Project LS1 (Another One!)

[mbaran]

So I'm turning my 964 look '70 911 into an LS1 powered car. I'm doing it completely on my own without the RH kit or anyone else.

Once we had the engine out, I noticed that it needed new shocks. I then noticed that the previous owner had screwed the lower sideskirt panel and then filled and painted over, so removing the torsion bar was also not happening.

We started by cutting the torsion bar out of the car.



Once it was out, we reassembled the radius arm and got the suspension swinging again.

We prepped and ground down the lip under where the stock shock goes.



We planning on welding this plate to the bottom of the upper support as a brace for the new suspension.



And the we mocked up the QA1's upper support to see how we'd need to support it.



Once we had the plate in, and the coil mounted to the top, we checked the play and motion on the passenger side.



Once we saw that everything was fine, we duplicated all of this on the drivers side, and painted flat black to match.



All done for now!



Right now, the car is slammed, so the coils look on the short side. In reality, they're quite perfect in size and ride at the recommended 10.5-11.5 ride high range. The QA1's are awesome in their adjustability. 0 Clicks and it has the spring of a caddy, turn it up to 5 and it's rock hard. It goes to 12!

[GaryR]

Is there a reason you didn't put coilovers in the existing mounts (after reinforcing them)?

[Tooth911]

Very cool great start !

[mbaran]

We determined this location to be both stronger becaues the loading is being more evenly spread on the beam. This way puts the weight on the bottom of the beam rather than pulling through the top, reinforced.

[sc_rufctr]

I like the creative approach to the rear suspension... And it looks bomb proof.

You'll have complete and easy adjustability not to mention the cost saving in not using Porsche only rear coil overs... Well done.
You could even go with air bags in the future. Now that would be cool!

Good luck with the project.

[mbaran]

Thanks!

[78-911SC]

Who is WE? I thought your stated " I'm doing it completely on my own without the RH kit or anyone else". Not that WE all wouldn't need help on this type of project. Looking forward to your posts.

[lin7310948]

have you placed the engine into the engine bay. anything you move rearward will likely create potential problems with exhaust, engine mounts, water lines, etc. don't put trick yourself trying to be trick! i also have a conversion...sbc...all aluminum 434 cubic inch solid roller motor with mass flo efi making almost 600 chp. my car is a 71 911. i use the original shock mounting points properly reinforced per numerous recommendations from the forum !

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by lin7310948

...i use the original shock mounting points properly reinforced per numerous recommendations from the forum !...

Look at the quality of the weld. This guy is doing a great job.
As I said in an earlier post this set-up looks bomb proof.

Yes he could have used the stock mounting points but why not try something different?

[lin7310948]

was not trying to be negative nor critical. point was that space can be a premium in this area and trial fit "stuff" as a unit and not to proceed piecemeal! yes, you are right the welding is fine.

[DW SD]

interesting solution and cool project. Will you remove the shock tops and fill them in?

Will that room be used for something else? I know space is at a premium.

For how much travel are those coil-overs designed?

Will you be doing a dry sump on the chevy? That would seem a great way to keep the spirit of the Porsche, while blending in cheap american HP.

Doug

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by lin7310948

was not trying to be negative nor critical. point was that space can be a premium in this area and trial fit "stuff" as a unit and not to proceed piecemeal! yes, you are right the welding is fine.

That was my thinking too, i'm sure his new mounts are stronger but as someone that works down there I know Porsche shoe-horned everything in there pretty good from the start.

[mbaran]

Realistically if you used the upper mount, you'd use a longer coil anyways, and pretty much have the same space occupied by coil. The coil might start a few inches higher, but it would be within the same area.

*edit* The coil still goes all the way down, and interferes around the bottom with about the same dimensions.

Measured from shifter linkage to the end of the CV flange, I have about 1" of space from the CV to the coil.

The travel on the shocks is at least 1" in either direction from normal ride height. I don't expect, with the car loaded with engine and trans, to bottom out, or over extend the shock.

We, being my buddy and I, no companies and pre-designed products.

[HelmetHead]

Props to you/your welder...those are some nice looking welds.

[mbaran]

I'll send your regard his way. He'll be my welder/fabricator for the rest of this project. I'm just the grease monkey/ bottomless wallet :-\

Over the long thanksgiving weekend, we'll be cutting apart the front and installing the rad and rebuilding the gas tank.

[rouxroux]

Richard Finch would approve!

[Dueller]

Beautiful fab work...but how much travel will you get out of those shocks/springs? Looks awfully short to me. Looking forward to following this build.

[mbaran]

not as much, but it's a lowered road car, not a rally car, so it should be fine. It might tripod on a steep driveway, but they're about 1.5" from max compression, so there is about 5" of downward movement.

[turbobrat930]

I am putting an LS-2 into my 944. I already have the engine, car, etc... And I will be also doing this without the dreaded RH. Props to you for not spending the thousands of dollars they charge for their stuff!! It can be done correctly, and better for much, much less!! Nice welds, I like the creative thinking on the back suspension. Good luck!!!

[mbaran]

Thanks. Can't wait to get going on the rest of the car. Wish I had the engine already..