine locked and loaded into place" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)
Well, that's what I thought. I could not do it. Wasn't gonna happen. No way, no how. Soooooo... I'll just loosen the tranny motor mount bolts a little and undo the front motor mounts and lower the front of the engine on my jack untill I can slip the front engine tin into place. Well,.....if you rotate the engine too much, the rear tranny mount bolts slip right out of the transmission bolt holes. Why are they open to the front like that? So I ended up with the engine back in my lap and out of the car. Installing yesterday went just too smoothly. The engine is half on my jack and half on the ground and all my friends I call are busy. With my lovey wifes help and some clever jack work, I got the engine back on the engine dolly and the engine back in the car, but this time with the front engine tin in place. Another hint, things go much better if you remove your rear wheels while installing, deinstalling the engine. I hope whoever is doing a six install in the future for the very first time, is paying attention.
Hint 1: pre position the front engine tin before installing the engine.
Hint 2: Remove the rear wheels to make it easier to see and reach the engine as you lower the car to it.
Bee Jay

Bee Jay

[kconway]

Bee Jay, what mount are you using? I've heard you cannot install that tin before and that you have to cut hte front tin into two pieces and install it after with a Rich Johnson mount. I'm sizing my install up and can use any advice available.

Kev

[Bee Jay]

Bee Jay, what mount are you using? I've heard you cannot install that tin before and that you have to cut hte front tin into two pieces and install it after with a Rich Johnson mount. I'm sizing my install up and can use any advice available.

Kev

Nope, you can't install it before, you need access to the engine mounts while installing. You can just lay the front tin up on the shelf just before you lower the car or raise the engine. I should have taken pictures but I was in no happy snaps mood. It's a good thing the world didn't end yesterday as predicted because I lost my religion a couple of times. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
Here is a picture of the motor mount.

Bee Jay
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If you look closely at this picture, you can see the left front motor mount and how easily you can access it with the engine tin not installed. This picture is from Friday, when I didn't even have the front engine tin sitting on the front engine bay shelf.
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Here is a picture of the tranny mount. If you tilt the engine too much, the bolt will slip right out of the front, which would be obvious to the average dumbass, but I excell in that category.

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[jaxdream]

Doood , you missing that big cup type washer that goes on top of the trans ear , it helps to prevent slippage off of boltus.
Looking great , keep at it .

Jack

[IronHillRestorations]

I've never tried to install the engine without the tins, interesting. It takes a left handed-ambidextrious midget to get those engine bolts in place, but I was able to do it. (no insult intended for "little people")

I make conversion shift rods Beej, shoot me a email or PM. The stock one won't work. All I need is about 6" off the front (where the coupling is) and about 10" of the rear part. Just make sure the rear part of the shift rod is smooth and not pitted, otherwise it will chew up the bushing.

Lookin good!!

[Bee Jay]

THE ENGINE TIN IS IN! I know exactly what you are saying, "Big Whoop". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)
Well Perry said it best, to install the front and side tin with the engine installed requires an ambidextrious, powerful, little person. It's about all I got accomplished today other than work on the motor and trans mounts. I think if you can do it, install the engine with the tin installed. Remove the trailing arm bolts if you have to. JMHO.
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[Bee Jay]

I've never tried to install the engine without the tins, interesting. It takes a left handed-ambidextrious midget to get those engine bolts in place, but I was able to do it. (no insult intended for "little people")

I make conversion shift rods Beej, shoot me a email or PM. The stock one won't work. All I need is about 6" off the front (where the coupling is) and about 10" of the rear part. Just make sure the rear part of the shift rod is smooth and not pitted, otherwise it will chew up the bushing.

Lookin good!!

Thanks Perry. Email coming your way.
Bee Jay

[Bee Jay]

Doood , you missing that big cup type washer that goes on top of the trans ear , it helps to prevent slippage off of boltus.
Looking great , keep at it .
Jack

Thanks Jack. Fixed it, I think.
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Also, while I was in there, I did something about something that was bugging me. I don't understand the engineering on the motor and trans mounts, but there is this huge giant thick bolt that holds the engine to the motor mount, but two skinny, puny, seemingly inadequate bolts that hold the motor mount to the car. So I drilled the motor mount holes out a little, and installed larger bolts.
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[Bee Jay]

This was a really rough Memorial Day weekend for the 914-6 conversion project. I took Friday off and spent 3 1/2 hours trying to get the balls back into the left CV joint. No matter how much I cussed and fussed they would not go back in. Same thing for over an hour Saturday morning. I asked Gill to come over and help me install them on Memorial Day. He slept in, so I decided that I would get them in before he came over. NO JOY! Gosh darn it. Gill shows up, takes a look, removes the balls, pulls the boot back, and puts the balls into the CV joint. 5 minutes max. I hate when he does that. Happy that my CV joint was back together, but pissed that I couldn't do it. We spent the rest of the hour designing a bell crank less six throttle linkage. I hope Terry Cable will build me a 914-6 throttle cable 17 inches longer than the 914-4 cable. After Gill left, I started on other things. I bolted up the axles to the tranny, and I installed the headers. BIG PROBLEM. The oil cooler outlet is way too close to one of the header pipes. So close, I can't tighten the -12 line. DAMN. The modified 90 degree bend drops too far from the cooler. Maybe John Larson can have it modified again so that the 90 degree attchement is closer to the cooler. I think there is room to move it at least 3/4" closer. At least one good thing, I had the oil cooler out in about 15 minutes. Just remove some tin and unbolt. When I had a leak in the 2.0 four engine cooler, I spent all day getting the oil cooler out. Maybe the fix won't take long.
Bee Jay
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[Bee Jay]

WOW! I called Terry Cables Tuesday morning to order a stock 914 clutch cable and a throttle cable 17" longer than stock with a 914-6 threaded end. Both were delivered Thursday evening. The throttle cabel was exactly what I ordered. Granted they are right here in Cali, but they must have made the custom cable the day I called and shipped that night. What a pleasant surprise.
Bee Jay

[Cap'n Krusty]

If I had only known you can't install the motor with the front tin on using that mount, I wouldn't have done it ........................

And what's this "Cali" s*#&!? You get those cables from Colombia?

The Cap'n, Krusty mode on. Call my state "Calif.", CA, or "California", but don't call it "Cali". It just ain't right.

[markb]

Call my state "Calif.", CA, or "California", but don't call it "Cali". It just ain't right.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[Bee Jay]

If I had only known you can't install the motor with the front tin on using that mount, I wouldn't have done it ........................

And what's this "Cali" s*#&!? You get those cables from Colombia?

The Cap'n, Krusty mode on. Call my state "Calif.", CA, or "California", but don't call it "Cali". It just ain't right.

Good morning Captain John, how are you this fine Kalifornia day? Have some coffee and a cinamin roll. We don't want to get you irritated and bring Cap'n Crusty out. It's like the Hulk, "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry".

I have a lift, a decent set of tools, and my lovely wife Sylvia helping me, but I can never do what you can do with a 914 with a patch over one eye, a hand tied behind your back, and no lift. That is why you are the Cap'n. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)
Can your guy modify my oil cooler?
Bee Jay

[Bee Jay]

Call my state "Calif.", CA, or "California", but don't call it "Cali". It just ain't right.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Mark? Is that you?

[Cap'n Krusty]

If I had only known you can't install the motor with the front tin on using that mount, I wouldn't have done it ........................

And what's this "Cali" s*#&!? You get those cables from Colombia?

The Cap'n, Krusty mode on. Call my state "Calif.", CA, or "California", but don't call it "Cali". It just ain't right.

Good morning Captain John, how are you this fine Kalifornia day? Have some coffee and a cinamin roll. We don't want to get you irritated and bring Cap'n Crusty out. It's like the Hulk, "you wouldn't like me when I'm angry".

I have a lift, a decent set of tools, and my lovely wife Sylvia helping me, but I can never do what you can do with a 914 with a patch over one eye, a hand tied behind your back, and no lift. That is why you are the Cap'n. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)
Can your guy modify my oil cooler?
Bee Jay

That's a "yes" on the oil cooler. It's being picked up today, sometime after the verdammt Elks get their horse poopin' arses off my street and get down to some serious goat ropin'. Rodeo weekend.

The Cap'n

[SirAndy]

If I had only known you can't install the motor with the front tin on using that mount, I wouldn't have done it ........................

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Guess i did it wrong too by mounting the tin on the engine first.

I'll remember to leave it off next time.
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[markb]

Call my state "Calif.", CA, or "California", but don't call it "Cali". It just ain't right.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Mark? Is that you?

Yup. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)