Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

9 Pages V  1 2 3 > »   
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Labor of Love: A Build Thread, Or: honoring my fathers 914-6
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 06:42 AM
Post #1


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



Hi everyone. I have been posting here and there about my recent re-discovery and acquisition of a car that I have known since I was 15 years old. In 1987 my father bought his fourth Porsche. A 914-6 born in 1970. It was a bone stock car in white over black that had been driven a little under 100k miles. It was well taken care of and had no rust. After driving his yellow 73 2.0 on the track and in PCA racing he wanted to retire that largely stock car to the street and get a dedicated racer.

The 6 was immediately sent to a body shop to get a chasis stiffening and flare treatment. An IMSA airdam was installed along with a rear spoiler. He took the BBS 7s and 8s off his 944 Turbo and shod them with cantilever slicks from hoosier. He then found a 2.8 RSR Bosch mechanical FI high butterlfly stack monster engine from PAR porsche in NY to motivate the car. Redline was set somewhere north of 9k rpm. Here is a pic of the original build:

Attached Image

He drove the car in many events for around 20 years. During that time i bought his old yellow car and i turned that into a race car as well. We even drove together (in different groups when i had the yellow car) at some events. We would also share the racing duties with the 6. In 2008 he sold the car and moved on to other cars but this one has always held a special place for me.

Two years ago I ended up meeting up with John who had bought the car from my dad. He was great and generously asked if i would like to join him racing for the year as co-driver. I jumped at the chance and we got (and get) along really well. At the end of the season he offered the car to me and, after selling the silver 75, was able to make the plunge.

The emotional bond and connection to my dad who passed in 2018 that this object evokes is strong and in some ways unexpected.

With this thread i hope to honor that tie to my dad by sharing maintenance, improvements, and continued racing with this special (to me) car. And I hope my dad can see it all. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
914Sixer
post Mar 11 2022, 07:14 AM
Post #2


914 Guru
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 9,010
Joined: 17-January 05
From: San Angelo Texas
Member No.: 3,457
Region Association: Southwest Region



Best of luck and sharing the memory.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 07:23 AM
Post #3


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



Here is the car as i re-discovered it in 2020:





Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image Attached Image Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mepstein
post Mar 11 2022, 07:23 AM
Post #4


914-6 GT in waiting
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 19,583
Joined: 19-September 09
From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE
Member No.: 10,825
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region



It’s always special to get back a family car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 07:28 AM
Post #5


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



More from seeing the car 12 years.


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Cairo94507
post Mar 11 2022, 08:23 AM
Post #6


Michael
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 10,064
Joined: 1-November 08
From: Auburn, CA
Member No.: 9,712
Region Association: Northern California



Great story and I am so glad you got that very special car back in your garage. I know your dad is smiling as he looks down to see you enjoying his car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
76-914
post Mar 11 2022, 09:04 AM
Post #7


Repeat Offender & Resident Subaru Antagonist
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 13,627
Joined: 23-January 09
From: Temecula, CA
Member No.: 9,964
Region Association: Southern California



Great story and nice looking car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 09:13 AM
Post #8


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



Once i purchased the car the first order of business was to go through all the critical systems and to address general condition of the car. There was a lot of cleaning to do throughout and as each area was cleaned the plan was to paint and update whatever was needed.

I started with the brakes. At Summit Point PCA race they were overheating so wanted to do a full analysis of needs there.


This is what they looked like in the front:

Attached Image

I decided that all 4 calipers should go to PMB for full restoration and i ordered new soft and hard lines at each corner. Also, the cool brake ducting was in terrible shape and certainly not helping the cooling (and maybe i should brake less too).

Restored and installed:Attached Image

Also notice the stainless steel line - that is another story i will cover later.

I also replaced the brake fluid reservoir, lines, and master cylinder.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mate914
post Mar 11 2022, 10:18 AM
Post #9


Matt
***

Group: Members
Posts: 793
Joined: 27-February 09
From: Eagles mere, PA
Member No.: 10,102
Region Association: North East States



Keep up the good fight. Car looks great!

Matt (IMG:style_emoticons/default/flag.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
rgolia
post Mar 11 2022, 10:43 AM
Post #10


GeoJoe
***

Group: Members
Posts: 714
Joined: 5-February 10
From: PA
Member No.: 11,329
Region Association: North East States



Excellent Bill .........love the story
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Root_Werks
post Mar 11 2022, 10:49 AM
Post #11


Village Idiot
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,459
Joined: 25-May 04
From: About 5NM from Canada
Member No.: 2,105
Region Association: Pacific Northwest



Very cool story and history.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
brant
post Mar 11 2022, 11:09 AM
Post #12


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,778
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Colorado
Member No.: 47
Region Association: Rocky Mountains



great backstory... very nice.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
euro911
post Mar 11 2022, 11:10 AM
Post #13


Retired & living the dream. God help me if I wake up!
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,857
Joined: 2-December 06
From: So.Cal. & No.AZ (USA)
Member No.: 7,300
Region Association: Southern California



Awesome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

Sorry the hear about your dad's passing.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 11:19 AM
Post #14


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



Next i addressed the interior. The seats were very out of date having been in there since 2003! The belts were out of date as well so those needed updating. Once the seats went in the mouting in existing brackets worked well on the width but they did sit higher in regards to the shoulder belts. This meant an almost 45 degree angle upward to reach the openings from the wirewall mounts. This absolutely had to change so i had a new bar made up and a friend of mine installed behind the seats at the correct angle. Safety first!

Here is the bar with seat and harness installed. You can see the old mounting points in gold still in place as well.

Attached Image

And the harness and seat setup.

Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
troth
post Mar 11 2022, 11:23 AM
Post #15


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 153
Joined: 17-August 16
From: CT/WA
Member No.: 20,305
Region Association: None



QUOTE(BillJ @ Mar 11 2022, 08:42 AM) *

He then found a 2.8 RSR Bosch mechanical FI high butterlfly stack monster engine from PAR porsche in NY to motivate the car. Redline was set somewhere north of 9k rpm.


Great story... PLEASE share some more pics and details of this engine if you're able. I hope it is still with the car. From the other pics you posted looks like the MFI was replaced with carbs.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 11:31 AM
Post #16


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



Next was installation of fire suppresion. The car had a single hand held extinguisher in between the seats. Meets race rules but not really adequate for a serious fire of any sort. Chose aqueous foam as it is proven and doesnt cut off my oxygen like a gas solution. There are two nozzles pointed at the carbs in the engine bay, two nozzles pointed at the floor/occupants in the cabin, one where the original gas tank was that now houses battery and fuel pump, and one in front section of front trunk that addresses the fuel cell. I also have a hand held Element extinguisher for minor issues that wont leave a huge mess like the foam will.

Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 11:36 AM
Post #17


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



QUOTE(troth @ Mar 11 2022, 12:23 PM) *

QUOTE(BillJ @ Mar 11 2022, 08:42 AM) *

He then found a 2.8 RSR Bosch mechanical FI high butterlfly stack monster engine from PAR porsche in NY to motivate the car. Redline was set somewhere north of 9k rpm.


Great story... PLEASE share some more pics and details of this engine if you're able. I hope it is still with the car. From the other pics you posted looks like the MFI was replaced with carbs.

That motor threw a rod at Watkins Glen in the early 90s. The super sweet mechanical injection i believe went to Jim Newton and my father switched to a less aggressive (and expensive) 2.7RS engine built by Chris Musante.

Shame it still isnt with the car. That injection setup alone would be at least $25k today if you can even find it.

Edit- will look for pics but not sure i have any. Chris musante sold off any salvageable parts a long time ago.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 12:10 PM
Post #18


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



Next item to change was out of necesity. On the way back from the pro shop a wire ended up contacting something bad under the dash and i had a ton of smoke in the cabin. Pulled over and grabbed the extinguisher thinking the worst. I hit the kill switch and no active fire started thank goodness. Of course i had high confidence in my suppression tools but glad i didnt need to use them!

So the decision for what to do for the electical system? Choice A was to patch the melty wires and keep rolling. Choice B was to install brand new -6 harness. Choice C was to install aftermarket harness kit. Choice D was to go with an AIM PDM, dash, and smartycam setup.

Choice A was pretty hack and i really didnt want to have things done part way. B was very attractive but at a price point of $3600 gave me some pause. Option C i actually acted on and purchased a harness by Bare Bonz from JEGS. However I ended up going with solution D as, for around the price of just the original style harness, i could get a full plug and play setup for the track that was custom built for my needs. I need only a small fraction of wires and kept headlights, wipers, brake lights.

Major components are the Power Distribution module that serves as fuse block and central brain of the system, the Dash which is really configurable, and the smartycam which autorecords when you go faster than 25mph.

Attached Image Attached Image


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 12:33 PM
Post #19


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



In concert with the electrical system i wanted to address the dash.

The PO built a nice dash but it was rather heavy and not really in keeping with my vision so worked with an awesome friend of mine who took a stock dash and rebuilt the front out of aluminum for a clean look that will allow installation of accessories. I am really excited about it but still need to figure out a nice enclosure for the back of the gauge pod. The hoop and upper secrion of dash are stock so will try to mirror as close to original look as possible. Function trumps that though. Will be installing electrical kill switch in next couple days. Has the AIM keypad, fire extinguisher pull, and data upllink installed.

Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
BillJ
post Mar 11 2022, 12:42 PM
Post #20


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,184
Joined: 4-March 13
From: charlotte, NC
Member No.: 15,610
Region Association: None



The cage had a bar under the dash that was meant to keep integrity in case of side impact. However for me the bar landed about an inch away from my knee in my preferred seating arrangement. If i had any impact to the front i would likely impact my kneecaps in the steel and probably be permanently injured. Not so cool!

So had a bar made to fit higher up under the dash that provides the same protection without the same clear risk. My buddy Ryan again to the rescue!

Attached Image

Attached Image

Attached Image
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

9 Pages V  1 2 3 > » 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 



- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 6th November 2024 - 01:09 AM