5 lug conversion

[sking]

can anyone tell me an aproximate cost for a complete 5 lug conversioon?
shawn

[Ron Meier]

911 or 911 SC front end from junk yard - $400-$700

Caliper rebuild kits - $100

914-911 brake adapter lines $80

Drilled rear hubs - $50-$100

New wheel bearings - $120

914/6 rear rotors - $120.00

Set of wheels - $300 to ???????

Stopping power - priceless!

Or

New front rotors drilled for 5 lug - $130

rears - see above

wheels - see above

[rockaria]

Hello,

I went the "Drill 914/4 rotors/hubs to 5-lug" approach using all 914/4 parts.

I bought all new rotors and a used set of hubs and had them drilled at the same time. I had studs pressed in from the rears. I also bough new bearings, seals, and brake pads all around "A must!". Plus I bought used 5.5X14 Fuch rims and new tires.


Rotors/hubs drilled to 5-lug - $600
Other parts - $225
Rims (4) - $400
Tires (4) - $325
Lug Nuts - $100 (Sorry Forgot those buggers!)
Installation - $free (a mechanic friend helped me on a weekend)

TOTAL - $1,600 complete and on the road!

Having a mechanic really helped since he had all the really cool tools to do the job. The dreaded read hub part of the job was the easiest for him. He had the old hubs off and new bearing and 5-lug hubs on in less than 10 minuts each. The whole job took about 5 or so hours from up on the lift to driving away!

The hard part were the brakes. The rears had stuck pistons and that took a while to fix. Also The rear pads were wrong that I bought and I had to get the correct ones (FLAPS ERROR!)

ALso this is the perfect time to upgrade to the bigger front BMW brakes if you want that. I did not.

I recommend doing this with as many new parts as possible. Your 914 needs them anyways since it probably had not had this service done in a while. One of my rear bearings were shot and the rotors/pads too. I would NOT drill out used rotors. But that is just my feeling on it.

I hope this helps with different options.

[anthony]

Even though I got a great deal on an '86 Carrera front suspension it's costing me more than I thought. This is mostly due to wanting to do it right.

The extra costs are all the little stuff:

Ball joints $88
A arm bushings $50
front brake pads $50
turbo tie rods $120
914/6 rotors $120
rear brake lines $30
911 carrera rotors $120
rear brake pads $50
rear 140lb. springs $100

This $700 worth of improvements aren't absolutely necessary. I could just slap the Carrera front suspension on but I want to do it right.

Also required:

front suspension $500
15" Fuchs $500
rear hubs predrilled $60
rear studs $50
alloy lug nuts $60
911 brake lines $30
rear wheel bearings $70


So, if you do it on the cheap it can cost as low as $300-$500 plus wheels. Done with all new/refreshed parts - figure on $1500. If you need new shocks figure on another $500 for Bilsteins or Konis.

[sking]

thanks guys for all the info.that's just a little too much $ for me right now but in the future it looks like it might happen

[ReZ]

Bringing this thread back to life because I will be doing this very soon.

From above, is this mostly everything needed to have a 1st class braking setup?

how about suspension?

Is there a technical artical online covering this?

[Jim Smolka]

ReZ,

Their is a Pelican Tech article on conversions.
When calculating the cost, don't forget the corner balance and alignment, about $200

For big HP applications, a couple of other options are available to convert the rear to 5 lug
Find a set of early 911 CVs, Stub axles, Hubs. Then you can use any 911 vented rotor you want (Carrera or SC). To mate the 911 CVs to the 914/901 tranny drive flanges, one can find a set of 911/901 tranny drive flanges (very hard to find) or by a set of adapters (I have these). Either way you may need a spacer between the drive flange and the early 911 CVs.

For braking, pre 76 struts have 3" spacing, there for, only M calipers will fit. 76 and earlier allow A calipers.

Of course you can go with the custom setup such for braking. Currently, I am building a 13" rotor system for the front with huge calipers . On the rear will be 12" rotors . Of course the 13" front setup can be installed on 3" or 3.5" spaced struts.

[Biggy72]

I emailed http://franklinsvwwerks.com/ and asked them how much they cost to redrill and they said for all four they would do it for 175 I think. They had four different sizes that they'd redrill to, one 5 lug, and two different 4 lug.

[ss6]

Hey Jim, am wondering about the 911 CV thing. Any big advantage to using those over a fresh set of 914 CV's? I've got a set from an '84 Carrera, tranny flange all the way out to the castle-nut, but my local 911 guru sez it'd be a waste of time. Opinions? Also, where do you get the 901 - 911 adapter flanges, and how much $$$?

[Jim Smolka]

John,

I see you have a 3.2 also. I have destroyed a set of 914 CVs with mine. The advantage of going to the 911 CVs is the strenght due their large size.

However, I am not sure if Carrera CV stuff will work. I have always used '69 to 73 stub axles and CVs. The brakes an rotors from a Carrera will work though.

If you need the 914/901 to the 911 CVs, I have these available. Just drop me a note (racing914six@aol.com)