OK going through my 914 suspension. I have new Koni Sports, Weltmeister 19mm front swaybar, 140lb springs, turbo tie rods and bump spacers for when I lower the car. Should I think of installing anything else while I'm in the process of doing these modifications?

I will be driving the car on the street and weekend AXs.

Ball joints.
Control arm bushings.
Brake lines.


Just off the top of my head.

Welcome to the board. Good to have another 914/986 owner with us (we have a few)

B

Mono balls for the struts.

He he..

I was going to suggest full roller bearing suspension and mono balls.. but I dont know what class he plans to run.


B

Oh.. trade the 19mm bar in for the 21mm if your class allows it.

You will be very pissed off when you find yourself maxing the adjustment out on the bar within 8 months of owning it. The 21mm will work perfectly set on full soft. As you get faster/more comfortable with the car.. you will find that you need more bar... so why not start off with what your going to end up with ?? This way you dont have to replace it a few months from now.


B

Thanks! I recently installed all new stainless steel braided brake lines. Right now I'm less worried about class and just looking for real solid street setup and something I can take to local AX to toss around. Will I benefit much from Mono balls for the struts on the street?

I will likely end up in street prepared classification in Autocrosses - will mono ball kick me into some wild class? My engine is still stock 1.8. I'm typically not a "build it to spec type of person" would rather have great suspension and have my but kicked by faster cars at an AX. I always have time to improve engine in the future. If Mono ball improives things signficantly I may pop for it just to have a trick suspension.

I think you would benefit more from the roller bearing conversion on the control arms than the monoball upper struts. The car will ride very nice on the street with the shocks set on full soft.... then become a AutoX killer with them set towards firm.

B

Where is a good place to get roller bearings?

Lucky for you... we have a "914 resources" page right here on this club site.

Go here: Muellers Motors

B

Wow $400 for front bearings? Is it worth it? I'm a 914 fool with some money, but man!

Ever heard a 914 squeak and groan while being driven around the paddock of a autoX or road race ?? That noise you hear is the suspension sticking and unsticking against the crappy urethane bushings we have been installing for 20 some odd years now. Sticking suspension means the shocks and springs/torsion bars are not working correctly. 90% of the urethane cars ride like crap with sticking suspension and larger springs/torsion bars. The roller bearings make you feel like your riding on a pillowy cloud (cant beleive I used that phrase).. but it fits. The car will take bumps graciously instead of bouncing over them when the suspension is sticking.

Ever see a 914 or 911 lift or carry a wheel thru a corner ?? Sticking suspension (partially)

B

I dream of being able to actually lift a wheel! Maybe I can get mine to stick one of these days before I change to roller bearing? ...Ok I'm going to get them.

Actually.. you want all 4 on the ground. One off is neat for pics.. but doesnt do you any good in the "stiction" department (dont let anybody tell you different).. 99% of the 3 wheel pics we see are from PCA events. You wont see this at a SCCA national autoX event (unless its front wheel drive..maybe)


B

That is a great shot BTW of a stock car pushed to the max.

I bet your instructor was ready to crap twinkies.


B

Hard to scare John Williamson! I was certainly "craping my twinkies" when he drove! Never thought a stock 914 could do the things he did with it on the tracK!

sounds like my car way to much stiction happening



Thats what I want!!! well Ill be getting the bearings.. have to finish the 911 first..

Grant.. you have SC listed in your settings (props go out to all the SC Punk Rockers I know)... what was JW doing up here.. or where you down there ??


B

I am getting wood.. err..

So how long do these bearings last?



M

I lived in Santa Monica area when I bought the 914. John W went through the car intially and then got me out to Streets of Willow. He was great, spent lots of time with me on the track - it was an outstanding weekend. Dont think I have ever learned so much about driving fast and smooth in one weekend. I also did enjoy being part of the "black flag crew" as well!

I also watched John race 914-6's back in the early Seventies as a kid! My dad autocrossed a hot little PCA class winning 1.7 back in the Seventies and I was the tire and exhaust system changer.

I moved to Santa Cruz 8 months ago and recently brought the 914 out of storage. Was going back and forth on selling the 914 - but now its too late! I have lots o parts on the way and I'm ready to start building a clean little car.

Now I just need to get hooked into some events to start driving again! I liked POC group due to their serious no BS approach to events. Just wish they had more stuff happening in N Cal.

Touring Car Club sometimes gets up to Laguna.

Touring Car Club

We have 3 times the events going on up here that POC/PCA has combined in SoCal.

You let me know when your ready (get the wallet ready.. we can run any of the 4 tracks within 4 hours of you 7 days a week 365 days a year if you can handle the cash outlay).

PRC
POC
PCA
SCCA
NASA
PDC
Lotus club
Unlimited Laps
Donutz

You name the day and time you want to run and one of these groups is renting one of the 4 semi local tracks 365 days a year.

B