What parts AREN'T Available?

[Ghost Tracker]

I'm a Newbie 914 owner with "interesting resources". What parts just CAN'T be had NOS? Not electronics so much...(well maybe), but not today. I'm asking about; front targa seals, tail lamp lens, etc. basically what foam, acrylic, rubber, plastic stuff is keeping our cars off the road?

I've got immediate access to CAD stations, multiple CNC cells, a big CMM, a urethane lab (variable color & durometer), y'all just wouldn't believe the stuff around here. It's like Santa's freaking Toy Shop! I can layout an original part on the CMM, reverse- engineer the 3D electronic data into a 3D solid model, then make the mold or machine the part from any material that seems cool (carbon fiber, titanium, rubber, urethane, who knows?).

So TELL me guys (or gals)...WHAT DO WE NEED?!? TALK TO ME!!!

[Special K]

Ghost Tracker, you've obviously got the connections, the list will be long.

[Ghost Tracker]

Where is everyone? I'm not kidding folks. Any part carrying enough interest will be investigated for viability. What's the top...say, FIVE parts that hold things up? It's not so difficult and (with enough volume to spread the development costs) not that expensive.
Maybe I should have titled the original thread something like "Starship Enterprise Replicator Available"

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The thing is, the electrical parts are the biggest culprits for actually keeping cars off the road. Things like the MPS, which really is NLA, or the Air Flow Meter, which is getting harder to find and $$$.

How about intake boots, the hoses from the AFM to the throttle body on the 1.8 cars? The 912E ones have been NLA for a good while, you may be able to sell 20-50 or so of them in short order I would think. (Only 2099 912Es made; many are off the road now or have been converted to carbs...)

Those outer windshield seals are definitely a problem, but they simply make for a leaky car, not a non-runner.

What else? The MPS and TPS for the D-jetronic fuel injection, of course.

The seals around the engine bay. One or more of them was NLA the last I checked.

Taillight gaskets of various kinds. It'd be nice to have taillights that don't leak, wouldn't it?

If you can design a better front trunk seal, one that won't promote rust in the channel, that might be good as well.

The problem I see is that the market is not that large, and we 914 owners are notoriously cheap. Combine that with a relatively high initial cost to do a run of anything, and you wind up with a really good way to be out a large chunk of change... And make back some or maybe even all of it over the course of a couple of years. (Just ask the guys who put together the triple gauge combo gauge kits!!)

--DD

[Ghost Tracker]

Yeah, you're right. I'll just build my own "can't find it" parts. I'm not much into original-stock anyway. But has anyone considered Kydex for door panels, dash boards, etc. It's super-durable (aircraft interiors), comes in a rainbow of colors/ textures/ thickness, easy to mold/ glue/ machine. Currently it's mostly used is for tactical knife sheaths but you can buy it in 2'x3' (or bigger) sheets. I just saw 2'x3' black pieces, 1/8" thick with a great texture on eBay for $15. I've played with the stuff. It's GREAT!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If you can make dash tops with it, and sell them for the same price as the current plastic overlay cost, you should be able to sell a decent number of them. But again, that's not a "keep your car off the road" sort of part.

I think the intake boots may be the biggest one; they are critical for L-jet systems (which HATE vacuum leaks!) and nice to have for D-jet systems. The 1.7 boot may be NLA, too, and there should be more 1.7s around than 1.8s or 912\Es. The "manifold boots" (AKA the big fat hoses from the manifold to the intake runner pipes) were NLA recently; not sure if they still are or not. If so, repop'ing those could be worthwhile.

--DD

[Nostril Cheese]

RE: 1.7 runner boots

I simply measured the O.D. of the runner pipe then went down to the local auto parts store and found a radiator hose slightly smaller. Cut it to fit and hose clamped it.

[turboteener]

Windshield seal. This is probably the most important piece. FI parts should be trashed and converted to a much better system anyways.

[Twystd1]

Two things occur to me off the top of my head.

914 performance headers that work that don't cost 2 thousand dollars complete with muffler and hanger.

A new 2.0 style head that include newer profiles that current heads don't offer without major machining.
The current high performance heads that WORK are bus castings that are CNC and/or hand ported. Very expensive. These would need to be cast then machined. or billet/machined. Either way works.

Now that I think about it.... HHHmmmmmmm
Billet intermediate plates that sell for 300 bucks or less for the 901 transmission. (Racers only will buy em)

If you could talk to Mike Mueller and make up some Mueller bearings for the front and rear`control arms... You would be my hero. These do away with the delrin, bronze (elephant) or rubber bushings (stock) for the control arms.
These include the supporting bearings and custom shaft for their engagment.
These are VERY KEWL parts. Mike has the dope on these. As it is his baby... if ya need conatct info for him...
Mail me at *{[clayton914.at.yahoo.com}]

I would be pleased to support you on anything I can help you on. We need a guy like you in the 914 world. The trick is to break even or make a buck at this... A few have done this... And done it well.... And many have failed this task.

Let me think on this... Me thinks there are another 10 or 20 parts that could be made that would serve the 914 community.

OOOps... heres another. Lightened flywheels that are cost effective....

AND... Heres another. Complete cable shifter kit for the 901 that works and doesn't cost a arm and a leg. (lotsa R&D)

Master cylinder line kit that adapts stainless, teflon lines or high end rubber braided lines from the plastic reservoir to the stock M/C.

AND DOESN"T use hose clamps for the conversion. Threaded adapters only....!!!!!!! That would be interesting....

Oh man... My mind is going off..... Send me a mail... I will explain...

Cheers,

Clayton

[BigD9146gt]

Originally posted by Twystd1

If you could talk to Mike Mueller and make up some Mueller bearings for the front and rear`control arms... You would be my hero. These do away with the delrin, bronze (elephant) or rubber bushings (stock) for the control arms.
These include the supporting bearings and custom shaft for their engagment.
These are VERY KEWL parts. Mike has the dope on these. As it is his baby... if ya need conatct info for him...
Mail me at *{[clayton914.at.yahoo.com}]...

Cheers,

Clayton

Is Mike having trouble making these?

[Wayne 962]

2.0L pressure sensors...

-Wayne

[Ghost Tracker]

The Upper / Lower Windshield seals sound like a good place to start. I have to agree with "turboteener" that the old FI parts are primarily important to restoration types. Everyone who's pushing these cars (no pun intended) to the next level are moving toward more modern EFI systems so that market need is naturally smaller. Everybody still needs a windshield!

Billet/machined heads & 901 cable-shift kits are WAY cool... but again, I have to look at where the major needs are. We all know how 914 owners behave, as long as there are less-costly alternative parts available...that's gonna' be the first choice for most of us. It's the parts that have NO alternative option that, to me, have the most commercial viability. Let's remember boys & girls, I'm NOT Mother Theresa & you're not Calcutta lepers. I'm willing to spend up-front development money if it looks like I can (at least) break-even on the flip-side.

The more people that need/want anything means it gets increasingly cheaper. But any part you mention with the final phrase "...that doesn't cost an arm & a leg" means that someone is already building it & has priced it accordingly. Clayton, I really like ALL your ideas, please don't stop sending them, but there's just some things that are gonna' be custom jobs for people who want them BADLY enough. I can build them...but they'll have to be custom priced.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

For the real super-resto types, how about "correct looking" fuel injection connector boots? It'd be nice to have the grey (?) for the front D-jet injectors as well as the black for the back ones.

--DD

[Kart54]

Hi Ghostracker,
The fuel injection molded rubber parts are not actually just for the restorer and I think you would find a strong market for them. Most people running 914's keep them original. That is alot of 1.8 and 1.7 fuel injected systems.
In addition, the stock fuel injection is mandatory in some racing divisions (That's where I fit in). SCCA, PCA and POC require the fuel injection depending on the division you race in.
Porsche stopped making the parts two years ago. I tracked the last one down to a shop in Ventura, CA who had put it on a customer's car. There are presently none available new. I bought 3 used ones so I would have a reserve as they take a beating due to heat and other factors.
Randy

[Ghost Tracker]

I'm an open-minded guy. I'll have a look at molded rubber parts for the 1.7, 1.8 & 2.0 FI. I'll need; specific description, part numbers & the loan of a perfect (new) example of the part. Once I decide on the engineering required to do it, then I'll survey the commercial viability. It's not the manufacturing difficulty that's in question...it's the expense vs. return-on-investment that will determine my interest.

[pbanders]

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
2.0L pressure sensors...

-Wayne

Just wondering - are you guys going to start carrying the Bret Industries rebuilt MPS's? I know there have been driveability issues with them in the past, but I think that the issues could be worked out with Bret to produce a product identical to the OEM sensor. I've also heard of a second rebuilder - RAM?