Optimusglen's build - 91faux6 safari, bodywork and suspension started Options

[Root_Werks]

Looks great! Such a clean build.

[Optimusglen]

I took the car for a drive the other day, and the 8's rub a little too much in the rear. The fitment will be great once the new flares are laid up. I don't want to be tip-toeing around in this thing until I get the flares done, so I took my full size spare, and one of the matching set, and painted them to match the Carrera Fuchs.

The 7's move to the back, and the new wheels go to the front. The new ones are 7's as well, but the style makes them look narrower, so I think they work better up front.

I did need to order another matching tire, which should be here tomorrow. Then I'll get it mounted on Thursday.

Bonus: I've always liked mismatched wheels.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1762225295.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1762225297.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1762225297.3.jpg)

[East coaster]

Looks great!

[Optimusglen]

I've been preparing the 914 for this year's Overcrest Rally. The rally location is in the "driftless" area of the Midwest, an area not flattened by glaciers, ripe with beautiful twisty roads.

The first thing this season was swapping the front passenger-side shock. I thought it was blown (the driver's side was shot, replaced last year), but turns out the top gland nut has just, somehow, worked its way loose. I swapped the shock out anyway since I had it already.

Next, I finally installed the new handbrake cables, picked up another matching tire so that I could have a full-size spare on a narrow rim, and a wireless charging quadlock mount for my phone for music/GPS/123ignition

For the wheels, I kept the tires mounted on the two 8" Fuchs and just stuck them on a shelf. Once I do the flares, I will be able to use them. Originally, I had just the one full-size spare, but I picked up a second when I put those alternate wheels up front and moved the 7" Fuchs to the rear. Now I needed another full-size spare, so in total I've got 7 of these A/T tires mounted up.

I also wanted to make the car stand out a bit more, and bring a little of my livery design into the mix. I found topographical maps of the region we will be driving, then projected them onto the side of my car. From there, I traced the topography lines using reflective pinstriping vinyl.

It certainly has a look, not for everyone, but fortunately, I'm not building this car for everyone.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1778857793.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1778857794.2.jpg)

Getting a proper night shot is especially difficult when using a potato phone, to the eye the reflections do not seem as bright as this.

Next up, I'd like to try to figure out how to get some more caster. After the suspension lift, I brought it in for an alignment. Everything went well, and it is technically in-spec. However, at higher speeds, like on the highway, it gets a little squirrely. Unfortunately, the strut tops are at their limit in their slots. Anyone have experience with opening those slots a bit more?

Then just fluid checks and changes, and I should probably wire in those foglights...

[infraredcalvin]

That looks like topo, anywhere in particular?

[Maltese Falcon]

I like the 'Out of the box' creativity of the pinstripe livery...a bit of printed circuit board in there too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[wonkipop]

love that livery. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Optimusglen]

That looks like topo, anywhere in particular?

Yes, from the previous post, it's the "driftless area" of the Midwest, Southwest Wisconsin, MN, area. This year's location of the Overcrest Rally.

[worn]

The stripes are so cool! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Optimusglen]

Next up was dealing with the alignment. When I had it done last year it was acceptable, good enough for a 7-hour road trip out to Chicago and back, but it wasn't ideal. At highway speeds, it wasn't as confidence-inspiring as I wanted it to be.

I thought I needed more caster, but after posting here and hearing from many of you, I decided to check the rear toe first. At home using a couple of construction squares and a tape measure, I discovered that the rear was essentially zero toe. This lends to the fact that when I had the alignment done, it was technically "in-spec" but it wasn't ideal. I adjusted it to be closer to 1/8" toe.

Bumpsteer was also something I was thinking about. With the lowered spindles, it changes the steering tie rod geometry too. To correct this, you need to shift the pivot point up (to counter the lowered spindle). I reverse-honed the steering arms and flipped the tie rods to the top surface. It's not a perfect solution, but it's as close as one can get to correcting bump-steer without a custom modified steering arm.

After the toe and tie rods were addressed, I brought it in for another alignment, and I'm happy to say that the car is much more stable at speed. Low-speed maneuverability isn't as tight, but it's safe.

Now it was time to focus on some of those smaller items that were on the back burner.

I like the external rubber tie-downs on rally-type cars, and with the possibility of hitting some fast gravel sections on the rallies I attend, I decided to jump in and mount them. I've never been a huge fan of the 4-pin style that many GT's have, but doing some searches, I found that there is precedent to use two rubber-style placed like this. I did have to trim part of the metal bumper that is hidden by the bumper top, but that was already cut to clear the Hella 500 lights.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1780586936.1.jpg)

Speaking of the Hella 500's It was high time to get those working. Part of that is that I wanted the capability to add some other electronics in the future. I purchased a standalone 6-place modern fusebox and power distribution box, routed 4 ga wire to it, and I'm using that to power the new fogs and their relay, as well as the stereo. In the future, if I add more lighting up front, I'll power them from the new box as well.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1780586937.2.jpg)

And last but not least, a CUPHOLDER!!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/live.staticflickr.com-19709-1780586938.3.jpg)

I pulled out the heater flap lever since I don't have any sort of HVAC, used one of the threaded holes to mount it.