open rear trunk floor... why not?

[david c.]

Hi all,

Last year I saw a monster 914/6 track car that had it's rear trunk floor removed to faciliate access to the gearbox, axles, etc.

Today I was nosing around on ebay and noticed that the Maserati Bora actually came this way.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2414107739&category=6313

Have any of you done this? Aside from losing the trunk space, what are the other reasons for not doing this? What bracing would need to be fabricated to make up for the loss of the trunk floor?

Sorry if this sounds goofy to some purists, but we're building a 914 for my little brother as a college graduation present. I have a rust free roller that we're going to have repainted before the mechanicals go into it. If this floor idea is not a crazy one, we may do it before it goes to the paint shop.

Fire away!

David

[jkeyzer]

Trade the rust free roller for one which has already had its trunks removed the clean, natural way!

[david c.]

Nah, this is not a band-aid for rust but for future access and convenience. The 914/6 was well-constructed and I was struck by the openness of the car. Just think, you could see the CV's from the top!

The floor in the donor car is actually solid too. It's mid-body rust that is leading to it's inevitable demise.

[maf 914]

The racing cars with stripped bodies are usually reinforced with roll cages and additional bracing to the front and rear mounting points. If you cut the rear trunk out it may be a good idea to brace the tranny mount points.

Mike

[david c.]

Does anyone have any pictures? I figured some serious bracing would need to be done, but that's okay by me. Putting in some type of a cage is not out of the question but it's not a decision we've already made either.

We've got all the time in the world since he's not graduating for another 1.5 years.

[URY914]

I did it to my car. I'll post some pictures tonight.

Paul

[red-beard]

Actually, I like the idea, but you may want to keep the rear trunk spare tire mount point as well. I'm sure the spare tire doesn't mind being that way.

James

[david c.]

red-beard,

I'm not really sure what you mean? Both of my cars have the spare in the front...

David

[bernbomb914]

what if you could modify the trunk so you could take out the floor but be able to bolt it back in when you didnt need to work or see what 's under the floor?

[david c.]

with Dzus fasteners and a big weatherstripping seal? Nice idea! How about a plexiglas floor a la the engine cover on a Ferrari 360. Granted, the view isn't going to be quite as beautiful...

[norustscott]

?

[M. Hendrix]

http://www.v8914.com/Images/Big/Engine3.jpg

Oh...

Find the 914 in that picture.


M

[URY914]

Here's mine...

[Speedo959]

I could see it for a track car, but not for a daily driver. I'm thinking of the top getting all filled with road grime. Even on sunny days you still have that chance of going through something in the road. Not to mention the unguarded muffler that will radiate heat on the underside of your top. I would only consider it if you had rust you needed to cut out anyways. Oh and something that never happens......your 914 could leak oil that would get swirled all over the inside.

[maf 914]

Check out the fancy project cars at Patrick Racing's site for some more bracing photos. Neat cars!

http://www.patrickmotorsports.com/cgi-bin/main?action=gallery

Mike

[HMeeder]

Pretty

[campbellcj]

Jim Patrick's HSR 2-liter car. Removable rear "sub floor" (under the axles!)

[Kevin Powers]

note that in all pictures you have to provide extensive bracing. the cv bolts would be visible but you would still have to fight with the outboard ones (control arm end). i think that for a street car it's not the way to go. when your top was stashed, oh, the bracing, no top. the road mess would be a nightmare. have you climbed under one of these that has not been steam cleaned in the last 60k miles, it's fun, imagine that everywhere. if you have a truly "rust-free example", find one with shot trunks and cut that up first. undoing bad dessions cost big$$$.

kevin

kevin