Conversion wheelwell cutouts?

peter carroll · 12-02-2003, 06:11 PM

I am putting a Subaru motor in my 914. I admit it., I am a bit nervous about cutting the air vents in my wheelwells to let hot air escape. Can anyone tell me how big to make them? What size and shape? Also, what is the best way to cut the hole in the front of the car? Pics would be a huge help. Thank You . Pete

Va914 · 12-02-2003, 06:51 PM

Have you seen the web page with the Subaru 914 conversion. It was done my am college student and came out fairly nice.

It had some great photo's of the key components. I have it at work and can send it to you on Wed.

Cheers
Kerry

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Google on "tischer porsche 914 subaru" and you ought to find it.

--DD

peter carroll · 12-03-2003, 05:52 PM

He never cut vents in the wheelwells, just in the bottom of the trunk. Apparently the place to get the air the hell out of there is through the wells were there is a positive airflow. Pete

marks914 · 12-04-2003, 05:48 PM

Make 'em as big as you can. The hole in the bottom of the trunk does not provide enough low pressure to draw the air through the radiator at speed. Then go to an upholstery shop or jo ann fabrics and get some windlace to finish the holes up niceley. I tried to use the existing a/c hole in my 914 5.0L but had to cut out the fenderwells.
Chiao
Mark
72 914 5.0L
Grey primer with one red fender

peter carroll · 12-04-2003, 06:37 PM

Thanks Chiao, Thats the info I wanted to hear. Pete

SteveStromberg · 12-04-2003, 06:53 PM

http://web2.iadfw.net/atl/Rotary.html
http://www.etischer.com/914xt.html

SteveStromberg · 07:08 PM

I still think running two of these pipes on the car would reduce the size of the radiator. The Suby is 132 CI that mean you will need a radiator with 132 square inches.

SteveStromberg · 07:20 PM

By using the Gt bumper and valance you will get an inlet 15 x5 ? I didnt measure just a guess thats 90 sq.in. The two pipes have 740 sq.in per pipe. with a combined total over 1500 sq.in thats like having a 30 x 50 radiator even if it ran at 25% due to it being under the car thats 380 sq.in still nearly 3 time the surface area need to cool the motor. Steve

SteveStromberg · 12-04-2003, 07:29 PM

AJS · 12-05-2003, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SteveStromberg

I still think running two of these pipes on the car would reduce the size of the radiator. The Suby is 132 CI that mean you will need a radiator with 132 square inches.

Steve,

I've seen these before.......do you have a source for them??

Thanks,

Andy

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Elephant Racing makes them for 911s.....prolly can fab some for the 914 as well.....
chuckmoreland@elephantracing.com

Tell him I sent ya....prolly only charge you twice as much....%^B

SteveStromberg · 12-07-2003, 09:06 AM

http://www.secureperformanceorder.com/onlinestore/getproduct.cfm?CategoryID=9&ClassID=135&SubclassID=638&ProductID=2700

hargray2 · 12-15-2003, 06:52 PM

use the gt shroud (or make your own) to vent the air through the floor. Don't cut your wheelwells, they are structural! They practically hold up everything in front of the gas tank.
Vent through the floor!!

hargray2 · 12-15-2003, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by marks914
Make 'em as big as you can. The hole in the bottom of the trunk does not provide enough low pressure to draw the air through the radiator at speed. Mark 72 914 5.0L

not enough low pressure? No modern liquid-cooled vehicles are
vented out through the wheelwells, all through the bottom.
It also seems there would be a more unpredictable pattern
of turbulence inside the wheelwells not to mention more mess
being slung into the trunk from the tires.

Anyway, I have seen 914's vented out through the top of the hood where there is probably the highest air pressure anywhere
around the car.

sammyg2 · 12-16-2003, 02:33 PM

I disagree. The area of the fenderwells that is cut away is not structural and has no effect on strength except in a head on crash it could change the crumple zones.

I had large cutouts in the fenderwells on my V8 914 and they had no effect on stiffness.

venting through he floor will work if you have a large air dam in front that keeps air from going under the car.

M. Hendrix · 12-16-2003, 03:21 PM

Hardeeville SC... man, that sounds close!

Most of the cars I have seen with vented/ducted hoods, have vented floors... all of the cars I have seen... maybe.

M

hargray2 · 12-16-2003, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sammyg2
I disagree. The area of the fenderwells that is cut away is not structural and has no effect on strength except in a head on crash it could change the crumple zones.

I had large cutouts in the fenderwells on my V8 914 and they had no effect on stiffness.

Could? change the crumple zones? One should know that
doing this does affect the "crumple zones". This being my point exactly. The wheelwells are in fact the most structural
part in front of the front bulkhead. I would not want to compromise what little integrity a 914 would have in a head-on collision. (A terrible situation in any car, let alone a 914!)

MAKES ME WANT A ROLL CAGE!!

Hendrix, damn right it's close! It's the first place you come to when you hit carolina, only 20 minutes from pretty much anywhere in Sav. Surely you knew that already. Too bad we are in such a 914 sparse locale, hell mine don't even count right now!
It's undergoing some serious work. The car is completely dismantled and the shell is sitting on jack stands in my shop.
It's going on the rotisserie as soon as I get my shop insulated
and organized again.

M. Hendrix · 12-16-2003, 09:57 PM

Mine next

M

sammyg2 · 12-17-2003, 06:47 AM

How much does cutting the fenderwells on a 914 change the crumple zones? Please provide me with that information and links to the tests.
Also, does cutting the front trunk floor change the crumple zones, and exactly how much?
What effect does a large radiator with mounting frame in the front change the crumple zones?

Does your 914 have the later style rubber bumpers? From what I've read and heard they are much safer in a front end collison. of course, so is an SUV.

Thanks in advance.