has anybody tried to put a LSD in a 914? I thought it would be cool....

did you by any chance search the forum before asking that question???

Rich

no....i was too lazy....*sigh* i'll search

Yes! I am using a Quaiffe LSD unit with my 901 in one of my 6's and a Porsche factory LSD unit with my 915 in my other 6. Huge difference on a tight track with a big HP engine....

yeah in Bowling Green,KY thereisnt much support for any track racing....I was wondering if there was any regular road difference....

Depends on how much power you have and how aggressive you drive. I feel it save my rear end from stepping out as I accellerate out of corners pretty often. But only when I'm driving faster than I should. I have a factory LSD in my 6.

For spirited street drivng only, the installation of a LSD might be over the top... To each his own!

Unless you've got more than 150 hp you really don't need it on the street. If you are doing track events, then yes you want it regardless of hp.

oh well that answers my Q....wish you all would come to Louisville,KY to egt me to race....that would be cool but NOBODY has a 914 here

Find a club that races and go for it. You don't have to race against 914's. On a tight track a 4 will surprise some big hp V8's. Momentum!

There are several guys from Indiana if you want to make the drive.

I used to live in Whiteland and speedway Indiana, and I ran into a coupla 914 guys. As I recall, one lives in brown county, that's pretty close to KY...

hmmmmm.....might have to give that a try. I think it would be fun, but are substantial mods are required to race...i mean are the placements far at all?

try to find an auto-x first, do a search for SCCA and see if they have anything local or within a few hours drive

and about the LSD...the factory installed them on a few 914s right at the factory....

QUOTE (9146986 @ Jan 30 2005, 11:04 PM)

Unless you've got more than 150 hp you really don't need it on the street.

i will note that evidently, most of the factory LSD cars went to the US Northeast.
LSD will help you in street driving if your street is covered in snow, sleet, and ice.

QUOTE (9146986 @ Jan 30 2005, 08:04 PM)

Unless you've got more than 150 hp you really don't need it on the street. If you are doing track events, then yes you want it regardless of hp.

Huh? What?! I call BS!

Put the power to the wheel where the most traction is...how can you put a horsepower number on that? If someone does ANY kind of spirited driving then they should get it. I'm sold on the unit (Peloquin) in my modified water-pumper...and it is only putting out a "meager" 102 wheel hp (stock dyno run was 87 whp ) Off-the-line launching/acceleration is better, ESPECIALLY when making a turn from a stop because the outside wheel is moving the car -- normally the inside wheel (for a stock vehicle) would be spinning its little heart out and my forward progess was slower. The main street I have to get on is not level so if I turn right to get to town I have to go up hill and forget about darting into the rush hour traffic if the road was wet when I had the stock differential.

I've wanted a Quaiffe for my VW for years after reading much about LSD's and vehicle cornering dynamics and now I'm even more sold on getting one. Dude, if you have the means then I highly recommend it. Acceleration is better, turning is faster with higher confidence, in fact, you'll be seeking out and destroying every corner, turn, chicane, bend, weave, and S-turn you can find!

these things are like 1G right? and the only wasy i would know that i have one is if i jacked the car up and tried to turn the wheel?

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Jan 31 2005, 09:17 AM)

these things are like 1G right? and the only wasy i would know that i have one is if i jacked the car up and tried to turn the wheel?

Prices vary but, yeah, expect about 1K for the unit. Installation cost I don't know.

Jack up end of car that has the drive wheels, put car in neutral, and spin one tire. The opposite tire will rotate the same direction if it's an LSD diff.

It's possible to switch over to a 915 trans with an LSD installed, right?

QUOTE (Brando @ Jan 31 2005, 03:23 PM)

It's possible to switch over to a 915 trans with an LSD installed, right?

many things are possible; this is one.
what exactly are you trying to achieve?

well actually I just wanted to make the 914 more suitable as a daily car (as I can only have one and this the car for me) and it doesnt handle well in the rain, snow or when it's too cold...I dont really know what I want to accomplish. I was just wondering if LSDs were put into this car and sure enough they are. I'm just keeping my mind busy (i can't stay still) with these things while my 914 is in louisville getting repaired (after a wreck) I love this forum and all the people in it! You all are great. I have recieved everything i asked for. Thank you.

QUOTE

and it doesnt handle well in the rain, snow or when it's too cold

sounds like you have crappy tires...what you might need is a spare set of winter only tires.........

the LSD can help or be hinderance also...sometimes it's safer to only have one drive wheel in the rain or snow depending on the driver skill....

QUOTE (Air_Cooled_Nut @ Jan 31 2005, 09:01 AM)

Huh? What?! I call BS!

To answer the original quesiton, yes, you can put a limited slip in a 914 transmission. I had it done to my own personal car when I did a 3.0 six conversion on it, which was in fact a street car. It will cost you probably between $2500 and $3000 (minimum) to get the parts and the gearbox rebuilt. Last time I had one done for a customer we were into the gearbox for around $3500 total, so if you scrimp on parts a little you may be able to save a little. You can't however, just get a limited slip or torque biasing diff and stick it in the transmission, it's a fairly complicated proceedure and involves setting the pinion depth, which involves special tools ($$$).

There are two different kinds of diffs you can get a torque biasing like a Quaife or Guard, or a clutch pack type like the original ZF and Guard makes one of those too. The torque biasing are a little more "snappy" on the track, that is they are either open or locked and sometimes you can feel them lock up which results in the "snappy" feel. The clutch pack types can be set for a range of slippage depending on the clutch pack assembly. If you can find a factory ZF I'd expect to pay between $900-$1500 for a rebuilt unit, perhaps more. The Quaife and Guard torque biasing diffs are usually $1200, maybe a little or less. If I remember right a new Guard clutch pack diff is very expensive, in the $2500 range.

Limited slip was an option for 914's. If the gearbox hasn't been rebuilt, there should be a little aluminum tag on one of the upper studs of the side cover (on the passenger side). 914's with factory limited slip are very rare.

I hope this answers your question.

Sure, an open diff will result in inside wheel spin. But what's that going to hurt on a street car Toby? You aren't going to loose any lap times, or miss any extra cones. Sure if you've got a open budget, get the gonzo diff, but there's probably lots of other things you can do to make the car faster, before you start throwing big money at the transmission. Good grief, I'm sure there's plenty of guys on this board that spent $3000 or less on the 914 they own. There isn't a wealth of 914 owners that are going to shell out 30-100% of the purchase price of the 914 for such an upgrade.

I'm not spouting BS here, I'm trying to give good advice. Did I push the wrong button Toby? Is the baby keeping you up and making you a little cranky?

QUOTE

sounds like you have crappy tires...what you might need is a spare set of winter only tires......... the LSD can help or be hinderance also...sometimes it's safer to only have one drive wheel in the rain or snow depending on the driver skill....

Yeah I have *NO* driver skill....i wrecked my precious baby 914 into the back of a Explorer in the snow.....but otherwise I am a very good driver.
now i have to go to south KY to get a hot pink 914 to fix mine. How embarrasing what winter tires do you all recommend?

QUOTE

what winter tires do you all recommend?

I have no idea...I live in sunny California

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Jan 31 2005, 04:36 PM)

...what winter tires do you all recommend?

there's a few. if you can afford to dedicate them to winter driving, Blizzak's always get good reviews. if you get a lot of ice, and they're legal where you live, studded snows are pretty amazing.

rigth now, I have a set of falkens....the ZE-502s....supposedly a good tire. Dunno anythign about tires though. The guy was worried they wouldnt fit, at Big O Tires......

QUOTE (9146986 @ Jan 31 2005, 01:18 PM)

...I'm not spouting BS here, I'm trying to give good advice. Did I push the wrong button Toby? Is the baby keeping you up and making you a little cranky?

Okay, you prolly got me there, sorry man

My assumption was that the tires were good ones. Yes, a tire can make a bunch o' differnece in traction, handling and braking. And yes, the LSD is a chunck o' change but we save our money for something

so whats a good tire then? I mean all-season...

One thing I forgot to mention is that LSD (either flavor) will make the car slew sideways in loose traction situations, gravel, snow, etc. Both tires trying to hook up without traction will do this.

Most of us shudder to think about driving a 914 in snow and salt, although back in 78/79 when I got my first 914 (and only car) I didn't think twice about it, and it's actually a great car in the snow.

I've got a good deal on some Yokohama AVS, pm me if you are interested.

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Jan 30 2005, 11:06 PM)

oh well that answers my Q....wish you all would come to Louisville,KY to egt me to race....that would be cool but NOBODY has a 914 here

Phil Wicks ( http://www.wicksdrivingacademy.com/index.htm ) moved to Nashville last year and is putting on his driving school at local tracks (i.e. Nashville Superspeedway, Memphis Motorsports Park, Road Atlanta, Gateway International Raceway, Little Talledega, and possibly Barber Motorsports Park). I plan on taking my six-converterd car to as many events as possible this year.
The Tennessee Spokes ( http://www.tennessee-spokes.org/ ) also put on some nice autocrosses and their Road Cross always brings out some nice cars. Not sure whats available in Bowling Green Porsche-wise except "The Visit" to the Corvette Factory that the Nashville region PCA puts on each year.

if you can afford to get a cheap set of steel wheels, put on four snow tires for the winter.

I live in snow country and I cannot find an "all season" tire that is worth its name in the snow...

If you get alot of snow, get another set of rims and get a set of snows...the cheap snows at sears work great, just remember that they wear out quickly, so take them off as soon as the snow is gone, march/april and put on your summer tires.

Tires have different wear ratings and summer tires are to wide for winter snow driving....you want thin tires that have teeth...your not trying to look good in the snow, you are trying to get there....

Rich

actually to tell you all the truth, KY doesn't get much snow. we havent had alot of snow (this time) since 1994. They do put down ALOT of salt. I think what i'll do is bum the g/f's car and ride with her when it snows. this past snowfall, I just drove real slow and then i wash the car every couple of days. Underneath, in the wheel wells....(how do you wash in the longitudinals?) and pretty much every where else. I try to get everyone to look underneath structurally everytime it is in the shop (every month or two ) and so far there isnt any cancerous rust to worry about....

[QUOTE]I try to get everyone to look underneath structurally everytime it is in the shop (every month or two wink.gif ) and so far there isnt any cancerous rust to worry about....

I lived in the Bluegrass State for 10 years.

Bought my first new 914 in Lexington in 1974.
If your 914's been driven in KY in the winter (KY-slush = salt = rust) and hasn't been rustorated You had better look real close.

Limted SLip Diff's are a piece of cake install in a conventional rear weel drive axle.
Drain the oil.
Pop off the old diff case.
Insert the new, w/ Uck'm Pucky
Fill with new oil.
Done!

LSDiff's are a nightmare install on transaxle's.
Buy one and replace your's.

QUOTE

I try to get everyone to look underneath structurally everytime it is in the shop (every month or two wink.gif ) and so far there isnt any cancerous rust to worry about....

I just figured out I bunged the quote the first time!

Michelin Pilot Sports are good I put 195/60/15 on my car good wet dry and rated for snow.

i should just dip the entire car in POR-15....i'm beginning to like the black color anyway

My stock 72/1.7 is not LSD but it lays down rubber from both wheels on pavment.