914-SHO Project Thread
- Thread starter 3d914
- Start date
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Not this one. It's been pampered like crazy. The PO, a good friend, kept it garaged and babied it. Its only been since I've had it that it's actually had to work. Put a tow bar on it and use it to pull our small 4x8 alfalfa trailer. Doesn't even know its there.
Been impressed by its performance though. I recall reading that Allen Mulally - once CEO of FORD said that Lexus was the best built car in the world. Best built maybe, but not the best designed. I'd like to strangle the designers who stuck the starter up under the intake manifold & runners, then make the bolts unreachable without tearing half the engine down - just nuts.
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Finally took some time on this three-day weekend to work on the 914-SHO. Spent a couple of days finishing up a fish tank stand for my daughter.
It was my plans to get the 914 into paint by now, but other priorities pushed it back. I did however get around to getting part of the underside in primer. Now I feel a little bit better. Hope to finish up the front this week. Got some metal cleanup to finish before primer.
It was my plans to get the 914 into paint by now, but other priorities pushed it back. I did however get around to getting part of the underside in primer. Now I feel a little bit better. Hope to finish up the front this week. Got some metal cleanup to finish before primer.
Looks good even primered! Will the fish tank reside on top of the stand or the next shelf below? What kind of wood is that?
As far as Lexus, in the "nuts" department, Ford caught up to them years ago, burying the water pump behind the timing elements on the Duratec
Good idea as a package, not so good for the DIY'rs.
As far as Lexus, in the "nuts" department, Ford caught up to them years ago, burying the water pump behind the timing elements on the Duratec
Good idea as a package, not so good for the DIY'rs.Looks good even primered! Will the fish tank reside on top of the stand or the next shelf below? What kind of wood is that?
As far as Lexus, in the "nuts" department, Ford caught up to them years ago, burying the water pump behind the timing elements on the Duratec
SHOdded, Thanks. I'm just glad to see a little progress. Now I have to keep at it.
The tank stand is just made from pine. I used 1-by's for the outer framework with 2-by's for the inner supports. The upper shelves are 3/4" ply except for the 1/2" particle board for the bottom shelf. Both upper shelves get tanks. The middle is for a 10 gal and the upper for a 20 gal.
This turned out nicer than the 2-by ones I've built in the past, but none of those needed a middle shelf capable of supporting a tank. That's why I tried a different design - using inner 2-by's only for support & to carry the weight.
Nah, the 10 gal aren't very tall even with a cover. Even for cleaning she can just slide it to the end so the syphon can into a bucket.
Getting ready for the 2017 Build-Off Challenge on 914world, so I decided to put my outline of work here. It's more accessible and I can review and mark things off as I make progress.
Rear Trunk
Trunk Lid
Engine Lid
Body Panels
Dash Modifications
Interior
Primer & Paint
Electrical
914 Parts Inventory
Install & Assemble
Engine Install
Rear Trunk
- Complete firewall modifications
- Seam seal trunk
- Build filter box & support frame
Trunk Lid
- Complete lid customization (NACA ducts, raised section)
- Complete lid reinforcements
- Build rear-hinging framework
Engine Lid
- Hinge lid to trunk lid
- Build shelf, guides, & lock pins for lid
- Complete cutouts for mesh
Body Panels
- Weld panels cutouts (L&R)
- Cement & fit to FG flares
- Undercoat inner panels & wheel wells
Dash Modifications
- Custom fit SHO gauge cluster
- Modify mid-dash for body color-matching
Interior
- Fit & build custom seat rails
Primer & Paint
- Complete paint removal
- Prep body for primer
- Send body off for finish work, primer & paint
Electrical
- Build custom engine harness
- Install fuse & relay panels in front trunk
- Rewire front trunk
- Rewire cockpit, rear trunk
- Rewire engine bay and connect to engine harness
914 Parts Inventory
- Inventory & clean all parts to be reused
- ID & order new/used parts
Install & Assemble
- Locate Battery in front trunk
- Install interior & exterior parts
Engine Install
- Fabricate exhaust
- Fabricate cooling system & housings
- Install engine, cooling, & exhaust
SHOdded, it runs a full year that ends on 9/14 of 2017. I've calculated about 32 weeks of (part-time) work where at least 6 of those weeks can overlap with other activities - giving me about 26 weeks of work. Of course if it turns out taking twice as long as estimated, I still may be able to squeeze it in on time.
Spent the early afternoon doing ignition service on the LS400 - new wires, plugs, caps, etc. Even doing it with my short-cuts it still took longer than any car I've worked on before.
SHOdded: See if this makes sense.
Spent the rest of the afternoon positioning the NACA ducts and filter box on the trunk lid. The ducts get quite a bit of trimming, but I wanted to make sure they would clear the filter as planned. I also need to fabricate the cradle that holds the filter box. I think I'm going to design it to act as the mounting point for the trunk lid hinges as well.
So here's the NACA ducts positioned. They'll be trimmed up and formed slightly curved so they fit the curvature of the trunk lid. At final assy they get cemented in.
The filter is centered and angles toward the bottom of the box, and the ducts are to each side so there is no interference. Since the ends of the ducts get cut off - they just dump air into the box.
Here's the box as it sits on top the ducts. There will be rubber seals that seal the air box to the underside of the trunk lid. Part of the seal will likely end up mating to the back side of the ducts.
Finally, I've placed spacers under the air box mockup to represent the ducts and the seals. Tomorrow we'll put the trunk lid on and measure the remaining space to the floor of the trunk. From this I can fab the framework to hold the air box.
SHOdded: See if this makes sense.
Spent the rest of the afternoon positioning the NACA ducts and filter box on the trunk lid. The ducts get quite a bit of trimming, but I wanted to make sure they would clear the filter as planned. I also need to fabricate the cradle that holds the filter box. I think I'm going to design it to act as the mounting point for the trunk lid hinges as well.
So here's the NACA ducts positioned. They'll be trimmed up and formed slightly curved so they fit the curvature of the trunk lid. At final assy they get cemented in.
The filter is centered and angles toward the bottom of the box, and the ducts are to each side so there is no interference. Since the ends of the ducts get cut off - they just dump air into the box.
Here's the box as it sits on top the ducts. There will be rubber seals that seal the air box to the underside of the trunk lid. Part of the seal will likely end up mating to the back side of the ducts.
Finally, I've placed spacers under the air box mockup to represent the ducts and the seals. Tomorrow we'll put the trunk lid on and measure the remaining space to the floor of the trunk. From this I can fab the framework to hold the air box.
SHOdded, I wasn't planning on it. The stock motor draws air from the engine bay which draws air from above. Mine will be similar except it will draw air from the trunk - via fresh ambient air. With the trunk firewall closed off - for the most part, it should reduce the movement of hot engine air into the trunk, though all the exhaust under the trunk will be enough to warm it up above ambient temps.
Spent some time this weekend checking the design for the trunk lid opening in the opposite direction - hinged at the back. Now that I have the mini hinges I can verify dimensions and fit. I'll need to extend the end of the hinge by six inches and decrease the bend angle for the arm by a little more than 11 degrees.
Here's what it looks like in CAD with the modified Mini hinge. The thick portion under the sheet metal is the support webbing. I'll be adding additional webbing from spare trunks so the hinge can mount to that.
Also had some time to prep & fit the right side body panel to weld on. Should have some daylight Friday while I'm off to finish the welding. Have other things to prep for welding during the week.
I had some challenges figuring out the modifications needed for the Mini hinges. Found a used set on ebay and was able to get dimensions off them. I can even retain the mounting bracket. Once I got the dimensions in CAD I was able to verify the movement of the trunk and the hinge to ensure no interference. The air box has been mocked up in cardboard and test fit. I now have the dimensions to begin the framework design that support the air box. I've decided to combine the hinge framework with the air box framework, and already started the design work. I have a metal supplier in Tucson who will cut the framework pieces for me from the CAD data - which will be faster than me attempting it by hand.
Here's what it looks like in CAD with the modified Mini hinge. The thick portion under the sheet metal is the support webbing. I'll be adding additional webbing from spare trunks so the hinge can mount to that.
Also had some time to prep & fit the right side body panel to weld on. Should have some daylight Friday while I'm off to finish the welding. Have other things to prep for welding during the week.
I had some challenges figuring out the modifications needed for the Mini hinges. Found a used set on ebay and was able to get dimensions off them. I can even retain the mounting bracket. Once I got the dimensions in CAD I was able to verify the movement of the trunk and the hinge to ensure no interference. The air box has been mocked up in cardboard and test fit. I now have the dimensions to begin the framework design that support the air box. I've decided to combine the hinge framework with the air box framework, and already started the design work. I have a metal supplier in Tucson who will cut the framework pieces for me from the CAD data - which will be faster than me attempting it by hand.
Working on closing up the left quarter panel - right behind the driver's door. Started cleaning the used panel I bought and removing paint - only to find some damage in the lower-left corner. Aside from the damage in the corner the panel's in good shape.
So this section will have to get cut out and I'll make a patch to go in its place. Then it will get cut with the rest of the panel to fit between the door and the flare.
So this section will have to get cut out and I'll make a patch to go in its place. Then it will get cut with the rest of the panel to fit between the door and the flare.
