tygaboy
Sep 30 2017, 06:05 PM
QUOTE(bbrock @ Sep 30 2017, 04:29 PM)
Nice! More inspiration to keep me going!
Right back at you, my friend! Your hard work is motivating me to keep at it.
tygaboy
Sep 30 2017, 06:08 PM
And what better way to end the day than with a visit from my friendly UPS guy!
Here they are, in all their glory: the custom SpeedHut gauge set:
Quad gauge with the added oil temp, fuel level in the speedo, etc.
Pardon the "poor perspective" pic. Yes, it's 4" quad and speedo, 4 1/2" tach.
So nice! I LOVE 'em!
ConeDodger
Sep 30 2017, 06:32 PM
Are you going to need all of that speedo???
914Timo
Oct 1 2017, 04:24 AM
QUOTE(ConeDodger @ Oct 1 2017, 02:32 AM)
Are you going to need all of that speedo???
Or, is it enough
Cool build. Greate work.
mb911
Oct 1 2017, 06:07 AM
Chris looks great.. Mine is about to go back on the rotisserie for the final details as well.
tygaboy
Oct 6 2017, 05:01 PM
QUOTE(ConeDodger @ Sep 30 2017, 05:32 PM)
Are you going to need all of that speedo???
Damn you, Rob! After looking at that more carefully, I decided 140 does make more sense from a usability perspective. So, back went the speedo. And because I'd customized it (deleted their logo/branding), mine gets a new face and a reprogram.
$40 and that includes shipping! SpeedHut really is great.
So it'll be as pictured. Happy now?
Cracker
Oct 6 2017, 05:17 PM
Send it back again (or call in changes)...at least 160! I can attest that YOUR engine in a 914 is good for a bit more...
PS: A 140 mph speedo is found in like a...Ford Focus. Just sayin...
Tony
QUOTE(tygaboy @ Oct 6 2017, 07:01 PM)
QUOTE(ConeDodger @ Sep 30 2017, 05:32 PM)
Are you going to need all of that speedo???
Damn you, Rob! After looking at that more carefully, I decided 140 does make more sense from a usability perspective. So, back went the speedo. And because I'd customized it (deleted their logo/branding), mine gets a new face and a reprogram.
$40 and that includes shipping! SpeedHut really is great.
So it'll be as pictured. Happy now?
tygaboy
Oct 9 2017, 05:49 PM
Getting ready to install the Tangerine Racing rear pick up kit. I want all the advantages I can get when it comes to measurement capabilities so I treated myself to a used Spitznagel! (It's more fun to pronounce it with a German accent...)
As I was researching I found that these are claimed to be accurate to 1mm whereas the knock-of versions are only accurate to 3mm. I got this on Ebay for approx. the same price as a shorter length, new knock-off.
Once I'm done with my install, I'd be happy to make it available to others in need.
(I'm takin' to you, Dion!
)
tygaboy
Oct 12 2017, 06:06 PM
Got the rear jack triangles installed today.
tygaboy
Oct 12 2017, 06:09 PM
And here's one example of what happens when you build a custom lower firewall:
You end up with a passage way from the engine compartment, under the lower cross bar and right into the passenger compartment!
I'll have to do something about this... but at least I can verify I got good penetration on those welds!
tygaboy
Oct 12 2017, 06:13 PM
Then I got started on the MadDog Motorsports front sway bar stiffening plate install.
I removed the brake hose tab and all the factory paint/undercoat. Exciting, I know...
Next, it's mock it all up and drill the holes for the sway bar/mounting plate.
914forme
Oct 12 2017, 06:51 PM
Just weld the plate on and use it as your guide.
BTW, I still add a nut plate to the back side.
Do yourself a huge favor unless your box section is cut and don't do it. Brad's Kit is so nice, I will never cut another 914 box section again.
Since you have the MadDogg mount, just weld a nut to the lower bolt hole. Then make a bracket with two nuts for the top, and weld them inside. In reality you most likely could just weld all three mounting holes with a nut on the back side, drill your holes and weld it on.
I love to weld, so I'll go with the welding sandwich
tygaboy
Oct 12 2017, 07:15 PM
Stephen -
Yep, I used Brad's kit on my '74 and it was really nice.I have the MadDog triangle mount with the nuts welded on all three corners. I was going to cut it down to make it like Brad's. Easy peasy, as they say.
tygaboy
Oct 13 2017, 12:44 PM
Before I try and button up things like that gap in the rear floor/jack triangle, I need to be sure all other "major" stuff is in place.
Today, it's establishing the relocated seat belt retractor mounts. These have to be moved due to where I routed the upper portion of the door bars.
And again, more fun due to the custom lower firewall:
In order to function correctly, the seat belt retractor mechanism MUST sit exactly upright. Well, my fancy fire wall isn't straight up and down. I moved the lower cross bar forward to be sure I had plenty of clearance for the engine damper.
So, a bit of notching here, a but of fitting there and the passenger side is mocked in.
Hard to tell from that first pic but the other support really does lean back.
I still have to fab a threaded boss for the retractor to bolt to. I'm thinking it'll be a blind tapped boss that's plug welded from the back side of this brace then welded all around the front side.
The good news is the fact that the retractor is recessed into the firewall. This means there's room for the seats to slide back. Best of all, the chrome belt guide that mounts behind the retractor comes forward just the right amount that the belt nicely clears the upper fire wall cross bar!
I love it when a plan comes together.
tygaboy
Oct 13 2017, 03:40 PM
Completed the driver side mock up.
I'll do the threaded bung work on the bench then install these supports in the chassis.
While I was at it, I finished up the rosette welding on those door bar verticals' support pads. Just didn't get a pic of that today.
tygaboy
Oct 14 2017, 03:46 PM
Back to installing the front sway bar mounting points. I went with the Elephant Racing bladed adjustable sway bar. It's big - just under 1.5" OD. That's the Elephant backing plate along side the MadDog reinforcement plate.
Nothing the 1.5" hole saw can't handle.
tygaboy
Oct 14 2017, 05:31 PM
That really is a big hole. I'd say anyone thinking of going with this sway bar really should add the MadDog sway bar reinforcement kit.
And I hogged out the lower hole to account for the welded-on-bolt approach vs cutting the inner sheet metal.
tygaboy
Oct 14 2017, 05:45 PM
Modified passenger reinforcement plate with 1.5" hole and welded on lower nut vs standard.
Morph914
Oct 14 2017, 09:06 PM
QUOTE(tygaboy @ Oct 14 2017, 05:45 PM)
Modified passenger reinforcement plate with 1.5" hole and welded on lower nut vs standard.
Hey Chris, keep up the good work!
I hope you're safe from all the fires out there.
Andyrew
Oct 15 2017, 01:26 AM
Thats about the size hole I drilled for my nascar sway bar! I didnt mount it via the inner fender though. Good work as usual
Are you going to leave the jack pads as is? I have found them weak from the factory and a bit oddly shaped i think a deep V or a square tube would be better for jack stands or lifting the car up on a jack. Just saying your doing all these other awesome mods. Oh and consider a center jack point on the front firewall. I used that when lowering the car into position for the engine fitting and found there really wasnt enough support and crushed some steel a bit. Nothing I really care about just something I plan on reinforcing in the future for better use.
tygaboy
Oct 15 2017, 11:36 AM
Finished all the needed mods and got things positioned for the driver side. Here's just a set up shot of how I used the templates to determine where to drill all the holes:
- trim the template
- to set the height, measure down 1/2" from the top of the inner part of the indent and scribe a line
- measure the width at the bottom of the indent, mark the middle
- use a level and scribe a vertical center line
- tape the template in place (the angle of the camera makes it look like things aren't quite lined up...)
- mark where to drill the holes (I use a spring loaded center punch)
- drill and hole saw accordingly
tygaboy
Oct 15 2017, 11:37 AM
Artsy-fartsy shot through one hole looking to the one on the other side.
tygaboy
Oct 15 2017, 11:41 AM
Here's the Elephant backer plate, trimmed to work with the welded on lower nut approach.
Rather than cut the backer plate so it sits just above that step in the sheet metal, I've started notching the back side. You can see I still have some tweaking to do to get it to lay down flat. I figured leaving this so it fully wraps around the bar will add just that much more strength to the area.
Almost ready for final welding of all this!
tygaboy
Oct 15 2017, 05:19 PM
I have so many things to get to...
I had to move some parts around and ended up getting distracted by the front bumper. I need to ventilate it and have been thinking about various designs.
This one has a couple significant dents in it so I figured I'd use it to practice.
I don't know what size opening I need but I wanted something more aggressive looking than the traditional GT look. So I started with this:
- wider, taller and with a bit of a taper
I may go a bit wider but I'll wait til I get it back on the car to make that decision.
Essentially, I'm headed toward the look in the 2nd pic. Pardon my usual MS Paint hack (especially if it's your car!)
Andyrew
Oct 15 2017, 06:41 PM
Bumper looks good. Should be enough flow, especially if you duct the exhaust.
tygaboy
Oct 16 2017, 07:48 AM
QUOTE(Andyrew @ Oct 15 2017, 05:41 PM)
Bumper looks good. Should be enough flow, especially if you duct the exhaust.
Andrew - I'm planning the traditional "vent out the inner fender wells" approach - vs through the hood.
Is there some equation for sq. inches of grill opening to sq. inches of the outlets that I should be leveraging?
Chris914n6
Oct 16 2017, 02:10 PM
QUOTE(tygaboy @ Oct 16 2017, 06:48 AM)
QUOTE(Andyrew @ Oct 15 2017, 05:41 PM)
Bumper looks good. Should be enough flow, especially if you duct the exhaust.
Andrew - I'm planning the traditional "vent out the inner fender wells" approach - vs through the hood.
Is there some equation for sq. inches of grill opening to sq. inches of the outlets that I should be leveraging?
Outlets need to be at least 20% larger to accommodate heat expansion of the cooling air.
You do some awesome work.
Andyrew
Oct 17 2017, 08:31 AM
I planned for 50% larger. Also when I mean duct I meant similar to what Kent just did, forcing the air to go where you want and separating it.
andys
Oct 17 2017, 10:42 AM
My former neighbor, vehicle designer and race car aero consultant, told me the general rule is 1.7x intake area. It does however, depend on the characteristics of the exhaust placement/configuration. The whole concept has to do with pressure differential, exhaust has to be in a lower pressure zone than the intake. Since the thru-wheel well exhaust has been done for a long time (mature technology), I'd go with what has worked in the past. BIGCAT has used a smaller than normal intake with great success; might give him a shout.
Andys
Rand
Oct 17 2017, 11:24 AM
Your car is going to be crazy fast. Is the downforce difference between wheel well exit vs hood exit something to consider?
Cracker
Oct 17 2017, 11:36 AM
It will no matter...his speedo only goes to 140!
T
QUOTE(Rand @ Oct 17 2017, 01:24 PM)
Your car is going to be crazy fast. Is the downforce difference between wheel well exit vs hood exit something to consider?
Rand
Oct 17 2017, 11:55 AM
Tony, you gotta stop going through the extra effort to fix the replies to the top. It's a disruption to how we are used to reading around here. :/
We won't know how fast Chris' is for a while.
But dang hey, that's some sweet metal work.
tygaboy
Oct 19 2017, 06:41 PM
Sway bar reinforcement all mocked in and ready for welding.
I understand I'm not alone in needing to trim the MadDog reinforcement plate to get an optimal fit.
You can see it's a bit proud of the edge on the lower inside areas, front and rear.
tygaboy
Oct 19 2017, 06:45 PM
And I couldn't resist putting the bar in. The Elephant products are SOOOOOO beautiful...
Click on the pic if you'd like to take a closer look.
This is the sort of part that makes the rest of the car look really tired. Granted, it's in need of blasting, etc. But seeing this sort of fancy/functional item in place helps keep me motivated.
Cracker
Oct 19 2017, 06:48 PM
It looks really nice Chris...just what every 914 hot rod needs - a 1G sway bar!
T
QUOTE(tygaboy @ Oct 19 2017, 08:45 PM)
And I couldn't resist putting the bar in. The Elephant products are SOOOOOO beautiful...
Click on the pic if you'd like to take a closer look.
This is the sort of part that makes the rest of the car look really tired. Granted, it's in need of blasting, etc. But seeing this sort of fancy/functional item in place helps keep me motivated.
tygaboy
Oct 19 2017, 06:59 PM
QUOTE(Cracker @ Oct 19 2017, 05:48 PM)
It looks really nice Chris...just what every 914 hot rod needs - a 1G sway bar!
T
1G as in "g-for$e", you mean, right?
jd74914
Oct 19 2017, 09:16 PM
That is one pretty sway bar Chris! The blade is just soooo cool!
Andyrew
Oct 20 2017, 08:57 AM
QUOTE(tygaboy @ Oct 19 2017, 05:59 PM)
QUOTE(Cracker @ Oct 19 2017, 05:48 PM)
It looks really nice Chris...just what every 914 hot rod needs - a 1G sway bar!
T
1G as in "g-for$e", you mean, right?
You dont need a front sway bar to pull 1G, Ask me how I know
Cracker
Oct 20 2017, 11:15 AM
$1G Andyrew
Tony
Andyrew
Oct 20 2017, 12:47 PM
I know whats what YOU said, I was responding to Chris's post
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 10:47 AM
This morning started with me final fabricating, tapping and fitting the seat belt support bosses. All set for welding.
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 10:48 AM
Let's mock it in with the seat in place, just to be sure everything fits...
(And yes, I'll close up the back side of the threaded boss.)
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 10:50 AM
Slide the seat ALL the way back and...
We have clearance, Clarence!
You gotta love how the stock shape of the belt guide holds things forward and perfectly suits the retractor being recessed into the lower fire wall.
Neat little detail that no one will even notice...
Chris914n6
Oct 21 2017, 02:14 PM
Sit and buckle up. I'm not sure the belt is long enough stock, but the belt can be replaced.
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 02:34 PM
QUOTE(Chris914n6 @ Oct 21 2017, 01:14 PM)
Sit and buckle up. I'm not sure the belt is long enough stock, but the belt can be replaced.
Yep, I've already talked w/Seat Belt Planet and they can add length, if I need it.
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 02:35 PM
Martin made time to help me today. You know what that means:
Time for major welding porn!!!
Let's start with the seat belt mounts.
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 02:37 PM
Krieger
Oct 21 2017, 02:37 PM
Nice fit! Lmk if you need them fancy bolts with a shoulder.
tygaboy
Oct 21 2017, 02:38 PM
Martin in action
bbrock
Oct 21 2017, 03:44 PM
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