billet aluminum grille

[914GT]

I replaced the chrome plastic grille I was using for my radiator intake with a billet aluminum one. This was off my son's Chevy C1500 pickup when he bought a phantom grille. As the saying goes - one man's garbage is another man's treasure - I quickly found another use for it. I used a chop saw to cut about 2" off each end, then riveted a couple angle brackets to it to hold it to the chassis above the radiator cut-out. Fit in quite nicely and goes well with the fog light grilles. And the price was right!

[Amark]

Looking good Guy. I liked the old one but this one looks even better with the fog light grills.

So, do you have all the bugs worked out? Have you driven it to the office yet?

[AZ914]

Guy,

Looks great!! I like this one better (without the frame). Motor back in yet?

[914GT]

Not so much bugs but just details. I redid the wiring for the engine and ditched the old relay board, made a custom wiring harness with new relays for fans, water pump, and ignition. Installed new 180# springs. Welded up the old rear reflector holes and repainted and buffed the panel to match the rest of the car. Fixed my ignition switch and steering wheel lock mechanism. Repaired the horn contacts. Mounted the rear view mirror on the windshield. Finished hookup of the charcoal canister on the gas tank. Put on new BMW front brake pads (still had the old pads on the calipers from the junkyard) and routed heater hoses inside the longs. Meanwhile the engine is at the machine shop getting freshened up. Had the block baked and shot-peened and bored another .010 over (now .040 over - about a 357 cu. in.) for new flat-top pistons (had the old 'smog' pistons in it). New crank, rods and bearings and fully balanced. Full pocket-porting on the heads, and having the pistons, bearings, valves, and springs all surface treated for low friction and thermal barrier coatings. Should have parts back next Monday and I can reassemble the engine and get it back in the car. Then, maybe, finally ... it will be done. Except of course for the A/C, heater, CD/MP3 sound system, 911 5-bolt upgrade, etc. etc. ....

[Rich Hilgersom]

Nicely done.

Makes me wish I did not go with a 916 front!

-Rich Hilgersom

[tat2dphreak]

that looks VERY NICE!!! I'm impressed!

[pbanders]

That's a very nice look. Factory couldn't have done better.

[914GT]

Thanks all of you for the positive feedback. I've been trying to achieve a certain level of 'factory' look to this conversion but at the same time not getting carried away either. I've seen some pictures of 914 V8s where the looks of the front end left a lot to be desired. So if anybody else is interested here's what I modified:



I used one of the two sections normally used on a 94-99 Chevy truck or SUV. These are fairly cheap on ebay or aftermarket part stores. Depending on how the 914 bumper and body is cut, you could probably not have to cut the grille and just use the mounting holes on each end.

[Amark]

Guy did I miss something? Was the motor that was in the car the last time I saw it a different motor than the one that you have apart ?

[914GT]

No, same motor - a 350. My original plan was to use it only to complete the conversion, and build up a separate 327 for the real motor. Since I still don't have the 327 from the buddy of mine that owes it to me (part of a deal we had), I decided to put the money into the 350 instead and build it up right. The heads were fresh on it but the block was questionable, once I got the exhaust on I could hear some rod bearing noise. The 350 was a junk motor that my son picked up somewhere. Once it's back from Doc's machine shop it will be better than new.

[John2kx]

Guy,

Could you post a couple of pics of your grille opening in the daylight? I like the looks of your grille opening but not sure if I can use with my current bumper (stock, chromed '73). It appears your opening is about 1-2" lower than what I have cut in my current bumper. Basically, I have a 4x20" opening with wire mesh attached to opening in chassis. It's ok but the look you have chosen looks much cleaner.

Details on what your using for the valance/spoiler would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

John

[sean_V8_914]

I dont know how you do it. I couldnt find the disipline to stop driving mine long enough to take it appart. I just used it today at teh PCA driving school. solid set time all day long. what a blast. Guy, you are going to have soo much fun in that thing. the pay off for your efforts will be huge. oh...that grill is a big step up from teh laast

[914GT]

John, here's a flash picture I just took.


My opening is about 29" wide. The uncut Chevy grille is about 34" wide. The valance was on the car when I bought it. It was broken in the middle, and I threw it in the trash but had 2nd thoughts and pulled it out when I thought I could make something with it. I had a fiberglass repair kit leftover from the days I owned a boat. This might be hard to visualize, but I cut the top piece of it out and glassed it back on to form a 'shelf' along the bottom of the opening. I laid a layer of fiberglass mesh over it which really made it strong. Then I cut about an inch off the bottom in the center. On the bumper, I cut out the section and welded it back on the inside which doubles the thickness and makes the bumper stonger. If you look close you can see the original bottom edge of the bumper along the top inside of the opening. The opening is fairly well boxed-in into the cutout on the body. The bottom front of the trunk is also opened up to allow good airflow into the radiator.

Considering the poor condition of what I had to work with - the bumper, valance, and even the billet grille was far from perfect - I think it came out OK.

[914GT]

Sean

I'm really anxious to get my engine parts back in a couple days and maybe have it running by next weekend. The difference between you and me is you have a car that is running great and is fun so why mess with it. But mine hasn't really got to that point yet, and I want to make sure that once I'm done with it that I have a reliable good-running ride. I don't want the thing breaking down on me or have to be fixing it all the time. I think you and John are enough inpiration for me to believe this car has a good chance.

[John2kx]

Guy,

Thanks for the additional detail. Now to find a billet grille for some trial fits.

John

[datapace]

Since they come in two parts and we only need one each would somebody be interested in splitting one? John, if you end up buying one, I'd be up for spiltting the cost. Looks like they are going for about $50 on ebay.

-bryan

[sean_V8_914]

the difference between me and Guy, is that Guy is an artist who's caanvas is a 914 . I drive a fast fun shtt box cludge monster with 400 ponies and skinny tires. ....but it sure was a blast on teh track. Guy will be driving a V8 Monna Lisa; a true show piece.

[914GT]

Sean, the only time I get close to being an artist is that I can draw flies after several hours wrenching on the car One thing I'm not is one of those people that everything has to be perfect and can't have some dust on the car. I want to drive this sucker. Yeah, I want it to look nice but it's going to get rock chips and door dings. It was a P.O.S. when I bought it and it's been fun making it into a cool car. I think I'm going to have a much fun as you are having in your shtt box. That's the main thing. And it's going to be pretty neat having a car where somebody else is trying to figure out what it is and why it goes faster than theirs.

[AZ914]

Guy also has a Coke machine stashed with Pacificos in his garage. This in itself helps with the artistic vision

[914GT]

All that creativity makes a person thirsty. Maybe the money spent for all the beer required on this project would have bought a new car.