16" Wheels on a 914 Looking for Photos

[Lonely Raven]

Honestly, part of the reason I picked up a Silver 914 last week,
was because I saw the beautiful 914 for sale about a year ago,
that was also silver, had the reverse PORSCHE lettering on
the sides, but also had (I think) 16" aftermarket rims that
just suited the car so well. That simple change modernized
the styling of the classic car....

Anywho, I'm considering this for my 914, but I've still got the
4 lug thing going....The Owners Photo gallery is down right
now, and I started sifting through all the 'Teens there, but
98% of the were various Porsche wheels.

Does anyone have, or know of some photos of tall after market
wheels on a 914? I want to get some ideas....

[sammyg2]

16"x6" fuchs are so cheap (around $60 each used) and good looking, it would make sense to me to do the 5 lug conversion but thats just me. You may feel differently about them. I think Tim Hammon (sp) in Phoenix has 16s on his 914. Didn't Mike Mueller put 16" phone dials on a 914?

[Lonely Raven]

Please, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't a proper 5 lug
conversion going to run me over $1000? Not including the
cost of wheels?

I wouldn't mind so much, but I'm also trying to save up for a
more powerfull motor...$1000 is a big bite out of the motor
savings fund.

Unless someone in the Chicagoland area can do the conversion
for me for a resonable price....

Honestly, I'd LOVE to go 5 lug, and larger breaks.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Shop carefully and it can be done for a lot less... I know of 911 front suspensions (with brakes!) that have been sold for $200 complete. Add another $100 for the 19mm M/C (unless someone already "upgraded" yours), and another $150-250 for having the rear hubs drilled and studded, and then $100 for 914-6 rear rotors. That's about $600 all told if you do the wrench-work yourself!

If you've got a machinist buddy who can do the drill/spot-face/press thing on the rear hubs, you're down to ~$50 + a six-pack on that!

--DD

[Paul_Heery]

Raven -

Is this your new car?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1832038429

If it is, I'll be able to help you out with the cost of your conversion by taking those ugly 4-bolt, 15" Fuchs off of your hands. How's $50 sound?

[Lonely Raven]

That would EXACTLY be my car...

Unfortunatly I live in an apartment. And they are so nutty here,
that if I opened my hood, the manager would come running out
asking me not to work on my car in the parking lot. That it looks
trashy.

While I am mechanically inclined, I've never done breaks, nor
do I have much experience with suspension mods/upgrades.
Believe me, if I had my own garage at least, I'd be doing it
all myself!

I'm going to put a few calls into local shops, and see what they
say. The Chicago PCA page has a list of some favorite shops...

[CGNJ]

Hi,
Concentrate on the engine. I've done the 5 lug conversion, and am in the process of building my 2270. Bigger , better motor takes more planning, money, down time and cash. Take care of the body now! Hunt out the rust and stamp it out. It will give you time to decide how you want to build your motor, 1911, 2055, 2270 or bigger. You have many choices and a lot of time to look around for brake/suspension upgrades. You won't need them until you add the ponies. Look for posts by Racer Chris. Save your Fuchs. Mine are up in the attic in a in bags along with the suspension.

CGNJ,
76 2270 (its starting to look like a motor instead of a bag of junk!)

[Bleyseng]

If I did this right there should be a picture of Rich Johnson car with 16" Fuchs. I just did the 5 bolt swap and it was $600 for all the parts and pieces. I used 320i brakes, new discs, wheel bearings, the machining, studding...etc. I did the labor myself but a shop with all the right tools should be able to do it fairly cheaply. It wasn't hard other than using a BFH to get the old hubs out laying on the garage floor.
Geoff

[cshogen]

Wow Geoff that car looks great! What are the widths on those? Looks like 6" in front and 7" in rear. That's something I'd really like to do.


---Chris H.

[Lonely Raven]

Wow, that's EXACTLY (heh, I like that word) what I want my
914 to look like. Low slung and filled out!

But yeah, I'm thinking that maybe I should focus on the saving
up for the motor, and do the conversion later.

I'll call up a few shops, and see what the damage would be.
Hell, I've not even gotten a price quote on putting in a Jake
Raby motor yet...(ouch)

[jtf914]

Before anyone goes out buys 16x7 Fuchs for the back, you should know that Rich's car had the width reduced on the trailing arms in order to fit those under stock fenders. Read the "Chassis" section in this link:

http://home3.inet.tele.dk/box164/html/rich.html

There was another 914/4 - 6 conversion site which showed pictures of the before and after for reducing the trailing arms, but it seems to have disappeared in the last few weeks.

Justin

[Rob-O]

Yeah, Rich did have to cut his trailing arms down to get the rims to fit correctly. The other option is widening the fenders, but some folks don't want to do that. Rich didn't want to at the time (although he has told me if he ever did another, he would). He's also told me that he didn't think he'd do the 7 inchers again. I think he said too much money for too little in return. He is still running 205's in the back, which I think you can do with the 6 inchers.

And yes, that car is definitely nice, and definitely quick.

By the way, the whole low slung thing will take some cash. The front spindles have to be raised in order to do the mod correctly. That means wasting a set of struts, and also coming up with a set of struts that have the correct spindles (-6's or 911 fronts).

[boxstr]

My 75 914 has the five lug conversion and I am running 7x16 Fuchs front and rear. Dunlop 205/45/16 tires. The only modification that I had to make at the rear was to roll the inner fender lip on one side. They look great and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. The suspension is Konis front and rear,turbo tie rods,all new brake pads,rotors F&R, bearings,19mm master.
This is the look I wanted when I started with this car, also the early chrome bumpers,euro lenses F&R.
I am now thinking about a six conversion.
Craig C. Laughlin CAMP 914

[cshogen]

Craig-

Your car sounds like it's heading in the same direction I'd like mine to. Initially I promised myself (and my wife) that I would just leave the thing alone, but now I think I want to go with a 5-lug conversion and some wider Fuchs. I have a set of chrome bumpers off my old '73.... which have been somewhat for sale.... but in the back of my mind I think I'd like to backdate the big black ones. I don't dislike the look, just think the older ones look a bit better.

And the "6" conversion.... thinking of that one too. Down the road though. And not for sure.

How about a couple of pics of that '75 of yours? Either here or to my e-mail. I'd love to see it.

[boxstr]

Chris I would be happy to send some pics. Send me an email address. I have the interior out tonight putting in new carpet.
I can shoot some tommorrow. I tried to add some pics to the photo gallery,but I couldn't find out where to do it??
Any body help.
Craig C. Laughlin CAMP 914

[Speedo959]

I really like the looks of this one. I hope to have my car looking something like this someday. [IMG]C:\My Documents\914 pics\The ONE!\silver.jpg[/IMG]

[Speedo959]

Didn't work I will just email you raven with the pic. Could someone please explain how to post a pic that is not on a web page. Thanks.

[Bleyseng]

Here is a pic of my car with 15x6 Fuchs w/205's on it.
Geoff

[Rouser]

Yep, love those Fuchs rims (15x6) for that "period" look:



With 205/60-15 Dunlop Sport A2's now (verses 195/60-15 Michelins), I'm a happy camper.

[mike mueller]

Here is a picture of my 914 with 16x7 phonedials, tires are 205/50/16's (Kuhmo 712's)

I did have to roll the fender lips in the back some.