CptTripps' Restoration 2 - The Grey Matter Build, Back in Doug’s garage Options

[CptTripps]

Hey gang!

I'm back in the mix, and getting ready for another 914 restoration. Not sure this will play out as well as it did Last Time, but we'll give her a go and see what I can come up with!

After I find the right starting-point, here's what I've been dreaming of doing to it.

Subaru EJ20 Turbo 4 engine & Trans. (250-275hp target)
Steel flares
5-bolt hubs
Boxster brakes
Stiffen up the body. (MAYBE a roll-bar.)
Satin silver paint, blacked-out chrome, black satin rims...with colorful calipers.

I think I've found the right starting-point car (70-1.7 with carbs) so I'll drive it a bit while I'm stock-piling parts. That way I can start the project in earnest this winter while the snow falls.

I'm going to use the 901 side-shift trans I have in my basement to mount up to the EJ20 after I can locate a decent one. That way, I should be able to get everything right and then mount it up a lot easier after I drop the 1.7 out. (Best intentions...always lead to disappointment, but I'll try anyway.)

Things I learned the last time:

* Do the body work all the way up to the primer, then let a pro take it from there.
* It's much easier to work when you have a lot of light.
* Garage heaters are your friend.
* When in doubt...STOP and look for an answer. (Doubling your bad efforts never works.)
* Wearing those blue latex gloves alleviates embarrassing situations in meetings
* The search button is your friend. (Spelling is also...thanks Andy.)

Here we go!

UPDATE: I ended up with a 1975 with a V8 conversion as a starting point.

UPDATE 2: The engine I found had a good Trans on it, so I'm going to have a Subaru 5MT not a 901.

UPDATE 3: 350 is my new HP goal

UPDATE 4: I'm naming the project "Grey Matter" because the car is going to be a lot more than just a restoration. That...and project names are cool. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

UPDATE 5: April 17th is the "due date" to have it complete. Not as fast as my last build, but there is a LOT more to this one.

[CptTripps]

A bunch of perforated metal showed up today.

Getting closer to build time!

[Chris H.]

Dude those calipers look like candy. Wow.

[CptTripps]

Dude those calipers look like candy. Wow.

They look MORE like candy in person. I've got some cleanup to do around the edges though.

I've got to give props to Jason at Cleveland Powder Coating. I called today about the missing seal. He told me that he had it, but that someone threw it away by accident. Offered to discount my next order by $40 to cover the cost of a new seal. That's pretty awesome.

[CptTripps]

Started working on the flares today. Marked everything out before I take it to a friend's to weld them up.

Took the rockers off and the car lost about 11lb. Holy crap.

Oh...and I added a horn. Discovered I didn't have one and about bit it earlier!

[CptTripps]

Flares are on...time for some banging and bondo this weekend!

[Chris H.]

Wow that looks great. Did you do those yourself?

[bulitt]

Flares on 8 days after taking possession. You guys must be drinking water from the cuyahoga. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[BIGKAT_83]

Great job....At this rate you should be able to make it to Okteenerfest next month.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

Bob

[CptTripps]

If I hadn't JUST driven from ATL to Cleveland 2 weeks ago...I'd happily drive down for Okteenerfest. The car will certainly be on the road.

I was planning on doing the brakes this weekend, but I got screwed by someone that sold me a set of struts...that never arrived. (Nor has the refund.)

I'll be concentrating on bodywork for a bit. Just wanting to get it to primer. I'll have all winter to make the bodywork perfect.

[CptTripps]

Flares on 8 days after taking possession. You guys must be drinking water from the cuyahoga. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

That's how we roll here in the 216!

I tend to get into a build quickly, and push through a lot of the stuff until I find the right answer. Helps me clear my head. I like progress...and don't like leaving something half-done for very long.

Going over to the shop where we did the flares in a little bit so I can replace the U-Joint bushings in the shift linkage so I can drive it home. I replaced them last week with rubber grommits from a skateboard truck...just to get my by.

[strawman]

As someone who has done the trailing arm reinforcements you have pictured above, I'd like to suggest you scrap that idea -- it makes 'em uber-heavy. Eric Shea's notion of welding in tubes laterally makes a lot more sense (I shamelessly copied his idea!). Not sure he's still providing that service, but it is much lighter; I ended up practically giving away the "clam-shelled" trailing arms.

Good luck with your project; you're making way better progress than I. I am almost five years into my turbo'd Suby project and keep getting sidetracked with other projects...

[r_towle]

If you can break a pinion gear clean off the shaft, you may want to think hard about going to a Subaru and look for a transmission that can handle that motor...


I like pinion gear breaking off.....cool power

[CptTripps]

Interesting call on the trailing arms. Hadn't thought of it like that...but I guess it would make sense.

I'll be doing the Subie Trans as well. Already bought the EJ20 and MT5 out of a wrecked 07 WRX.

Today's delima: Should I weld all these gaps, or use AllMetal to fill them?

[jimkelly]

I think the consensus will be to fully spot the entire perimeter.

is this the width gap most have to deal with when installing steel flares???

are you backing this gap with copper plate when you MIG it?

nice work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

grey black is nice, not sure I am fully sold on it, not sure I am sold on satin finish in general, this grey red combo is somewhat appealing too?

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-224-1379205042.jpg)

[McMark]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) Weld it all.

[CptTripps]

Most of the gaps between welds are under 1/2", so it would just be another pass to get it solid. I need to hit it with primer pretty quick before it starts to rain. (I really need to get the garage cleaned out!)

I'm moving towards snow-white, or dark grey. I can wrap a satin vinyl later if I want. The look if this 918 is pretty cool. I could do a white/green GT3 type theme like you have pictured.

Either way, I already have the calipers for it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[CptTripps]

Worked on welding up the gaps today. My welder took a shit after about an hour, so I'll need to get it fixed before I can weld anything else.

Also discovered that I can't use the 1" wheel spacers, because the bolts hit the inside of the rim. Someone suggested 110mm builds from the hub, and I may just do that. Seems easier.

Making progress though.

[jimkelly]

what wire are you using?
.025 easy grind?

gloss silver/grey and black, can't go wrong with that.

jim

[CptTripps]

I was using .23-eg, but honestly, I found .30 easier to weld with. (It's all about the settings.)

I'm really not that pleased with the job I'm doing. I think it has something to do with the motor going kaput on me. It was skipping which really messed me up a few times. I'm going to go over the whole thing and grind it all down to smooth. I won't sleep well until I know it's right.

The more I look at it, the more I like "Sport Classic Gray" as a paint choice...kinda like this.

[Cairo94507]

Terrific work and I love that sport classic grey.