Starting my 5 lug conversion., Progress 3/29/09 Options

[KaptKaos]

I've had a pair 3" strut housings in my garage at least 2 years now. I have the struts, hubs, calipers and caliper rebuild kits. I tried to do a search on the 3" spacing for the calipers and found a lot of stuff. All very interesting, some helpful, but not exactly what I was looking for.

I assume that my struts are pre-74. If I recall correctly, I can use my existing strut cartridge in them from my stock 914 front. How do I know if that's correct? What do I need to look for to determine that?

Where can I find an exploded diagram of the 911 front end, so I can make sure I have all of the bits that I need?

I have a ton more questions, but those will suffice to start.

Thanks in advance for your help with this.

[jaxdream]

I believe that your 914 strut should fit , just set them side by side , measure all the structural dimensions , cartrigde cap - external or internal threads . As far as a place to look for exploded diagrams , I use dcauto - dcauto.com- they have the systems broke down and pretty good diagrams , auto atlanta does the same for parts searches. Are you going to use 911 a arms with 911 torsion bars ?? Should be some what stiffer than 914 . Good hunting.

Jaxdream (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[KaptKaos]

Thanks Jaxdream. I'll look there.

I have the A-arms, and the T-bars that came with the struts. I'm not sure I want to switch. I need to consider it. If I do, I will need to weld on the u-tab for my 914-style sway bar. The A-Arms came with an underbody one, which I won't use.

[jaxdream]

I too have the 911 a arms that I am going to use , is the reason that I asked. I just cut off the under body swaytbs and gonna weld on u tabs , I got what appears to be an old tarret 19mm swat bar adustable arms that I plan on using. If you use the 911 torsion bars , you have to use the 911 a arms because of the difference in the splines on the ends of the bars, 914 are different than the 911 spline. Good luck!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Jaxdream

[KaptKaos]

So I did some more leg work tonight.

Here are some lousy pictures:



These are the strut housings. I "think" that these will use my existing 914-4 strut. Can anyone tell? (I know the picture sucks, I htought I had it on macro, blah blah..)

Here is the bottom of the strut. Will this work with the stock 914-4 ball joints? Or is this one of those "while you're in there" things that I should just change the ball joint?



Lastly, here's a really lousy picture of some nuts and bolts. I have:

3x Brass banjo fittings.
3 x caliper to banjo bolts
10 x m8 nut/bolt/washer combos (not shown). Dunno what these are for.
2 x caliper to strut grade 8 bolts (need 2 more)
6 x strut to dust shield bolts.



I have another post coming with the diagrams to show what I have and/or what I am missing.

[KaptKaos]

Here's the diagrams:

This is the strut diagram. The red marks show what I'm pretty sure I have:



Here is the brake diagram. The blue shows what I need:



I have 10 of the m8 nut/bolt/washer combo but not sure what those are for. The diagrams at DC auto say I need them, but it doesn't say for what?!?!?

[So.Cal.914]

I have 10 of the m8 nut/bolt/washer combo but not sure what those are for. The diagrams at DC auto say I need them, but it doesn't say for what?!?!?

Thats a good Q Joe. I have been sitting here trying to think what you would use those for.

[jaxdream]

Ball joints are the same , but it's one of those I'm in here , might as well replace things , it all depends on the condition of what you have - is the rubber boot tore any ? are they loose in any way ?? Remember that if you are going to use the balljoints from the 914 a arms that they will have more weight and stresses put on them from the 911 parts not to mention the wheel tire combo you will eventually use- ball joints= money well spent and new pins are reasonable too. You are close to pelican parts so shipping would be reasonable too , I live close to AA and dc auto , so my ship charges are in line with the region I live in - shipping is part of the cost of parts also , there are no walkin Porshe parts places close , where I live .Just keep digging and trying to make some well informed purchases , like others here , I have bought parts that I will not use . In the course of gathering , my ideas and updates have changed , yours may also. You getting the front together , what about the rear ?? What type of brake setup , hub setup ?? Cv joint axle setup??Do you have a narrow body or flares ?? Keep up the hunt !!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Jaxdream

[craig downs]

The 911 struts you have are the early pinch bolt type which require an early ball joint.
If your car is a 73 on which has a wedge pin you will need to get the early ball joint.

[KaptKaos]

Here's what's on the car already:

Turbo Tie Rods
19mm Brake Master
SS lines.

Wheels will be 15x6 "flat-6" fuchs. Body will stay narrow.

I am not ready to contemplate the rear setup yet. Likely I will keep that as simple and cheap as possible. Open to suggestions, but not yet.

I want to rebuild the calipers this week. I think I should be able to get all the parts together to swap out the front end in one night.

[KaptKaos]

Cleaned up the struts tonight and found the part number on the strut. They say 914 341 091 00 and 914 341 092 00.

I just looked them up and I have 914-6 front struts!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Um... Is that a good thing?

[KaptKaos]

Also, how do I tell which calipers I have? They have 3 inch spacing, but I want to make sure i Know which ones I have and which rebuild kits I need.

[Sleepin]

Send a pic to Eric. Worked for me Joe...

[KaptKaos]

Thanks Eric. Not a bad idea.

BTW: looks like you all had fun on the Rt66 run.

[Sleepin]

Not this Eric, that Eric, no Eric... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[KaptKaos]

Not this Eric, that Eric, no Eric... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I know, I know. LOL

Actually this post is for Eric Shea, and hopefully he can help me out.

Here are the calipers that I have. I got them with the aforementioned 914-6 struts. They are steel and have 3" spacing.





(continued next post)

[KaptKaos]

So my questions are:

1) Which rebuild kit do I need for these? I have 2 kits with the 901 351 964 11 part number on them. Not sure if that's correct.

2) Which rotor can I run with these? Obviously, I'd like to run vented rotors up front. But with these struts being 914-6ers, I am concerned that the calipers are too and therefor I am looking at a solid rotor.

Any/all help appreciated.

[charliew]

You could look up the strut insert for your 914 and it usually shows if it also will fit the 911 at least thats what I did on my bilsteins that fit the 911 boge struts I have. In my case I had to get the different caps to hold the larger shafts of the bilstein struts. I started a thread on it awhile back.

[KaptKaos]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Upon closer inspection, the calipers look to be in very good shape and not in need of a rebuild at this time.

Cleaned them out with some alcohol and compressed air. The pistons move nicely. Put some dot3 back in, and sealed them up. Ready to go.

Next: Ball joints. I need to get some of the old style joints to work with my struts. Bummer, but it's a while you're in there job.

So all I need now are 2 caliper bolts, ball joints, inner and outer bearings, rotors and pads and I think my front will be ready to rock and roll!!!

[ConeDodger]

So I did some more leg work tonight.

Here are some lousy pictures:



These are the strut housings. I "think" that these will use my existing 914-4 strut. Can anyone tell? (I know the picture sucks, I htought I had it on macro, blah blah..)

Here is the bottom of the strut. Will this work with the stock 914-4 ball joints? Or is this one of those "while you're in there" things that I should just change the ball joint?



Lastly, here's a really lousy picture of some nuts and bolts. I have:

3x Brass banjo fittings.
3 x caliper to banjo bolts
10 x m8 nut/bolt/washer combos (not shown). Dunno what these are for.
2 x caliper to strut grade 8 bolts (need 2 more)
6 x strut to dust shield bolts.



I have another post coming with the diagrams to show what I have and/or what I am missing.

Damn! So that is what happened to Andy's old camera... You get it cheap Joe? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)