Jim "Beaux" Dray

Renegade,

My Green 914 has hit the road! After a bit of haggling with AAA over "No Smog Test Needed" I received the tags and started tooling. It was pouring down rain so I put on my solid air cleaner cover and gave it a run. Has everyone guessed? My "teener" leaked like crazy through the windows and I built up a fog inside in no time. I have the RH heater/defroster and the defroster worked well enough to continue for awhile and all went well.

Just a few bugs to work out(like the weather stripping) and I bottomed out a fender well that didn't have quite enough clearance, but the smile on my face when I punched it on the freeway is still there 24 hours later.

All the folks who watched me work on this car the last 4 years with a skeptic eye have done nothing but praise the way it turned out...and most all have been real impressed with the professional installation(by Renegade Hybrids) of a V-8 in such a little car. My hats off to all the guys(and gal) at Renegade...and a big thank-you! This car turned out soooo much better than I first envisioned.

The Valentine is on the way... I think I'm gonna need it. Pics real soon.

Cheers,
Jim

For pictures, click here

Another Note From Jim

Hey folks,

I figured I was overdue for an update on my 914-8 (and the support I get from Renegade). I've just returned from a Thursday Track Day at Pahrump(near Las Vegas) and I can't even explain the amount of fun and education on driving I got there. It was a PCA sponsored event to help new owners of all Porsche's better learn how to handle their cars. Scott had been adamant about me making this one....so I did. But just a little lead-up to the event.

My car(Calif. 75') was an in-house conversion, delivered in Dec. 03 and licensed Jan. 2nd, 04. It has a Chevy 350 "Wild Bill" conversion w/Edelbrock Heads(and soon to get roller rockers). It also has the RH radiator, 4 to 5 lug conversion, 911sc brakes, 911sc front suspension, the special RH transmission, and the new parking brake to marry with the brake conversion(works good!). I had Renegade do the full conversion since I wanted the job "DONE RIGHT". What I didn't do(because I kept the HP to around 300+) was put in the heavey-duty axles. MMmmmmmm...uh ohh. Maybe "Wild Bill" squeezed a little more HP outta the Chevy than I anticipated. So, I'm about two days away from making the 300 mile drive to Vegas for the 500 mile RH check-up, when(as I'm giving a friend a "ride") something goes "cha-chunk" as I gassed it a little(Uhhmmmm)...and no more power to the rear....no gears. Whaaah! Did I blow the tranny?

A call to Scott..."We'll come get the car" Oh by the way, Scott had offered to pick up the car in the first place so I wouldn't have to make the drive for the check-up. Scott and Mike both thought it was next to impossible for me to have trashed the Tranny....and when Mike showed up, one look and he said axle.

The car comes back, with a few paint touch-ups(another story) from my dings, BTW Renegade arranged for a local paint shop to paint my car while they had it; running strong and looking good after Scott made a side trip to "Wild Bills" because he noticed a little squeek. Bill AND Scott spent the better part of a Wednesday evening/Thursday morning tearing apart the motor to find it. I never heard the squeek, but I can hear my "Sanderson" (EDIT-they are not built by Sanderson.-BJ) headers...and I think they look great in my engine compartment.

At any rate, I made the drive last week, after work to Vegas for the Pahrump Event and to just give "Greeney" a good shake-down ride. Thermostat stayed at just above 180 even after a one hour bumper to bumper out of Barstow, purred all the way there, and the "Valentine" that you folks recommended here prevented a ticket or two.

I ran out to Pahrump with Mike, BJ, and Robert(another customer running there) the next morning for the event and you would have thought I was a Factory Racer for Renegade. Rob and Marna are there....there's scooters for cruising the pits...a BBQ...and lots'a tools, and while I'm in the driver's meeting Rob and BJ are sticking numbers on my car. After my first run on the track...Mike's drilling me about whats wrong(ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!) BJ is checking the oil, Rob's underneath tightening up the CV's and Marna's got a food spread out. I was spoiled.

I highly recommend doing a track day...I learned some of the extremes of the car, and lots of technics, and I'm a better driver for it. I also got a big dose of comfortablity from Renegade Hybrids and Wild Bills Machine Shop in the last coupla' months. There were lots of calls to them on my part for lots of little things I didn't know how to fix...that needed some attention...or just plan needed some answers to, and I always got a friendly reply from both places(Marna knows me by voice). I'm not the best mechanic...and its nice to know I can turn to these folks and get straight answers.

This past week I have put a 1,000 miles on the car, and there have been no bugs. I am so happy with the way this car turned that there is a real bounce in my step. I wanted a 914 I could have fun with...and rely on to work, and this 4-year project turned out so much more than I expected with greater results. The car looks fast, sounds fast, and IS really fast...and it's turned me into a teenager everytime I get in it.

Anyone out there that wants more specifics, has questions...feel free to contact me at j.beaux@verizon.net and I'll be happy to supply my phone number, send pics, answer any questions.

Cheers,
Jim


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