Options to get Wider Track, crazy stupid 914 hack car Options

[nimblemotorsports]

Hello, new guy here, I just picked up a donated 914 that is barely a roller, and will be used with a kitcar body and some offbrand junkyard motor/transaxle setup, for a super cheap road racer. To get this to look right, I need to use modern high negative offset wheels AND I need to widen the track width by 6 inches.

I know there are a lot of 'flared fender' 914s, this is probably a little wider than those, but can I just use 3 inch spacers to get the wider track? Seems a bit questionable for an actual road raced car. Not that I can afford good 3 inch spacers anyway.

Here is one that looks wide enough, not sure what suspension is in this v8 car.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/patrickms.s3.amazonaws.com-21793-1515830549.1.jpg)

I am thinking I should just go ahead and replace entirely the front and rear suspensions with ones that have the right width. I actually have a couple Volvo v70 fwd suspensions that are just the right width and can put them in front and back with all the necessary tubing welding, etc, etc.

Is there a simpler good cheap way. I need all three...simple, cheap, good.

This isn't the body kit i'm using, but to give an idea why I need wider track.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-21793-1515830078.1.jpg)

[Mark Henry]

I'm confused.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

Is the purple one your car?
Those are GT flares, use the stock suspension. maybe beef it up a bit for higher HP.

[nimblemotorsports]

I'm confused.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

Is the purple one your car?
Those are GT flares, use the stock suspension. maybe beef it up a bit for higher HP.

Yes the $200 purple car is what I just bought for this project.

Here is my $1 944 too, if you want more pics...
oh that is on my phone, here is my corvair....

[Mueller]

I'm confused.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

Is the purple one your car?
Those are GT flares, use the stock suspension. maybe beef it up a bit for higher HP.

Yes the $200 purple car is what I just bought for this project.

Here is my $1 944 too, if you want more pics...
oh that is on my phone, here is my corvair....

I take you've seen this car?
Suspension from 2 different 911 series vehicles, I think he lives somewhere in the Bay Area as I've seen him at a few different car shows locally.

http://www.streetmusclemag.com/news/classi...che-transplant/

[nimblemotorsports]

I take you've seen this car?
Suspension from 2 different 911 series vehicles, I think he lives somewhere in the Bay Area as I've seen him at a few different car shows locally.

http://www.streetmusclemag.com/news/classi...che-transplant/

I've seen that article, not the actual car in person. Looks like some nice work!

To get back to my 914-based kitcar project, here are the swing arms, seems I can just splice in some more round tubing to extend out the wheel mounting. No opinions on this idea?
Seems just as good as wheel spacers or big offset wheels like we see on other cars.

I also need a wider track in the front too!

In regards to the Volvo parts, the volvo is like a 3500 lb car, it has big disks and brakes compared to the 914 parts. Also, no way I can afford to use 911 parts.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-11645-1451348707.jpg)

[Jeff Hail]

I take you've seen this car?
Suspension from 2 different 911 series vehicles, I think he lives somewhere in the Bay Area as I've seen him at a few different car shows locally.

http://www.streetmusclemag.com/news/classi...che-transplant/

I've seen that article, not the actual car in person. Looks like some nice work!

To get back to my 914-based kitcar project, here are the swing arms, seems I can just splice in some more round tubing to extend out the wheel mounting. No opinions on this idea?
Seems just as good as wheel spacers or big offset wheels like we see on other cars.

I also need a wider track in the front too!

In regards to the Volvo parts, the volvo is like a 3500 lb car, it has big disks and brakes compared to the 914 parts. Also, no way I can afford to use 911 parts.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-11645-1451348707.jpg)

Howdy son,

Its not as easy as you think to just go and weld in some inches to the bearing carriers. Have you plotted the outer CV joint angles? Thought about axles rubbing the inboard side of the carrier tubes as you move the hubs outward?

Make it easy.
Almost every racer that has built a mortgage level race car has been able to utilize the stock configuration by simply reinforcing arms and pickups in one way or another.

Even the business class racers still use that configuration with the exception of custom arms and going north into tube chassis territory. Like my buddy Roger Sheridan and folks like Carl Amond when he built his car etc.

Couple of reasons -It does work and the racing rule book for certain groups says Gentlemen start your engines but you really cant mess with this, that and that thing over there. Then we have this group that uses what we call silhouetting. "Hey it looks stock configuration to me just a little beefier and safer, ya know it kinda does and everything is safety wired so we will let you run". Its much tougher to get past spec these days with scrutineers.

Then there are the free agents that just build what they want. Bat shit crazy we all love to see like Pandoras Box with the blown big small block, Tygas project, Danas Ankle killer speedster and many others here. Each has a madness to it but we love it because its different..its a form of art..

Vulva suspension on a 914? No - strut mounting is way to high on top and bottom and its damn heavy. You don't need tank parts on a 914. Lots of better options out there for suspension. You already have half a 911 now why change what still kicks ass today or you could go C5, Miata, Lotus, 996 with a lot more work. If you are looking to put 300,400, 500 HP on the ground it can be done with the factory configuration by strengthening the unibody and pickups. (cage, reinforcements etc)

Vulva engine and transmission. Most of the newer AWD's are sidewinder engines. That presents a space problem since both the engine and transaxles are fat to say the least. The transfer case is piggybacked or integral on any AWD. If you went with an older AWD option (since old Vulvas were RWD) that transaxle is something like 40 inches long with another 4 inches of slip joint sticking out the rear. If you can make it rain a new M66 six speed may work but hence its still a sidewinder and space is an issue for anything other than a 'longitudinale posteriore' layout.

Porsche, Audi, Suby transaxles are going to the best bet here. Volvo makes great SKF bearings but the boys at Gotthenberg didn't do so good in the racing arena as others did.

All sorts of options for powertrains from Porsche, Subaru, Wankel, Audi even a nice small block like a crate or used 350 which is about as cheap as it gets for the HP buck. Once you get into turbos and huffers open your wallet, it takes rain. If you are skilled and can do all the modifications yourself you will save a bunch.

Now about that body? You are going to put another body on this 914? I think we got that assuming a kit car body or some type of GRP material being grafted like a Lazer, Manx, Sterling or Colon Coachworks fitment BUT 6 inches wider. We are holding our breath -cant wait to see what you have in store.

Widening the track: Take a look at the examples. Most have gone with high offset wheels and spacers even the business class jets.

My neighbor upstairs Racer Chris Foley makes a bitch'en pick up kit. Its probably one of if not the strongest well though out modifications you might consider doing. Price is reasonable and quality top notch.