Track Reliability Issues? Options

[Trackd]

Hello everyone!

I just purchased a stock 74 914 and I am planning on tracking the hell out of it.

What are common reliability issues when tracking the 914?

Any weird suspension or chassis issues?

-Bearings servicing?
-Bushings?
-Frame cracking or components bending?
-Transmission issues?
-Steering issues?

I am planning on adding a big brake kit, and a roll bar.

Here is a pic of my current car that I track.

[wndsrfr]

Hello everyone!

I just purchased a stock 74 914 and I am planning on tracking the hell out of it.

What are common reliability issues when tracking the 914?

Any weird suspension or chassis issues?

-Bearings servicing?
-Bushings?
-Frame cracking or components bending?
-Transmission issues?
-Steering issues?

I am planning on adding a big brake kit, and a roll bar.

Here is a pic of my current car that I track.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
At your level of experience I'd recommend a "deep sump" or at least a "tuna can" for the oil pickup and run at least 1/2 quart extra oil...It's common for the oil pickup to suck air on long sweepers with high G load. Another option is the Accusump--reviews are mixed since it'll demand oil after giving it up, so high volume oil pump is pretty much necessary. Going all the way would be dry sump installation for guaranteed oil pressure under track service.
Lose weight.
Lose weight.
Careful inspection of the suspension console for cracking, particularly the passenger side one as it's prone to corrosion--it might look ok but be paper thin so poke around with stiff ice pick...reinforcement parts are available from Tangerine Racing--take a look at Chris' site.
IF you're running a /4 the 901 trans will hold ok but not out of the question to pick up a spare one & get it re-geared to A/F/KA/S/Z which only requires buying the "S" gearset--it'll really help on tracks with any elevation change.
Prowl around this community's posts using search function--everything ever posted is available & you'll come across gems of wisdom from past posts.
What tracks are you running & lap times with the Bimmer?

[brant]

you really will need to address oil cooling for actual track use
heat is an issue
air cooled is inferior to your 02 in the cooling catagory

bearings are not a problem (you need to run them a touch looser for track use)

motor heat will be your limiting factor
followed by HP (money)

brant

[campbellcj]

I found my 914 to be extremely reliable once I rebuilt, replaced or reinforced every part on the car! Only somewhat kidding...

Besides oil cooling, most definitely pay attention to brakes. There is TONS of info here on making the most of stock-ish 914 brakes as well as numerous upgrade paths.

The tub of course needs to be solid and may warrant extensive reinforcing and/or roll-caging depending how far down that slope you're going. Bear in mind any sort of big slicks and built suspension will put loads on the car never imagined for it 50 years ago.

Cheers,

[Charles Freeborn]

you really will need to address oil cooling for actual track use
heat is an issue
air cooled is inferior to your 02 in the cooling catagory

bearings are not a problem (you need to run them a touch looser for track use)

motor heat will be your limiting factor
followed by HP (money)

brant

This.

Add coolers and capacity. https://www.cantonracingproducts.com/catego...8xoCeZMQAvD_BwE

In the "air cooled" world - air cools the top end - add more blowers, etc., but oil cools the bottom end.

[stownsen914]

Oil cools the top end too ... indirectly. Get a bigger cooler than you think you need.

[Trackd]

Thank guys for all the kind remarks.

I got some weird plans for the 914. I won't be using the stock powerplant. I may use the stock transaxle.

I want it to be streetable will just a Rear Roll Bar be fine for Nasa? I think is one of those chassis that have a weird roll bar design.

Also Inner chassis bracing recommendation? I know there's the Engman one. Inner chassis bracing only one needed for track use?


I have been to the following tracks.

Road Atlanta
Watkins Glenn
Summit Point Main 1:20:4 PB on re71rs Been on this track the most
VIR
Dominion Raceway
Pitt Race
Barber
Lime Rock
Palmer

[brant]

the 914 is flexy
with a fiberglass roof and no hard top, the car likes to fold or flex, making the suspension less stabile and accurate. A proper cage would always tie the front and rear together....

a cage should not be driven on the street
TBI is real

the stock trans is not able to take abuse
200hp is the limit, if the trans is fresh, has cooling, and all expensive bearings are replaced (1k)

you would be better served to use a different trans with a motor transplant
the Subaru trans are popular and also the boxter 6speed

NASA may be the only place you can run
PCA, POC, SVRA, CSRG, VARA, and many more, are not always friendly to motor transplant cars


brant

Thank guys for all the kind remarks.

I got some weird plans for the 914. I won't be using the stock powerplant. I may use the stock transaxle.

I want it to be streetable will just a Rear Roll Bar be fine for Nasa? I think is one of those chassis that have a weird roll bar design.

Also Inner chassis bracing recommendation? I know there's the Engman one. Inner chassis bracing only one needed for track use?


I have been to the following tracks.

Road Atlanta
Watkins Glenn
Summit Point Main 1:20:4 PB on re71rs Been on this track the most
VIR
Dominion Raceway
Pitt Race
Barber
Lime Rock
Palmer

[stownsen914]

914s respond well to reinforcement from a cage extended to the suspension pickup points, especially in the rear. The trailing arm mounts need reinforcement even on a rust free car. As mentioned above, give some thought though to driving on the street with a cage for safety reasons.

Like the beemer!

[Trackd]

Yea I gave it some thought and I will not be doing a cage however just a rear roll bar be okay?

[brant]

Yea I gave it some thought and I will not be doing a cage however just a rear roll bar be okay?

depends on the rules of the club you join

it would not pass tech in wheel to wheel racing out here.
and the roll bar would do nothing to address the flex of the front half of the car to the rear half of the car


should be fine for drivers education in most clubs
but you had better check with NASA
and the saying is "read the rule book first"

so prior to deciding on which engine transplant, which transmission, and what roll cage...…

brant

[stownsen914]

Yeah, read the rulebook. Pretty much any racing org these days is going to require a full cage in a closed top car. Trackdays, you can get away with a rollbar. With a rollbar, you could do a "low cage" in the front to still gain the stiffening benefits. Look at cages in open top 914s with the low front windscreen for ideas. Obviously not as safe as a full cage, but better than no rollbar/cage, I'd argue.

[Trackd]

I'm planning on doing Nasa TT; rear roll bar is sufficient. No wheel to wheel for me. Sorry I should of clarified that earlier. TT and HPDE is the plan.

Also swaps are permitted.

[wndsrfr]

1:20's at Summit Point is cooking hot...nice driving! My /6 at 1955 pounds is doing 1:26's at my best there with Porsche 2.7 making 215RWHP on Hoosiers...obviously limited by driver talent level....
As to the roll bar, I had Chris Foley's Tangerine Racing bar with a removable diagonal door bar to help stiffen things up, not sure how effective, but felt good to do on my /4 car with 2316 Raby doing about 160RWHP.
Here's a couple of pics...

[Chi-town]

*cough* subaru swap *cough* (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[Justinp71]

Another option to stiffen the car up is the Brad Mayeur long kit. It's what I run on my street/track car. Rich Johnson (a 914 vendor here) recommended it. It really stiffens up the chassis.

http://914ltd.com/store.php?c=1384303079

[Justinp71]

the 914 is flexy
with a fiberglass roof and no hard top, the car likes to fold or flex, making the suspension less stabile and accurate. A proper cage would always tie the front and rear together....

a cage should not be driven on the street
TBI is real

the stock trans is not able to take abuse
200hp is the limit, if the trans is fresh, has cooling, and all expensive bearings are replaced (1k)

you would be better served to use a different trans with a motor transplant
the Subaru trans are popular and also the boxter 6speed

NASA may be the only place you can run
PCA, POC, SVRA, CSRG, VARA, and many more, are not always friendly to motor transplant cars


brant

Thank guys for all the kind remarks.

I got some weird plans for the 914. I won't be using the stock powerplant. I may use the stock transaxle.

I want it to be streetable will just a Rear Roll Bar be fine for Nasa? I think is one of those chassis that have a weird roll bar design.

Also Inner chassis bracing recommendation? I know there's the Engman one. Inner chassis bracing only one needed for track use?


I have been to the following tracks.

Road Atlanta
Watkins Glenn
Summit Point Main 1:20:4 PB on re71rs Been on this track the most
VIR
Dominion Raceway
Pitt Race
Barber
Lime Rock
Palmer

It's been debated on here many times, but why wouldn't a cage car be ok if you properly pad the roll bar? That's how jeeps come from the factory? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Trackd]

the 914 is flexy
with a fiberglass roof and no hard top, the car likes to fold or flex, making the suspension less stabile and accurate. A proper cage would always tie the front and rear together....

a cage should not be driven on the street
TBI is real

the stock trans is not able to take abuse
200hp is the limit, if the trans is fresh, has cooling, and all expensive bearings are replaced (1k)

you would be better served to use a different trans with a motor transplant
the Subaru trans are popular and also the boxter 6speed

NASA may be the only place you can run
PCA, POC, SVRA, CSRG, VARA, and many more, are not always friendly to motor transplant cars


brant

Thank guys for all the kind remarks.

I got some weird plans for the 914. I won't be using the stock powerplant. I may use the stock transaxle.

I want it to be streetable will just a Rear Roll Bar be fine for Nasa? I think is one of those chassis that have a weird roll bar design.

Also Inner chassis bracing recommendation? I know there's the Engman one. Inner chassis bracing only one needed for track use?


I have been to the following tracks.

Road Atlanta
Watkins Glenn
Summit Point Main 1:20:4 PB on re71rs Been on this track the most
VIR
Dominion Raceway
Pitt Race
Barber
Lime Rock
Palmer

It's been debated on here many times, but why wouldn't a cage car be ok if you properly pad the roll bar? That's how jeeps come from the factory? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Funny you mention that. My fiances jeep is padded but i believe they use a different material that made is for head absorption rather than the track stuff. I have the dual durometer stuff in my 2002 rear roll bar (its not fully caged). I did research on it too. But since the car is seeing the street and my fiance in the passenger in a really small car i really don't want to risk TBI to either of us knock on wood. Anything can happen on the street and there is just minimal room in a 914 as the jeep has loads of head space.

[Justinp71]

Well keep us updated! I've been running just a padded roll bar in my mostly street car for a long while. I just do the occasional HDPE events, but our local track has ruts if you go off there is a possibility of flipping so I like the added protection. Thought about doing a 4 or 6 point cage lately but not entirely certain as I plan to do more track but its really a street car.

[Justinp71]

Also btw I have done a recent EJ25 install for my off-road car. That motor is killer and a great power substitute for the 914. Or go LS if you want to go warp speed!