PMB Performance - Mike Krieger Build, Sorting out a -6 conversion and going 3.6 Options

[puffinator]

Hey Gang,

We've been working on this one for a while now and I thought you'd like to follow along. It has a lot of "914" issues to sort through and can be a good piece to show how and why to fix things properly, especially with the value of these cars climbing and the money invested in a car of this quality.

Mike came to us last year after finding us here for a PPI. In this case it was a "Post Purchase Inspection". The car was sold as a rust free (yes, enter your comments here) 3.2 six conversion. It turns out it was anything but. Regardless, Mike was in for the long haul and, he was determined to do things properly. He expressed interest in making the car a wide-body and fixing what needed to be fixed at the time.

Off the tub went to be stripped and prepped for flares and paint work. Here you can see the "after" shot with the flares on and glass panels being fitted:

There was a lot of metal work needed as indeed... the rust was free on this one. Before flares could go on, a new quarter panel was needed and various stiffening kits (factory and 914LTD) added to ensure minimal twist with an impending 3.6 install. The car was then painted "Signal Orange" and given back to Mike for some detail installments.

Fast forward to present day. We picked the car up from Mike and began ticking off items on his wish list. Install driving lights, front turn signal buckets, hood lights, hood pins, sway bar, get turn signals working, various trim pieces etc.

Here's how it it sat when we got'er in the shop:

Then the "inevitable" happened. It began to act like any other DAPO 914. She began to show some of her true colors. I actually think the car was talking to us and letting us know about the problems before she burned to the ground in a heap of smoke and flames.

Let's start with wiring because we basically had to re-wire the car. What started as a simple request to "get the rear light buckets working" brought us to a few swapped wires on the install post paint and then... funny smells and blown fuses. When we looked at the fuse block we saw this:

Yes, the blown fuse was also a 16a!! Needless to say, this was one of the first things we did...

We also found some previous melted wires that could have been catastrophic:

This caused us to start at the front and completely go over all of the wiring. Fix and replace with proper factory colored wires from a donor harness and wrap everything back up with the early cloth tape loom.

The factory driving light harness was cut and crimp on ends were all that existed in the apron. We went into the harness and soldiered in new leads and used factory sheathing to bring them through the grommets in the front apron. Mike wanted these PIAA lights so we then soldiered the PIAA ends on the factory wires and inserted them back into the connectors for a clean, clip-on installation:

Next we did the same thing while repairing the horn leads. Removed the crappy blue crimp on connectors and went full factory with the protective sheath. We also ran a second lead over for dual tone horns.

Here's a shot of Mike's new harness:

Is someone making replacement harnesses?

[914mikee100]

The 916/rally split personality is due to the length of time the project has taken. Eric has done a great job and has taken years off of the build time, but I am afraid that my vision for the project has changed over time and the leftovers from prior versions remain. Once I get it running and can enjoy it for the summer I intend to go full rally and put on period correct front bumpers, wheels and tires and raise it a little. For now, it will look like a crossbreed.

[Larmo63]

We're just jealous, it's a bitchin car!!!!!!!!!!

[Elliot Cannon]

We're just jealous, it's a bitchen car!!!!!!!!!!

If you mean a really great car, the correct spelling is bichen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif) I had to point that out to my English teacher in 1962. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Larmo63]

We spell it "bitchin" in California, make that southern California.....

[pete000]

Eric,

Would you mind posting a pic with the headlights down? I'm torn between adding the hood lights or not.

My 3 year+ build is finally nearing completion, and I can't decide what to do about the hood lights.

Thanks.

Mike

I am in the same boat, I love the look with the head lamps up, but when retracted not so sure. I was only able to find a few shots of 914 GTs with the hood lamps and the head lamps in the closed position.

[Scott S]

Bitchen. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)


I have a question on the front bumper. Was it reshaped in the area right in the middle of the car/hood, or was that the way it came? I used to always get on my soap box about how the top of the 916 bumper should be the exact same dimension all the way across the nose of the car (see purple dots in pic). However, anymore it seems like on 99% of the cars that have theses bumpers, they all are narrowed in the center. Was just curious if this was how they were installed or how they were now being molded.

Awsome build.

[sixnotfour]

your late to the party, brought up a long time ago..

[914six]

Eric,

What flywheel bolts did you use on the patrick 3.6 flywheel and
centerforce clutch..?

thanks,
harry

[SirAndy]

I have a question on the front bumper. Was it reshaped in the area right in the middle of the car/hood, or was that the way it came? I used to always get on my soap box about how the top of the 916 bumper should be the exact same dimension all the way across the nose of the car (see purple dots in pic). However, anymore it seems like on 99% of the cars that have theses bumpers, they all are narrowed in the center. Was just curious if this was how they were installed or how they were now being molded.

Only the real 916 bumpers have the same width across the top.

I have never seen a reproduction that got it right, they all narrow in the middle.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[Eric_Shea]

Harry, I believe Mike had the bolts when we received the engine. Perhaps he can shed some more light on the subject.

She came to life Wednesday. What's amazing about these more modern DME motronic beasts is... Two cranks and she was breathing fire. Once the hydraulic lifter came back to life the motor quieted down and ran like a champ.

Wednesday afternoon it was back out getting the chain housing covers resealed. No more drip, drip, drip. We had it ready to go back in by end of day Friday. With the lift and the new engine tranny table, extraction is a 1 hour job.

[Eric_Shea]

All done. Back to Mike and off to run at Miller Motorsports Park tomorrow.

Still looking to sort out a window solution for the full Lexan panes.

The car ended up eating another turn signal switch and that was the last straw. The dash harness was the last stronghold of "interesting" wiring. We bit the bullet and went all in. From left to right across the dash. All switches, all gauges... everything was sorted and put back to factory condition. A few melted wires in the big rats nest appear to be the culprits.

We took a few pictures before we gave her back. Enjoy.

[Larmo63]

Porsche 914 porn!!! Great looking cars, guys!!!


Bravo!!!!!!