Hi all, new guy from The motor city to share knowledge

[marks914]

Hi all
I am up here in chilly Detroit, and I have a love of cars from all eras, traditional rods, 50s, musclecars. I have a project that is a bit different so bear with me. its a 72 porsche 914 with a Chevy 302. yes, a 914 with a Chevy 302. it was voted best dare to be different by Hot rod a couple of years ago. Everybody hates it, the hot rodders hate it because its Foreign, the Porsche guys hate it because its a 914, the 914 guys hat it because it has a V8, but I love it. Hey, mid engine, 4 wheel independant suspension, 4 wheel disc brakes, V8, what else can you ask for in a car?
I also have a 35 chevy master in the works and am eyeballing a 70 camaro for some work.
I also have been a designer at Chrysler for about 10 years and own an aftermarket gauge business. If you have any questions about gauges, feel free to ask, anything from installation to troubleshooting to customizing, wether it is mour products or someone else's, advice is free. I will be signing up for an ad here so stay tuned in about a week.
Thats about it, here are some pics of my 914
Mark
http://inlinethumb52.webshots.com/3059/2187828940057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2187828940057582025rdhcEg)
http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/30481/2041932740057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2041932740057582025kkwWZZ)
http://inlinethumb19.webshots.com/28242/2525888240057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2525888240057582025ZOdPUv)
http://inlinethumb15.webshots.com/31438/2417293290057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2417293290057582025DjuFcX)
http://inlinethumb18.webshots.com/39377/2064964850057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2064964850057582025cCpGFH)
http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/5831/2363509080057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2363509080057582025fWXsqD)

[ProTouring442]

Nice Porsche! Since you're a designer at Chrysler though, shouldn't it have a Hemi in it? :yes:

Welcome to the site by the way!!!

My favorite Porsche 914-6:

http://www.corvettes.nl/prototypes/page47/files/page47_1.jpg

http://www.corvettes.nl/prototypes/page47/files/page47_2.jpg
(source: http://www.corvettes.nl)

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[ccracin]

Great car and welcome to the site. You need to check out Jim's build here: http://www.lateral-g.net/forums/showthread.php4?t=5109&highlight=porsche+drive

You'll have alot to talk about.

[marks914]

That thing is pretty sweet,
thanks for the link!

hey Bill,
was that the one that was rotary powered?
Mark

[ProTouring442]

That thing is pretty sweet,
thanks for the link!

hey Bill,
was that the one that was rotary powered?
Mark

Yes, it's the XP897 GT, powered by a 2-rotor Wankel mounted transversely instead of the Porsche's longitudinally design, allowing them to shorten the wheelbase a bit.

Hmmm, let's see... a Porsche 914, the front suspension from a 6-speed Pontiac G-6, a nice all aluminum LS motor.... :D

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[byndbad914]

your type ain't welcome here :D

I've been on this site for quite some time as I used to have a 70 Mustang, so forth and am a bigger fan of American iron than Euro stuff, minus of course the bastard children like Cobras, Tigers, Panteras, GT-40s etc and our hybrids.

[marks914]

your type ain't welcome here :D

I've been on this site for quite some time as I used to have a 70 Mustang, so forth and am a bigger fan of American iron than Euro stuff, minus of course the bastard children like Cobras, Tigers, Panteras, GT-40s etc and our hybrids.

wow, just like at home!
Nice to see a friendly face, small world.
Mark

[Garage Dog 65]

Great job on your 914 !!! That must be a blast to drive !

Welcome to the site !

Jim

[ProTouring442]

I just checked out your gauge site, WOW! Very nice! I wish I had known about your gauges before I put my dash together with Classic Instruments' G-Stocks. I love the look, but the lighting on the G-Stocks isn't the best.

Once we complete our move to Tennessee, I may be in touch to see what might be possible to remedy this. Perhaps LED bulbs, but they need to be adjustable for brightness.

Anyway, great job on the gauges!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill

[marks914]

Thanks Bill.
I am working on the banners to be a sponsor for this site, so hopefully you guys can help with developing new products. We Try to actually listen to customers and see what they want. I should have them done by the end of the week.
We do have LED dimmers, a shop in town makes them for us, so let me know if you need anything.
As far as I know, we are the only company that can do custom backlit gauge dials on a one-off basis.
Keep a look out for our ad coming soon.
These are probably what you were looking at:
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/12517/2223279600057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2223279600057582025EfgPaF)
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/3317/2238695130057582025S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2238695130057582025KbyHGM)
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/42870/2940530760057582025S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2940530760057582025mkxErA)
Thanks again
Mark

[extralight]

Thanks Bill.
I am working on the banners to be a sponsor for this site, so hopefully you guys can help with developing new products. We Try to actually listen to customers and see what they want. I should have them done by the end of the week.
We do have LED dimmers, a shop in town makes them for us, so let me know if you need anything.
As far as I know, we are the only company that can do custom backlit gauge dials on a one-off basis.
Keep a look out for our ad coming soon.
These are probably what you were looking at:
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/12517/2223279600057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2223279600057582025EfgPaF)
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/3317/2238695130057582025S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2238695130057582025KbyHGM)
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/42870/2940530760057582025S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2940530760057582025mkxErA)
Thanks again
Mark

Mark, what's the link to you guage site? I have a project that I need to figure out what guages to use and I haven't found anything I really like yet. Thanks!

[70rs]

Cool car. I have always liked the 914s. And ad a V8 to the package and it only gets better. What transaxle are you using in that? What kind of horsepower does it have? How is the handling/balance of the car?
:cheers:

[marks914]

extralight:
i'll PM you the website, don't want to look like a spammer before we pay for the sponsorship later thgis week. They are called New Vintage 1969 Series.

70rs:
I am running the stock transaxle with taller gears. Its pretty crazy but it works, you take 5th gear and "flip" it and put ut where 3rd was, take 3rd, flip it and put it where 4th was, take a 2nd gear out of an old 912 box, flip it and run it on 5th. Lock out 1st and away you go! Someone figured it out and its has worked out pretty well for about 7 years and 40,000 miles. been running about 450 HP through it. With the 302 the power doesn't come on unril abou 2500-3000 so at least the car is rolling when its all in. This had been the best running, best driving, most relaible and most fun car i hacve ever owned. Its pretty roomy and comfortable too. I have driven everything from Vipers to vettes and the 914 is definately a blast.
here are some pics before the engine was installed
Mark
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/4756/2172091620057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2172091620057582025zjFLug)
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/5136/2938891350057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2938891350057582025PdfMET)
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/30539/2359288680057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2359288680057582025CwZtDC)
radiator:
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/2506/2849680240057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2849680240057582025qqIHBM)

[70rs]

Thanks Bill.
I am working on the banners to be a sponsor for this site, so hopefully you guys can help with developing new products. We Try to actually listen to customers and see what they want. I should have them done by the end of the week.
We do have LED dimmers, a shop in town makes them for us, so let me know if you need anything.
As far as I know, we are the only company that can do custom backlit gauge dials on a one-off basis.
Keep a look out for our ad coming soon.
These are probably what you were looking at:
http://inlinethumb38.webshots.com/12517/2223279600057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2223279600057582025EfgPaF)
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/3317/2238695130057582025S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2238695130057582025KbyHGM)
http://inlinethumb55.webshots.com/42870/2940530760057582025S425x425Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2940530760057582025mkxErA)
Thanks again
Mark

I would really the way these look, day and night.:thumbsup:

[70rs]

extralight:
i'll PM you the website, don't want to look like a spammer before we pay for the sponsorship later thgis week. They are called New Vintage 1969 Series.

70rs:
I am running the stock transaxle with taller gears. Its pretty crazy but it works, you take 5th gear and "flip" it and put ut where 3rd was, take 3rd, flip it and put it where 4th was, take a 2nd gear out of an old 912 box, flip it and run it on 5th. Lock out 1st and away you go! Someone figured it out and its has worked out pretty well for about 7 years and 40,000 miles. been running about 450 HP through it. With the 302 the power doesn't come on unril abou 2500-3000 so at least the car is rolling when its all in. This had been the best running, best driving, most relaible and most fun car i hacve ever owned. Its pretty roomy and comfortable too. I have driven everything from Vipers to vettes and the 914 is definately a blast.
here are some pics before the engine was installed
Mark
http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/4756/2172091620057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2172091620057582025zjFLug)
http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/5136/2938891350057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2938891350057582025PdfMET)
http://inlinethumb12.webshots.com/30539/2359288680057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2359288680057582025CwZtDC)
radiator:
http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/2506/2849680240057582025S600x600Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2849680240057582025qqIHBM)


Thanks for all the info. I am a little confused though, with all of the gear swapping how many forward gears do you have? It sound like a cool set up and I can only imagine how much fun it is to drive. How's traction in the rain?
:lol:

[marks914]

Its now a 4-speed and the gears are spaced out pretty good. Its good for about 140 in 3rd.
Traction? Kind of non-existant on 205s, but I can't bring myself to flare the car. Between the 205s and the CV joints I am hoping that the traction or CVs will go before the trans, so that is my insurance policy.
I will admit that rolling along next to some kids in a ricer at 40 MPH, hitting the pedal and lighting up the tires is pretty fun though. Not that I ever do that.
Mark

[70rs]

Nice! Kind of like the ultimate go cart.....:thumbsup:

[marks914]

Nhe next challenge is A/C. There is a way to get it on there, I am just trying to find a way to do it without pulling the engione trans. Plenty of time before summer
Mark

Here is the first gauge set I ever made. I was too cheap to pay $1200.00 for a custom set, so I made one. Then I made a set for another guy, and another... and the rest is history.
http://inlinethumb58.webshots.com/41017/2332298320057582025S500x500Q85.jpg (http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2332298320057582025TMmqXj)