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> Engine access oanel, Is it worth creating one ?
jeff
post Jan 6 2025, 11:22 AM
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I’m getting closer to painting this 914 project. Is it worth making an access panel to the fan belt area of the engine? It’s a 3.2/6 if so how big should the hole be?


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BillJ
post Jan 6 2025, 11:37 AM
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Yes it is worth it for sure imho. Makes things like tightening the fan belt, oil lines access, electrical wiring access, cleaning, etc easier.
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SirAndy
post Jan 6 2025, 11:42 AM
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Just remember, it's called a "Fire Wall" for a reason.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

Make sure you got plenty of overlap on the panel, use quality fasteners and don't use any sort of flammable seal.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
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dr914@autoatlanta.com
post Jan 6 2025, 12:18 PM
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QUOTE(jeff @ Jan 6 2025, 10:22 AM) *

I’m getting closer to painting this 914 project. Is it worth making an access panel to the fan belt area of the engine? It’s a 3.2/6 if so how big should the hole be?



no
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mlindner
post Jan 6 2025, 01:37 PM
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I would not be with out it. Change belt, timing, adjusting valves. Some say just drop the engine....thats OK if you do that for a living. Best, MarkAttached Image
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930cabman
post Jan 6 2025, 04:23 PM
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yes, makes things much easier. Fit the panel reasonably tight (I added about 5/8" around the perimeter and hold it in place with a couple pop rivets.

It is a firewall, but nobody has fireproof glass in their rear window
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mb911
post Jan 6 2025, 04:40 PM
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No just tilt the engine back. Just did it on my car and have a thread about it pretty recently. Cutting the firewall is literally playing with fire
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ClayPerrine
post Jan 6 2025, 04:40 PM
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QUOTE(dr914@autoatlanta.com @ Jan 6 2025, 12:18 PM) *

QUOTE(jeff @ Jan 6 2025, 10:22 AM) *

I’m getting closer to painting this 914 project. Is it worth making an access panel to the fan belt area of the engine? It’s a 3.2/6 if so how big should the hole be?



no

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Having lived through an engine fire in a 914, I will not cut holes in anything called a "firewall". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

If you have a 3.6, get a Clewett serpentine belt kit. It makes it a breeze to change the belt just by moving the tensioner.

Here's a picture of it on my motor before I put it in.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-1143-1475889671.jpg)

Easy to do without cutting a hole in the firewall.
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Cairo94507
post Jan 6 2025, 06:18 PM
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I agree 100% with Clay; the Clewett Serpentine Belt system is the one and done way to go. I have it on my 3.6 and can't imagine ever having a 6 in a 914 without it. My only regret is no one can see it; it is spectacular. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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worn
post Jan 6 2025, 07:08 PM
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QUOTE(jeff @ Jan 6 2025, 09:22 AM) *

I’m getting closer to painting this 914 project. Is it worth making an access panel to the fan belt area of the engine? It’s a 3.2/6 if so how big should the hole be?

Not enough fasteners. Like times four or five. Imagine the firewall being changed in shape. You want your hatch to change with it. And maintain a seal. My hatch is very helpful, but it is really battened down.
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troth
post Jan 6 2025, 09:15 PM
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Having snapped a couple belts in my 911 SC and knowing the type 2 fun of swapping a fan belt on a hot engine on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in the dark...

I would like to hear the thoughts of those who have had to do this on a 914 (I am sure there are a few of you here) without the access panel.

I have no problems dropping the engine for basic maintenance, it's more the roadside emergency situations that are tempting me to cut one in mine.
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WFG
post Jan 7 2025, 05:57 AM
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I would not want to cut a hole in the firewall. just my opinion
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ClayPerrine
post Jan 7 2025, 06:13 AM
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QUOTE(troth @ Jan 6 2025, 09:15 PM) *

Having snapped a couple belts in my 911 SC and knowing the type 2 fun of swapping a fan belt on a hot engine on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere in the dark...

I would like to hear the thoughts of those who have had to do this on a 914 (I am sure there are a few of you here) without the access panel.

I have no problems dropping the engine for basic maintenance, it's more the roadside emergency situations that are tempting me to cut one in mine.



On our factory six, which does not have an access panel, I had to change the belt on the side of the road shortly after getting it. I didn't try to reset the shims blindly, I just rolled on the new belt with a wrench. Once I got home, I dropped the motor and properly replaced the belt.

Now every year it gets a new belt when I drop the motor to adjust valves and do maintenance.
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Superhawk996
post Jan 7 2025, 09:48 AM
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QUOTE(troth @ Jan 6 2025, 11:15 PM) *
. . .
it's more the roadside emergency situations that are tempting me to cut one in mine.


So. . . You’re going to de-trim the interior roadside to get to the access panel?

Or . . . You get to play street racer and drive around with no NVH treatments and no interior back pad. Noisy. Visible seat belt retractors, etc.

Or . . . Go full on hillbilly and cut a hole in the backpad so you can get to the access panel. With a really good custom upholstery guy this might not be the duct tape abomination I’m envisioning.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Am I missing options?

The point being have you fully thought this through?
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Steve
post Jan 7 2025, 10:54 AM
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I bought the PMS fiberglass panel. I only did this mod because at the time it seemed the only way to change the alternator in my 3.2, without dropping the engine. I now have a 3.6 and it does make getting to the distributor, etc. a lot easier. Here is the link to the PMS panel. However most people get an equivalent cover from a donor vehicle. If my car was a real six, I would not cut a hole in the firewall or anywhere else on the car which could lower the value of the car.
https://patrickmotorsports.com/products/bod...iYeRhO8pjowSAjV
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Cairo94507
post Jan 7 2025, 11:02 AM
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On my second 914-6, back in the late 80's, we did an access panel when we put a 3.0 in it. Sourced a panel from a wrecked 914 and had about 3/4" overlap all around and used Dzus fasteners, 10 of them, to secure it with rubber weather stripping between the panel and the firewall. It was very secure and I felt it did not compromise the firewall. On my current 6, I would not cut the firewall. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
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930cabman
post Jan 7 2025, 12:00 PM
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This poor horse
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BillJ
post Jan 7 2025, 01:40 PM
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Mine has been there since 1984 so not my act but it is useful
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jfort
post Jan 7 2025, 02:42 PM
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I have one in my modded factory six and in our Richie Ginter-type race car.
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mb911
post Jan 8 2025, 03:32 PM
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QUOTE(ClayPerrine @ Jan 6 2025, 02:40 PM) *

QUOTE(dr914@autoatlanta.com @ Jan 6 2025, 12:18 PM) *

QUOTE(jeff @ Jan 6 2025, 10:22 AM) *

I’m getting closer to painting this 914 project. Is it worth making an access panel to the fan belt area of the engine? It’s a 3.2/6 if so how big should the hole be?



no

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Having lived through an engine fire in a 914, I will not cut holes in anything called a "firewall". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

If you have a 3.6, get a Clewett serpentine belt kit. It makes it a breeze to change the belt just by moving the tensioner.

Here's a picture of it on my motor before I put it in.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads/post-1143-1475889671.jpg)

Easy to do without cutting a hole in the firewall.



This is the right answer.
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