58 or 59 Bug rag

May obviously being the little sister.

You know they race 914s

Depending on who you ask May may be a race car...

When I saw her in Auburn the other day she was doing just fine, passed a whole bunch of VW'S

I don't know if I would say they made it 'better', 'different' might be the term I would use.

Sure they beefed up the motor and changed the suspension, but as we all know that is just geometry.

So as far as the power plant goes, I am taking care to make sure the type 1 engine in May won't disappoint.

I do know a little bit about suspension geometry. Left over from my days racing quads. We all know you can have the biggest motor in the world but if you can't keep it on the road what is the point.

We'll see if all my math and physics pays off in May. She should corner on a rail.

We'll see...

Oh, and she still has all those nice curves.

Get her going and we can go play follow the leader. Or catch me if you can.

There you go...

That is the trick. Getting her done.

All I have to say is had I been in any other car in my earlier years I wouldn't be alive.

I don't see how a ghia could handle remotely close to a 914, but it all comes down to driver skills and size of their huevo's...

When you are ready I have as many roads as you can handle.

It all depends on what version of 914 and what suspension you are running.

If you have the suspension that came with the Volkswagen Type 4 model I think May's upgraded geometry will do nicely.

If you have the Porsche 911 type suspension that came with the flat 6 models of the 914 I will have to rely on my massive huevos to overcome.

Some good hearted fun either way...

Oh and it really doesn't matter the outcome, when it's all said and done and they are sitting there next to each other...

I win!

Wait Porsche never changed the suspension on the 914 please help me find it...
Yes we have a 911 front end notice the extra lug nut... 4 vs 5 the only reason is vented rotors and a little bigger brakes.

It is my understanding that the 914 with the Type 4 engine also shared the VW suspension and that the version with the inline 6 came with suspension borrowed from the 911.

If you have the larger brakes then you may have the 911 suspension, but is it not just in the brakes and hardware. Geometry is everything.

Vector dynamics is helpful if applied correctly...

I'd like to know your source on that Matt.

Unfortunately I've never been given the opportunity to work on a real 6, but I don't think there are any geometry differences. If anything torsion bar diameter and sway bar diameters would be changed. Maybe rear springs and struts with firmer rates to handle the weight difference.

The 914 was not an original car it borrowed and stole from both VW and Porsche. A few thing are one off, rear trailing arms and axles. Front suspension is 911, transmission in the early years 911. Turn signal Switch 411/412. Engine VW until 1976. As far as I know the geometry was never changed.

Now what was the question again

I am no expert, I am merely recalling from memory and could be completely out in left field.

I am a fan of the 914 and at one point was researching them.

I thought there were two models , a 914/4 and a 914/6 which designated the engine size.

I am fairly certain the 914/6 had the larger brakes off of the 911 and the 914/4 had the smaller VW brakes.

I also remember reading about transplanting a 911 suspension onto a 914 for increased performance, I thought this was done on the 914/4 model but it could have been in regards to both.

I know the 914 came with the 911 front suspension already pretty much, but there was still a reason people were doing this swap.

I will look it up and see if I am full of BS...

It's possible, been known to happen.

the 4 lug wheels have solid rotors you are correct but that does not effect handling. Who can afford a 914/6 at around 20k plus. They are twins with differences. the 6 does share more 911 stuff but at what cost. I do believe they came out of two different factory's.

I agree.

So I think my point is that a Ghia with upgraded and custom suspension and geometry can come pretty close to a stock 914/4.

You would have to do a lot of work and spend a lot of money to get a Ghia close to a 914 with a 911 transplant. (which is where the huevos come into play)

You would have to go with a Mendola or whatever type of custom Type 1 front end to even get in the ball park.

That is all I am sayin...

Why would you want a type 1 front end

I am not falling for that one, you know why I want a type 1 front end...

Mr. Funnyman

Front suspension is upper right hand, rear lower left


vs

You do not stand a chance

That picture is misleading...

Lol gtfo. What more do you want?

You can't compare a picture of a plain type 1 beam to a picture of a full set of 914 suspension with all its pretty colors.

The only piece that is comparable in that picture is whatever that cross member is underneath the rack.

Now mentioning the rack, you will get no argument form me that the steering is far superior with a rack setup, but I don't consider that suspension.

I am telling you, whatever method you use, struts, torsion, whatever, it is the angle of the dangle and how in moves through the geometric planes that matters.

I figured since you have an assembled beam in your garage for May it would be unnecessary to post pictures of a beam anyways.

No, I do not have an assembled beam, I jut have a bunch of parts that are supposed to go together...

That is part of my angst...