car dolly + 914 = bad???

Will98D · 05-30-2003, 05:33 PM

used a car dolly to bring my car to the bodyshop today, about 40 miles, most of it between 20 and 40mph through the city but some 55. I felt the trans a few times when I stopped and it never got warmer than I could very comfortably touch. I used to own a Jeep, and some years of those would overheat (and the transfer case would catch fire!) if you towed them, and it got me to thinking about how well the 914 tows.

norustscott · norustscott's Garage

In neutral, very well. teh only dolly concern is the clearence between the ramp and the rocker panels...

Will98D · 05-30-2003, 06:41 PM

uh, forgot about neutral... that explains the 'chug, chug, chug' I heard.

TGM · 05-30-2003, 07:08 PM

I hope it wasn't in first gear at 55 mph. I have had very good luck using a tow dolly when going to the track. I have found that you need to tie the steering wheel straight or the car will pivot about the front wheels when making sharp turns. Also my car is not much lower than stock so the front spoiler clears ok when driving onto the ramps.

ptravnic · 05-30-2003, 11:51 PM

I towed a 914 from San Diego to New Jersey a couple years ago using a tow dolly. I towed it with a Jeep Cherokee 6cyl. I'd recommend it.

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

Quote:

Originally posted by TGM
I hope it wasn't in first gear at 55 mph.

Ouch!!

Anecdote time: I stopped into Wes Hildreth's shop near Dallas a few years back. He had the crank from a VW Type I out of a Thing. It was completely unrecognizeable. Same story--flat-towed behind a motor home, put it in 1st to keep it in place while the customer hooked up the tow rig. Forgot to take it out of gear, took off down the highway at 55-65. Best guess was that it got to about 16,000 RPM...

--DD

M. Hendrix · 05-31-2003, 09:07 AM

She's a revver.

M

sammyg2 · 05-31-2003, 09:52 AM

I towed the turbo back and forth to AXs at San Diego, no problemo.

Only thing I was concerned with, make sure the incline angle of the car is kept to a minimum. If the car is too steep the oil in the tranny could run to the back of the transaxle and starve the ring/pinion of lubrication. I think it would have to be pretty steep before that becomes a problem, but who knows?

GWN7 · 06-02-2003, 12:46 AM

I towed my 73 home from Dallas, @ 75-80 mph, no problems.

I towed the Nevada car home backwards, also no problems (targa top, glass & trunk lid in the back of truck under a cap).

The car from Tennesse...only problem was a tire belt seperated and caused some damage to the rear quarter.

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

Good thing you put the top, glass, and lids in the bed of the truck. I know several 914s that have been damaged when the roof, rear trunk lid, or a window came off at speed while being towed backwards. The cars were generally designed to see 60+ MPH forwards, not backwards....

--DD

GWN7 · 06-02-2003, 02:55 PM

Dave-I actually thought about that from an earlier post.

What I did was cut seven wooden laths to fit from the targa top to the leeding edge of the trunk and several bracers. The plan was to cover them with 6mm plastic and duck tape the edges of the plastic. In effect filling in the rear space, so the air would flow over the rear of the car instead of hitting the back window and causeing damage.

When I got there, I found all the parts loose so I put them into the back of the truck and never did try the 'fill" procedure.

johnboy914 · 06-03-2003, 09:12 AM

I was towing mine to the paint shop backwards (50 miles) all was well for the first mile, then one tiny bump and up came the rear trunk. I almost cried. One of the hinges was bent, the other snapped off. My perfect trunklid was now scrap. Note to self on return trip. strap it all down.

The good news it, it is going to be beautiful. Metallic silver, new 2.1, new 5bolt conversion, and on and on.

I get it back next week. I cleaned my garage in anticipation of her arrival. She deserves a clean home at least.