1970 914 project Options

[SirAndy]

Please ditch those KYB shocks ...
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)

[1970-1914]

Turns out the front bumper that came with the car is not quite as bad as it seemed - solid structure but with a bunch of dents and twists under a lot of poorly applied bondo and Bedliner. It actually fits pretty well now after a bit of hammer and dolly action. I ground off most of the bondo and bedliner. I will cut it open a bit for radiator airflow and then re-bondo.

[1970-1914]

Luisi early style hub finally arrived from Europe - fits ok... I may machine the landing at the end of the splines a little bit so it fits a bit closer to the column.

[1970-1914]

Since the last update got a few things sorted out:

Passenger side 1/4 panel aligned and welded back on:



AA FG rockers are here and ready for trimming:




I have been working on the intake vent in the front bumper and stock lower valence - about 1/2 way there...







New repro bumper tops are here from 914rubber - Thank you Mark!

And I finally found a decent stock bore 283 short block - It was gone through and assembled about 15-20 years ago and just sat in a shop ever since. I am going to take it apart, check everything and re-assemble.The motor build is kind of on the back burner for now but I am picking up parts as the deals on the right parts arise.

[ValcoOscar]

Pierre-

IMHO...I like the look of your front valance mod. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Please share some photos once done and before install.

Oscar

[1970-1914]

Pierre-

IMHO...I like the look of your front valance mod. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Please share some photos once done and before install.

Oscar

Thanks - Will do.

[djway]

I made a front valance almost identical but I made it out of glass so I may be biased when I say I like it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[jimkelly]

you probably cant go wrong with a brand new $1500 crate engine sbc 350 except that at highway speeds it will be reving a little high for its 3.5" stroke, but less so with H gear swap. too bad a 283 (3" stroke) is not available as a crate engine. though i dont know out what a comfortable highway rpm is for either when combined with a 914 trans. i'm about to replace my leaky 307 with a 283.

[1970-1914]

Jim,

I thought about one of those 350’s - mostly because it is a quick easy solution. I then decided I should actually just find a decent 283 and deal with the hassle of redoing it to better fit the application.

The short block I found in Seattle is a motor someone rebuilt at some point about 15 years ago and then just sat in a shop until all the assets were bought by the shop I am dealing with. I am heading down to pick it up after Christmas.

The bores still look quite decent. I may be able to get away with disassembling it, quick clean up and re-assemble. Probably will end up changing the cam.

[jimkelly]

seems everyone says a 283 needs some modern small chamber heads like trick flow or world and a higher rpm cam.

http://www.competitionproducts.com/World-P...A/#.XB7j71xKjcs

--

Jim,

I thought about one of those 350’s - mostly because it is a quick easy solution. I then decided I should actually just find a decent 283 and deal with the hassle of redoing it to better fit the application.

The short block I found in Seattle is a motor someone rebuilt at some point about 15 years ago and then just sat in a shop until all the assets were bought by the shop I am dealing with. I am heading down to pick it up after Christmas.

The bores still look quite decent. I may be able to get away with disassembling it, quick clean up and re-assemble. Probably will end up changing the cam.

[1970-1914]

I have a nice set of “powerpack” heads that were super cheap - $50 for the set - and have been fully gone through, new valves, guides, beehive springs and light weight keepers. They have 58cc chambers which are pretty tiny but should keep the compression up.

Most say they are not that good any more due to the smaller valves but I am going to try them. I suspect on a larger displacement motor they would be right but on s 283 they may be just fine.

[1970-1914]

This motor is coming together incredibly cheap.

283 short block - $200
Heads - $50
Intake and distributor - $30

I still have to buy the 180 degree headers ($300) and Fitech efi setup ($799), Davies Craig water pump ($250) and some misc parts but I should be all in around $1500 - $2000 for the motor which I think is pretty great.

[Mike Bellis]

I had a 283 in mine and loved it. Not a monster but really quick. You will want a taller 5th gear and maybe lock out 1st (granny gear). Dr Evil can help out with the tranny options.

[Nacho]

Another nice Chevy small block is the Vortec series. I ran one of these in my 73 Camaro the nice part of the later generation small block was better flowing heads, roller lifters and ability to run roller camshaft. Add a Eldelbrock intake and Holley and you got your self a nice little engine.

[jimkelly]

that Fitech efi setup looks sweet. i'm gonna run rams horns instead of shorty headers.

according to this video, rams horns are fine to 5200 rpm.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9ke0rQlT8

[jimkelly]

just stumbled on this but no details offered.

https://www.fivestarengines.com/shop/chevy-...d-crate-engine/

[1970-1914]

Here are the Gm performance parts intake and Mallory hei distribultor I picked up the other day off Craigslist for the massive sum of $30. Sbc parts pricing is just so ridiculously cheap compared to anything else.

[jimkelly]

hei distributor is a monster but nice to have coil embedded in it. look forward to seeing how you make it fit : )

[1970-1914]

hei distributor is a monster but nice to have coil embedded in it. look forward to seeing how you make it fit : )

Going to be some cutting.... but not until I have the motor and headers assembled to guide the min amount of sheet metal removal.

Likely going to be similar to this example:



But may have to be this much but hopefully not.

[jimkelly]

unless you are going crazy with exhaust, the cuts are probably overkill, as is the supports. you could probably just cut less and box out around the hei. though complete removal of firewall makes accessing engine for various things MUCH easier. there are always pluses and minuses. wear gloves and eye protection with that angle grinder or (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif)