Adventures of an old 914-6, Keeping it in the family and making memories Options

[vintage914racer]

I run that very muffler. I am local to Bryan and do some work for him. If you seriously interested I can sell you one at a great price.

I am indeed interested and hoping to get one between now and spring driving season. I have a local friend with a G body who is also interested for his car. I’ll be sure get in touch when we’re ready to pull the trigger.

[mb911]

I run that very muffler. I am local to Bryan and do some work for him. If you seriously interested I can sell you one at a great price.

I am indeed interested and hoping to get one between now and spring driving season. I have a local friend with a G body who is also interested for his car. I’ll be sure get in touch when we’re ready to pull the trigger.

Ok sounds good. I don’t have them listed on my website but we can make a deal.

[vintage914racer]

I run that very muffler. I am local to Bryan and do some work for him. If you seriously interested I can sell you one at a great price.

I am indeed interested and hoping to get one between now and spring driving season. I have a local friend with a G body who is also interested for his car. I’ll be sure get in touch when we’re ready to pull the trigger.

Ok sounds good. I don’t have them listed on my website but we can make a deal.

Sounds great. Stay tuned.

[Lof8]

Beautiful car and great story! I love it!

[Root_Werks]

You've had some really fun projects on this 914. Very cool your daughter shares such an interest as well.

And you actually drive it, yay! Most just sit in the garage (like mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) )

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[vintage914racer]

You've had some really fun projects on this 914. Very cool your daughter shares such an interest as well.

And you actually drive it, yay! Most just sit in the garage (like mine (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) )

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

It’s been fun. And a little frustrating as all garage projects can be. I definitely would like to drive it more than I do. Hopefully next year….

[sixnotfour]

what engine is in it ??,, looks like an ealier Sandcast case ...

[vintage914racer]

what engine is in it ??,, looks like an ealier Sandcast case ...

It is indeed an aluminum case 68s engine.

[vintage914racer]

The holidays have passed and despite fooling myself into thinking I'd have some project time in the garage, alas I was wrong. Now in our first week of January, I've finally found time to jump back into the car.

The rear shocks are reaching the end of their life, so I ordered up a set of replacements. Preparing to get them installed I got a case of while-you're-in-there and decided it was a good time to replace the trailing arm bushings. I didn't see any record of them being replaced in my pretty extensive records for the car, so I figured there wasn't a better time than now.

So off came the trailing arms...



Once removed from the car I couldn't get over how dirty and nasty the trailing arms were. Now if you've followed this thread you may remember I replaced both rear wheel bearings lately, a task I now regret given I plan to blast and refinish the trailing arms.



So out came the hubs...



...and then the bearings. Fortunately I've essentially doubled the value in the Harbor Freight press I convinced myself I needed a few years ago for some other project.



Finally, I proceeded to remove the trailing arm shafts. I was whistling the whole time, knowing I had now tripled the value of my investment in my hydraulic press.





Now, over the years, I remember seeing many threads of people lamenting the removal of their old rubber factory bushings, involving blow torches, anxious anticipation of a puff of black smoke (as if they were awaiting the arrival of a new pope), and a bunch of jerking around. But as if the wrenching gods were looking down on me, I was spared. Or perhaps I just had the right tools for the job.

And with what only took a few minutes to recap in this thread, but in reality was a few nights of expletives and busted knuckles, I managed to have two hulks of greasy, grimy 914 trailing arms on my bench.



So now, two questions on how I proceed from here:

1) My trailing arm shafts are pretty corrodded, and its my intentinon to replace them. Should I replace them with PMB's fancy stainless shafts and stick to rubber bushings, or should I go the Elephant Racing Polybronze route? I have the latter on my track car and they're great, but I'm not sure I really need them on the street car.

2) The rear springs are a bit soft for my likings, and given I've never achieved a low BMI score, i'd like to up the spring rate. My leaning is towards threaded Ground Control collars (I have them on the other car) and either 150 or 175lb springs. All my forum research suggests I should err on the softer side.


Up next, deep cleaning inner fenders that appear that they've never been scrubbed.

[technicalninja]

Most of the solid SS shafts don't have the ridges in the ends that dig into the suspension ears.

Rebel racings versions (which are also hollow) show this feature.

https://www.rsrproducts.com/product-page/91...r-rear-bushings

I like those!

Now, the guy who runs Rebel has a bit of a bad rap. Sounds like he is a good guy, just overwhelmed by life.

A recent thread regarding this.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=372961

Personally, I'd call and see if he had any in stock, ready to ship.

Both he and Elephant have upgraded rear trailing arm bushings. Many here like the Rebel product.

Streetcar will be most "user friendly" on rubber.

Elephant seems to have the best rubber ones, but they are MORE expensive than the poly-bronze which seems backwards to me.

[Cairo94507]

Great work; love the press. I have Elephant Racing rubber bushings in my car. I also have 140 pound rear springs. I am running Bilsteins all around with stock (later) F&R sway bars. I had the poly-bronze type bushings in my last 6 and hated them on the street. I think I may switch to the coil-over setup on my current 6...at least it's on the list. That way I can corner balance it and set the rear height exactly where I want it. Let's face it, they are really never done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[vintage914racer]

Most of the solid SS shafts don't have the ridges in the ends that dig into the suspension ears.

Rebel racings versions (which are also hollow) show this feature.

https://www.rsrproducts.com/product-page/91...r-rear-bushings

I like those!

Now, the guy who runs Rebel has a bit of a bad rap. Sounds like he is a good guy, just overwhelmed by life.

A recent thread regarding this.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=372961

Personally, I'd call and see if he had any in stock, ready to ship.

Both he and Elephant have upgraded rear trailing arm bushings. Many here like the Rebel product.

Streetcar will be most "user friendly" on rubber.

Elephant seems to have the best rubber ones, but they are MORE expensive than the poly-bronze which seems backwards to me.

I'm leaning towards rubber bushings. I have purchased parts from Clint at Rebel Racing in the past and didn't have any issues. I always grab my popcorn when I see the thread that pops up quarterly here or on the Pelican forums wondering if Clint is still in business, alive, etc. More recently I've ordered his stuff through Tarett for peace of mind that it will arrive.

[vintage914racer]

Great work; love the press. I have Elephant Racing rubber bushings in my car. I also have 140 pound rear springs. I am running Bilsteins all around with stock (later) F&R sway bars. I had the poly-bronze type bushings in my last 6 and hated them on the street. I think I may switch to the coil-over setup on my current 6...at least it's on the list. That way I can corner balance it and set the rear height exactly where I want it. Let's face it, they are really never done. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Thanks for the insights on the PB bushings on the street. I think I'll go rubber.

[vintage914racer]

I ended up ordering a set of elephant racing rubber bushings and shafts for the trailing arms. While waiting for parts to arrive from the west coast I spent my time cleaning up and refinishing the trailing arms. With limited timely powder coating options in my area, and some impatience, I ended up stripping the arms down to clean shiny metal and spraying them with Eastwood chassis coat primer, and then their extreme chassis coat paint. They went from thoroughly nasty to looking good.






Random question, there was an angle bracket attached to each on the inside vertical edge (not pictured). What is the purpose of that bracket? Is there any reason to replace it?

This weekend I’ll get the bushings and bearings installed, then start cleaning up and refinishing the outer mount brackets while I wait for my threaded rear coilover kit to arrive.

[vintage914racer]

I managed to get a bit done this weekend, although the garage heater had its work cut out for it offsetting the frigid temps outside. Last winter I reinsulated the garage and added a massive reversible ceiling fan that's done wonders for keeping the garage comfortable enough even on the coldest days.



With my trailing arms freshly painted, it was time get them out of the dining room and put them back together. The rarely used shop press got a bit more use pressing the new shafts in.



From there I got the wheel bearings installed.



I made quick work of getting the bearing retainer plates back on and pulled the hubs back into place.



I also got the rear shock assemblies removed in anticipation of threaded coilover collars arriving in the mail sometime this week. I intended to use Rebel Racing threaded collars, but Tarett was out of stock. Despite having had good service actually working through client at Rebel Racing in the past, I figured I wouldn't push my luck and hence trying to order through Tarett. Being unsuccessful, I ended up ordering collars from Ground Control. That's what I have on my track car, so I know they'll work as intended on the street car.



Next up....reinstalling the trailing arms.

[rick 918-S]

Glad to see the progress. -16 here yesterday but managed to get some badly needed garage cleaning done.