^^ I agree, but one thing I noticed I wanted to ask you about: The connection of the long rod at the trailing arm: why does it have, what seems to be an unnecessary long bolt? Couldn't the rod sit more closely towards the trailing arm so it suffers less momentum?

Greets,
Walter

porsche Powered Mid-Engine Double Cab
 

Thanks for the comments, and the tech questions are always good to keep me thinking on the overall design goals as well as details that need to be addressed as with a build like this there is plenty to consider.

Flieger, all the welding and fab work is by Seth, the uber talented build master (at age 21 or so)!

Beetspeed, the bolt does appear long, but it is designed specifically for the 944 aluminum arm to convert it to coil-over shocks, it is sold by Racers Edge.

The stock 944 lower bolt is not compatible with the 1/2" standard shock bolt diameter so it is two bolts in one, metric adapter into stock arm then has a second 1/2" bolt for shock install. It also provides enough room to run the shock hat on the bottom to reduce unsprung weight. At $150 a pair they better be up to the task.

Stephen.

Good to hear Stephan! It did look like the races edge bolt, but I could not see very clearly.
Keep us updated on your progress. Awesome pics to look at http://forums.pelicanparts.com/support/smileys/pray.gif

Porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Some more progress, I have been working on the fuel system.
All the engine lines have been replaced with Aeroquip startlite hose and AN fittings using metric conversion parts from B.A.T. in Florida.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298188023.jpg
R.CI. fuel cell modified by Seth to fit over the t.t. tunnel, now holds 13 gallons.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298188199.jpg
I added a fuel fill vent on top of the R.C.I. fill cap and a two way tank vent to allow air in but stays closed to vapor and fuel venting out unless tank goes positive from heat expansion.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298188481.jpg
944 fuel pump (suppose to be compatable with 3.2 carrera?) which will soon connect with canton fuel filter when I get some missing Aeroquip hose ends.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298188747.jpg
Aero fuel cap from B.A.T. made in Britain, its very nice.

More soon as I prepare to re-install the drivetrain to go back to the fabricators for exhaust, custom dry sump tank ect.....

You have a fuel sending unit (edited) I see? Couldn't fit one in the cell in my bug. Very nice work with the custom tank.

WOW, great work, I am jealous!

Porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Some more progress as most of the fiddly stuff on the back of the engine is done,so I can install drive train.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298829459.jpg
truck needs 28" to roll engine in, sitting on moving dolly.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298829885.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298829911.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298829943.jpg
All bolted in

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298830023.jpg
shortened torque tube.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298830135.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298830206.jpg
944s2 transaxle.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298830316.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1298830356.jpg

Very, very nice work! Keep the pics coming. :)


Andreas

hello,

Excuse my translation but I am French, I'll try to make myself understood.
great work already done!
I have a split of 64 which I would like to graft the running gear of a 944 phase 1 (steel arm) and the gearbox, but I want to keep a type 1.

I will carefully monitor the progress of your project, but I have a question on the front:

do you intend to delete the original train and adapt something else?

good luck for the future.

PATARY

Porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Thanks again all for the comments, after all the prep and chassis paint it is nice to start putting it all back together.

jadewombat, there is not much left untouched on the r.c.i. fuel cell (really just a tank) but it still has the G.M sender in it which looks like I can get a black face gauge that should look close to the other V.D.O. Porsche and aftermarket V.D.O. ones I am running.

Hey Patary, your english is a lot better than my french, I have been twice to your country and all I can do is yell louder in english (american) to try and communicate. :rolleyes:

If you are referring to the front suspension then the stock beam has been replaced by a 4" narrowed adjustable ball joint beam from Wagenswest with 2.5" welded Porsche drop spindles. I also added the front coil-over shocks that match the rear coil-overs to increase the spring rate.
Thats about all I can do to increase the performance of front end until I junk most of it and have Seth the fabricator design and build a unequal A arm setup, with rack and pinion and adjustable sway bar.....future mod.

Porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Thanks again all for the comments, after all the prep and chassis paint it is nice to start putting it all back together.

jadewombat, there is not much left untouched on the R.C.I. fuel cell (really just a tank) but it still has the G.M sender in it which looks like I can get a black face gauge that should look close to the other V.D.O. Porsche and aftermarket V.D.O. ones I am running.

Hey Patary, your english is a lot better than my french, I have been twice to your country and all I can do is yell louder in english (american) to try and communicate. :rolleyes:

If you are referring to the front suspension then the stock beam has been replaced by a 4" narrowed adjustable ball joint beam from Wagenswest with 2.5" welded Porsche drop spindles. I also added the front coil-over shocks that match the rear coil-overs to increase the spring rate.
Thats about all I can do to increase the performance of front end until I junk most of it and have Seth the fabricator design and build a unequal A arm setup, with rack and pinion and adjustable sway bar.........future mod.

porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

I have been working more of the smaller details like the rear seat/engine cover.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302240866.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302240901.jpg
It still needs foam and seat cover installed and hinge fabricated so it will swing up for access.
The stock pedestal now sits on a rubber seal I poured in place .
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302241133.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302241154.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302241177.jpg

I also mocked up the cable shifter location and made a walnut and aluminum knob to top it off.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302241294.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1302241323.jpg

I love this thread!


Andreas

Just curious, it looks like you moved the rear coil over shocks laterally (lay-flat) because of space. I've seen this on off-road cars every now and then or race cars where they go towards the middle of the car (left-right instead of forward-rear). The cantilever arm (yellow) that transfers the motion from the connecting rod of the trailing arm assembly to the shock looks like it has a an off-center pattern, how did you determine how much to put this off-center (different suspension travel) or was that a space concern as well?

porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Hey jadewombat.
The rocker is offset for a 1.5 to 1 ratio.
This was done to extend the shock travel from 4" to 6".
The d.c is a working truck so I need the extra travel for 1500#+ payload.

The shock are oriented for packaging and utility of the new "trunk". Seth (the fabricator) could have built them in any way, most race cars are located for aero and weight reasons.

good progress.

Can't beat the price and quality of those rci fuel cells. (You can get them cheap on ebay in all kinds of sizes for those who don't know). I like the mods you did to the tank....very smart. So many bus owners have no idea how dangerous their stock VW gas tanks are.

I wonder how much this 40 year old modern girl is going to weigh when she's done.

Look forward to racing you some day....944 Bus vs STI Bus... thought that may be some time away.

ArtistAntonio: What makes the stock tank so dangerous? Any photos of the A arm suspension?

The craftsmanship is no less than amazing!
I wish I could Fedex my 911 to you, it can use your skilled hands :-)

Brilliant job, man!

Where did you get this valve from?

porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Thanks all for the comments and questions.

jadewombat the valve is from Pegasus racing
Pegasus - Fuel Cell Pressure Relieving Vent Valve, In-Line, 6AN Male

not cheap but for me a better solution than a open hose or a bulky charcoal can.

911freek, the credit for the fabricating all goes to Seth, he has a shop called Twisted Minis in Windsor C.A.- I just clean and assemble stuff and save try to save my pennies for another round of custom fabrication goodness.

ArtistAntonio, my projected weight is 2800# so with about 230 h.p. you may have to turn your boost down a bit to make it exciting.

Awesome work, Have you made any more progress lately?

Phillip

porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Thanks for the kind remarks and interest in the project.

The double cab is presently at the fabricators getting the exhaust built as well as the hydraulic clutch / custom dry sump tank and some small details attended to.

There should be some more progress pics by Seth or myself soon.

Stephen.

Stephen,
Can you tell me the distance from rotor surface to rotor surface with the 944 trailing arms? I talked to you a few years back at the Parts Heaven swap meet. I have the grey crewcab.
thanks,
Harold

porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Hey Harold, what have you got cookin' with that awesome d.c.?
Did you flare the rear fenders?

The notes I have from my first version build with stock torsion and bolt on clamps with early steel 944 arms is 58 3/4"- face to face.( no stock wheel spacer and 3/8 spacer on inside of spring plate).

The current version with welded in 1990 944 torsion and 1986 early offset alloy arms is 58 3/4"+.
The late offset alloy arms are 60" on the above 944 torsion.

hope that helps,
Stephen

Hi Stephen,
I've been following your posts, congrats on an excellent build and workmanship.

Regarding the flares. I had a metal fabricator do a few mock ups and didn't like any of them. The goal was a 2.5" flare that would accommodate a Fuchs 9x15 w/270/40/15 (10 3/4" wide tire). Jumping ahead to just recently, I looked into swapping to 944 trailing arms but decided to modified a bus hub for the 5/130 bolt pattern and used a Boxster rear rotor. This gave me a 55 9/16" rotor to rotor distance. I rolled the rear fender stretching it 9/16". I'm currently running 3 pc Fuchs 8.5 x 16 (5.5" backspacing) with Toyo T1R 245/45/16 (9 7/8" wide), no spacers. Neg camber is 1.4. The front is a Fuchs 7x16 w/205/55/16 on a modified 912 hub.

Keep the posts coming, I'm looking forward to hearing about driving it.
H.

porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Sounds like you have it pretty narrow with that set-up

My present tires are also T1R 245/45/16 on a 16/8/et52 rim, no extra room outboard for sure.
The front tires are T1R 215/40/16.

So far they work great on a tow dolly!

Thanks for checking out my build and hope to bring it to next years swap to shed some parts that didn't make the cut.

Starting on a hitch for the Double Cab. Needs some more bracing due to the drop. Drop is to line it up with the bumper.

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...70143118_n.jpg
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...33531233_n.jpg

Mufflers will hang off the cross member, so it needed to be there first. Tips and hitch will go through rear bumper.

Working on the exhaust, these down pipes look simple, but they have been very challenging so far.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...81614467_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...17735109_n.jpg

Need to hang the mufflers before I set the tilt of the tubes, and do the last two bends.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...98892662_n.jpg

Some day I will do something like this with my family Vanagon Westy. :)

One side almost done, other side is a little more intricate.
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...00520027_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...94018508_n.jpg

A little more tweaking and I can weld the mid pipe to the muffler and cat, and then start on a crossover, or H-pipe.

I'm a little disappointed the exhaust looks so simple in the pictures, but there are a lot of angles you don't really see. Its not just straight with some bends. Almost every bend is off axis from the one before, especially on the PS.

Here are the latest shots. I am basically done with the exhaust now aside from the H-pipe. I needed to finish each side before I can tie them together with the H-pipe. I am pleased with the way it came out.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...88776982_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...85687253_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...52401466_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...72046797_n.jpg

Almost done with the exhaust. I fitted up the H-pipe, I just need to cut the holes and weld it in place.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...99093792_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...90430945_n.jpg
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...17777691_n.jpg

Here are some better pictures.

http://www.hotrodders.com/journal_ph...3207832400.jpg
http://www.hotrodders.com/journal_ph...3207832411.jpg
http://www.hotrodders.com/journal_ph...3207832412.jpg
http://www.hotrodders.com/journal_ph...3207832740.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...35103256_n.jpg

Here are the diagonal braces for the shock mounts and hitch.
http://hphotos-iad1.fbcdn.net/hphoto...91122469_n.jpg

I added some more bracing in the rear, got the exhaust re installed, and mounted a clutch master and slave cylinder.

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...01997983_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...88807513_n.jpg
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...07359731_n.jpg

Exhaust and bracing from above. Double Cab is done for this visit, and going back home soon. But I will try to get some high res pictures before it leaves.

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...22897612_n.jpg

Such a cool project!

Porsche powered mid-engine double cab
 

Thanks, it has been very challenging in a good way.

I am working on the little stuff to make the big stuff work.

Throttle now operational.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1325564575.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1325564604.jpg