Sad set back, Cockpit reinforcement Options

[Wew]

Progress. Just spoke with Chris at tangerine racing, great guy and very helpful. Chris in Petaluma thanks for the info. Yes Chris of tangerine does have a new kit that allows you to keep the doors on so I got the pieces for that.
Chris walked me through the process over the phone and provided great advice and guidance.

Chris In Petaluma I will be in touch soon.

Thanks,

Gary

[shoguneagle]

You are getting some of the best advice around. I remember a lot of years ago when I did my second 914 and these guys were not around. I still shutter in remembering how lucky I was when I did my stress kits. Back then the suppliers were very helpful such as Chris, and the members would all chip in advice as they are doing here. I do remember the mistakes I made which are the ones you are experiencing now.

You have chosen a great car and are associated with a great group.

Have fun and enjoy the process; that is part of what these cars are all about.

Steve's and

[ChrisFoley]

Note that Chris Foley (Tangerine) has plans for an update to allow the doors to stay on.

I'm setting Gary up with a brace set to include the update.
The technique I suggest is welding a steel plate on the bottom of the inner long to compensate for the shrinkage on the top.
On the phone I recommended a 6" long piece below the jack posts, but after viewing the pictures, I think it may be wise to do another 6" piece below the front of the door openings as well. That will help lift the back edge of the door a little bit.

[Wew]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Got it!

[xperu]

You are absolutely right. It was one of the saddest day I had in a long time. After having my inner long stiffening kit installed, my gaps look like yours. When jacking my car up my gaps widened like yours. I thought I could stiffen it up and possibly maintain the with long over lay clamps from restoration design. Well the car is much stiffer, but the poor gap is the same. "Nothing wrong with the restoration design clamps, they did what they wee intended to do".
I'm just sick over this, I just really feel bad, hopefully things will work out for you, I'll watch this thread. So sad, maybe there is still hope for my 914. Mike

[mb911]

It's all about counteracting. Shrinking forces.. I use to show the Lincoln electric movie about Mr shrink to my welding students. It is actually still relavint even though it's from the 60s.. This can and will be remedied.. Best of luck and stay patient it can be fixed.

[mlindner]

Wew, I had the same thing happen when I had the existing roll cage tied into the suspension area (doors would not shut). they had to cut the new tubing and add 1/8 inch, reweld....all good. Best, Mark

[Catorse]

Something is wrong with your car; it has some other flexing issue that hasn't been resolved. To give you an idea, I don't know of anyone who has more welding done to my car than yours:

- Outer long kit
- inner long kit
- tangerine pickup point kit
- every spot welded seam in the car seam welded.

I did WEEKS of welding on my car. I am the only person I know of with an INNER and OUTER long kit. Yes, I like my cars stiff.

I did not use any bracing, and the doors close just fine.

First, I jacked the car way high from it's hockey pucks. I measured each one to make sure the car was sitting level (my garage slab is fairly level).

Then I did the outer longs first, clamped in place, always checking to see if the car warped. It did not. After the outer long kit was in place, the car was SUPER stiff, like having an I beam for a long. From there I did the inners, etc.

basically I judiciously tacked everything in place then stitched small sections at a time and jumped around to not heat anything up.

When I set the car down, she was perfectly flat with no warping or weirdness.

You can't just throw metal on the car and start welding. You need to make sure the car is flat first.

[mbseto]

Here's the ne plus ultra of door braces. You will either be inspired or depressed. If it's the latter, don't read the rest of this thread!

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...490&st=133#

[76-914]

It's all about counteracting. Shrinking forces.. I use to show the Lincoln electric movie about Mr shrink to my welding students. It is actually still relavint even though it's from the 60s.. This can and will be remedied.. Best of luck and stay patient it can be fixed.

Here's the link to Mr Shrink. Worth viewing; thx. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vuGlcbDwKY

[mb911]

It's all about counteracting. Shrinking forces.. I use to show the Lincoln electric movie about Mr shrink to my welding students. It is actually still relavint even though it's from the 60s.. This can and will be remedied.. Best of luck and stay patient it can be fixed.

Here's the link to Mr Shrink. Worth viewing; thx. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vuGlcbDwKY

For sure kind of a good view

[Wew]

Watched the video. Oldie but a goodie.
Another classic example of how shrinkage is no good.
Thanks for all the input.
Hope to get tangerine kit by the weekend and will be performing the fix then.
I know now that I over did my welds which caused the shrinkage.
Where there is a will there is a way and I will not let this problem defeat me or my ride.
Please continue with the advice and chime in with any additional words of wisdom.

Thanks again and much work to do.

Gary

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[euro911]

Being an old fart, Kent probably knows more about 'shrinkage' than you youngin's could imagine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

[mb911]

Watched the video. Oldie but a goodie.
Another classic example of how shrinkage is no good.
Thanks for all the input.
Hope to get tangerine kit by the weekend and will be performing the fix then.
I know now that I over did my welds which caused the shrinkage.
Where there is a will there is a way and I will not let this problem defeat me or my ride.
Please continue with the advice and chime in with any additional words of wisdom.

Thanks again and much work to do.

Gary

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

My students still laugh when I make them watch it.. But learn from it.

[76-914]

Being an old fart, Kent probably knows more about 'shrinkage' than you youngin's could imagine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/poke.gif)

Hey, I resemble that remark. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[tomo]

There's some great brace ideas here. This is what I used for my 912 Targa. With the doors on and Targa top installed I was able to turn the turnbuckle to get the door gaps I wanted before metal removal and welding.

Missing my 914

Tom