custom speedster 550 style aluminum carb access covers

Why not get CB Performance space saver manifolds and have the carbs reversed. Mixture screws will now be on the inside for easy access. My next mod!

I didn't realize how much everyone struggled with this until I serviced an air-cooled IM and a VS in the last few weeks.  HOLY CRAP you guys have it tight in there!!!  I knew that our inner rear wheel well changes added some room, but I didn't realize just how much until I had to pull idle jets from both of these cars!!!  I can put a mid sized screwdriver on our idle jets!!

The covers I'm talking about are on the body of a speedster behind the doors and would allow access to the carbs from the sides, in a mid-engine set up, much like a 550.

The vent looking things in photo?  Wouldn't they be too far forward - in a Speedster the engine is in rear - in a 550 it's forward of the transaxle. Plus you still have an inner wheel well to penetrate on a Speedster. Why not just remove tires and cut a 6" round access port in each wheel well? I actually saved the 2 metal inspection plates off an 80 gallon electric hot water heater for such a purpose.

The picture shows the side panels I'm talking about. Someone on here had made and installed a set and they looked,surprisingly good, although they served no function, except maybe air intake. on the 550 they allowed access to the carbs and upper rocker covers and assembly's. I can only imagine the joy of adjusting those rocker assembly's on the four cam.

Like wolfgang stated, even if you added these to the body, there is an extra inner panel to contend with on IM/VS/JPS, etc...

On my car the body will be modified much like the Hauser Sportolet although his is rear engine mine will be mid. my goal is functional utility, if it happens to look cool thats a plus. Right now I have a big pile of parts and a big idea. How could it go wrong?

DrClock had a red Speedster with Porsche Boxster inspired side vents - possibly for air to engine or brakes.  It was too low and forward to access any mechanicals except maybe the starter solenoid and wires.  But it sure looked cool. Merklin #26 I believe.

foolthrottle posted:

...Right now I have a big pile of parts and a big idea. How could it go wrong?

Oh, such great last words...

I should have added "let me count the ways"

my goal is functional utility

You need to meet up with owner of the Hoopty - Cory Drake aka SawZAll. His speedster opens like a pen knife both front and rear.  Here's both opened and rear opened - still rear engined though.

.Aftermarket vents

Carey.....Here's how to solve the difficulty.  I have space saver manifolds but even if you don't,  the mod I did here makes it "liveable" with the jets on the outside because you can manipulate the jets in and out more easily with your hands and feel with the 8mm wrench better to loosen and tighten them...see photos   The jet holders are drilled to allow a slight press fit and then soldered.  Also installing 4 inch "access ports" from West Marine in the fender rear wells adjacent to the jets works too but tire removal is necessary to make it a real improvement. Tire removal for a jet change just didn't get me enthused that much.......Bruce

The Hoopty guy would for sure get what I'm doing.

My body from the back of the doors rearward would have a similar apperance. car pictured is the Hauser Sportolet

Cool! Go with a Porsche 914 power train i.e. Type 4 engine and the 901 5 speed trans.  They would work perfectly in such a car - even the heat exchanges and exhaust (with couple inches added).  Of course a VW pan won't work but I bet a complete 914 cut up chassis would - then you'd get 4 wheel discs (easy convert to 911 5 bolt wheels) and super  "on the rail" handling!

WOLFGANG posted:

Cool! Go with a Porsche 914 power train i.e. Type 4 engine and the 901 5 speed trans.  They would work perfectly in such a car - even the heat exchanges and exhaust (with couple inches added).  Of course a VW pan won't work but I bet a complete 914 cut up chassis would - then you'd get 4 wheel discs (easy convert to 911 5 bolt wheels) and super  "on the rail" handling!

GREAT advice: great upside with TYPE4 and 901

Yep,  initially a 914 was my first choice for the mechanicals, front steering susp. is interchangable with 911 and so on, but after chasing around and trying to find stuff I gave up. I now have a 2180 motor a flipped ring swing axle and most of the mounting for the rear, a front VW beam. Although this stuff is not cheap, its cheaper than the 914 stuff that could go sky high, if I could find a good 914 for the right money I would certainly consider skinning it for a speedster or spyder

I've been in contact with the UK  company that makes the shark vents for a speedster. I tried to order but they dropped the ball and left me hanging...I will try to find there info and post here.

foolthrottle posted:

Yep,  initially a 914 was my first choice for the mechanicals, front steering susp. is interchangable with 911 and so on, but after chasing around and trying to find stuff I gave up. I now have a 2180 motor a flipped ring swing axle and most of the mounting for the rear, a front VW beam. Although this stuff is not cheap, its cheaper than the 914 stuff that could go sky high, if I could find a good 914 for the right money I would certainly consider skinning it for a speedster or spyder

NO sense in spending big bucks if you are REASONABLY set......you just need to be satisfied with the parameters in play...

foolthrottle posted:

Awhile back someone was talking about making the side covers, for the Speedster, I need some for my mid engine speedster project. Anyone know anything? 

@foolthrottle

Thedoctor@speedsterclinic.com

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I like the look, the one I want is an actual access panel hinged, made from aluminum

Here's 914 body for  $1k.  By time you parted out the wheels (or use them) and other non-needed body parts you'd make $.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1973-P...74VZjAKM&vxp=mtr

Can also try 914 web site - I've seen rusty bodies for free - tow away.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showforum=18

Until you have the engine in the chassis and body mounted you'll have no accurate placement for the access panel/vent. It will need to be custom formed to the exact spot you need them in...

I tryed looking for the post on here  that had the 356 speedster with the aluminum access panels, he said that he was looking into offering them. I'm not opposed to making my own.

Instead of access panels, how about air intake panels right about where the air cleaners are? K&N makes a number of flat rectangular filters in the 4-6" range.

PS- Just to be clear, I'm talking about the inner fender panels/sides of the engine compartment to feed more air to the carbs and fan.

For me the idea was to come up with something that looked like it could be an original design and period correct. My measurements would place the front of the mid-engine well into the rear seat area and would make access panels to the side of the motor a good idea. It would appear I'll be making my own.

Hmmm... that idea could work well on a certain mid-engined coupe build that I know about.

I will agree that the hex wrench idle jet holders are the ticket.  The idea of extending the hex farther out from carb body is an improvement on an improvement.  Even without the extension, I can R&R the jets x4 in about 10-15 mins on my JPS.  That said, having an access panel at the side that looked cool would really be an improvement x 3.  Can't tell you how many times I've seen and worked on the Hoopty, thought of my car, and asked: Where is that SawzAll??

Lane Anderson posted:

Hmmm... that idea could work well on a certain mid-engined coupe build that I know about.

To what end? So you can adjust your carbs? Or so your water cooled engine with front mounted radiators can get air?

Lots of good reasons which could be seen as aesthetic as well as useful. .  I once tried to replace a timing belt on a cross-wise four-banger and could see no way Jose' to get to and loosen that lower pulley.  So pulled the tire, got a circle saw, and just drilled an access hole in the wheel well at just the right place. Put the socket and extension on that puppy, and had the job done in minutes.  And just how much trouble would it have been to put an access port and plate there in the first place?  Add $5 to the cost of the car??

I've been trying to find a picture of a Carrera 4 cam spyder with the side access cover open, exposing for easy access to the upper cam cover and carburetor,on the mid engine, on either side.

as close as I could get

Its just so beautiful. lifting the side panel should have you looking directly at the carbretta, my goal.

Too bad those photos are a little squished. They are of a 550a, which had the doors. About 30 were made in late '55 to '56. Frame was made of many tubes instead of the ladder frame on the 550. Was torsionally and longitudinally WAY stiffer and had more attachment points for the body, so that was thinner as well.

These cars handled way better than the original Spyder and weighed 200 pounds less at 1100. The rear clamshell bolted on and was not hinged. This made the carb doors a necessity for racing. The rear grills were also moved toward the back of the car and were hinged as well for access.

The headrest fairing flipped forward to allow the driver's side carb door to open. I have some pics of these doors open and closed in books.

Stan Galat posted:

Lane Anderson posted:

Hmmm... that idea could work well on a certain mid-engined coupe build that I know about.

To what end? So you can adjust your carbs? Or so your water cooled engine with front mounted radiators can get air?

Mainly for ventilation, but also aesthetics.  It's probably moot as my budget is not going to support a lot of deviations from standard.

so wheres the pictures of this thing