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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ How long does it take to restore a stock 914?
Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 11 2004, 06:27 PM
This is my Dad's car. Once I sell my AX car (shameless plug for selling my gray car - see the classifieds) - I can start on this one. How long does a part time restoration take? Any estimate on time?
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Posted by: william harris Sep 11 2004, 06:34 PM
First you have to decide what you have to do and what you want to do and finally what you can afford to do. If you think you can do everything you want to in 1 year, figure 2 years to really do it. 
Posted by: F4i Sep 11 2004, 06:59 PM
figure out everything you want to do and then double the money and triple the time. That should put it close. 
Posted by: Headrage Sep 11 2004, 07:03 PM
Finances and available time on your part will dictate how long it will take. If you can afford to send it out to a real 914 restoration specialist I would imagine 4-6 months maybe longer. I know that even engine builders (i mean really good engine builders can take as long as 2 - 4 months. I think for the do it yourselfer, if you have the funding should take at least a year, even 2 to do it right if you are good. IMHO
Posted by: TimT Sep 11 2004, 07:03 PM
then triple the money and quadrupale the time
Posted by: McMark Sep 11 2004, 07:40 PM
Professional 4-6 months? I can do one in two months if I take my time. Yes, a full restoration.
Posted by: Headrage Sep 11 2004, 07:48 PM
He said FULL. resto. Maybe I'm off but I remember Jake and Brad both telling someone that they had backlogs. I think that if the motor AND tranny rebuild can be done in less time then the only thing left is body, interior, electrical and suspension. If you have alot of free time or you can afford to have it done then it would be sooner. Yes? Just my thoughts.
Posted by: GWN7 Sep 11 2004, 08:13 PM
What's wrong with it?....It looks pretty good now.
Posted by: Headrage Sep 11 2004, 08:25 PM
Looks pretty good so maybe it will just take a few tweeks here and there. The left long looks good, how about the dreaded passenger side 
? I want to say also that it may only take a few weeks for the motor IF you can find someone ready to do it. My heads alone will take at least 3 weeks based on my estimate from RIMCO. By the way, I want to express my kudos to Bruce for the excellent trunk latches. Nice stuff!
Posted by: lapuwali Sep 11 2004, 08:50 PM
Boy, I'll say. Looks more like an after picture than a before picture.
Posted by: tod914 Sep 11 2004, 08:54 PM
Car looks real nice in the photo. Good luck with it. Unless the paint has some major issues (which it surely doesnt seem to have), might be best to leave it original. There are some good products on the market that can realy bring out old paint.
Posted by: mack914 Sep 11 2004, 09:05 PM
Most of us wish that our cars looked so good!!!
Posted by: tod914 Sep 11 2004, 09:27 PM
I just noticed, no antenna on the left front fender. Is it on the other side??
Posted by: Headrage Sep 11 2004, 09:34 PM
That car does look pretty nice. Can you furnish more pics?
Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:31 AM
Because I love all you 914 whores, I'm going to share some picts of the greatest car on earth (to me).
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:33 AM
I bondo'd the antena hole shut (the fool I was) in High School 18 years ago.
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:36 AM
My Dad bought this car when I was 6 in 1976. Check out the factory paint on the shock.
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:40 AM
My Dad passed away 7 years ago. Resurrecting this car was my way of keeping him alive. It's time to make this car something even more special...
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:41 AM
Yes that is an 8-track.
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Posted by: GWN7 Sep 12 2004, 12:43 AM
Ok I see what's wrong with it now...it has some chipped paint under the front hood.
Dam nice car.
Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:44 AM
Here's the area that got fixed. They said the car was DNR - do not repair. They cut out of another car the long, firewall, engine mount, and battery tray to weld into mine. Bodystyle in San Jose saved my car because they dared to fix it when no one else would.
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:46 AM
After working on my AX car the last 5 years, its nice to be inside of a relatively clean / stock 914...
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:48 AM
The rear drivers panel has a great deal of bondo from where I tried to fix it 7 years ago. Brad has tucked away Jenny's orange rear panel which I plan to use here. Thanks Brad and Jenny.
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:51 AM
Its a 74 2.0 black bumpers, center console, but no sway bars. Is was originally delivered to Kansas, and a military person came out to Vandenburg AFB and sold it to a dealership in Lompoc in 1976- where my Dad got it.
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Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 12 2004, 12:54 AM
Its all stock except for the bondo. My plan is to work on it in my spare time around school. I want this car to be perfect to honor my Dad, and help me to remember him and what he did for me....
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Posted by: Jeroen Sep 12 2004, 08:33 PM
Hey Rob,
Nice car and a great history. You're right, you should do the car justice
How long it takes will depend on how many nasty surprises you find once you start taking it apart, how much time you have and how much you can/want to do yourself
Still, any scedule you'll come up with will surely change along the way
Just keep telling yourself it'll be done next year (year after year after...). Works for me
What's more important is that you do it right.
cheers,
Jeroen
Posted by: 9146986 Sep 13 2004, 10:18 AM
Um.... sure.....and your wife Nicole Kidman helps right??
PK
Posted by: qa1142 Sep 13 2004, 10:19 AM
8 track is nice period correct touch
Posted by: ! Sep 13 2004, 10:33 AM
Actually.....8 tracs weren't really readily available until 1975ish and weren't put in the cars until later by owners.....
Most dealerships installed whatever am/fm was cheap and easy...unless they convinced the new owner for a higher quality unit.
Posted by: SpecialK Sep 13 2004, 11:09 AM
So did mine before I pulled the carpets out....
Trade you straight across
Posted by: maf914 Sep 13 2004, 12:43 PM
Um.... sure.....and your wife Nicole Kidman helps right??
PK
There goes your time estimate. It's gonna take you 4-6 months of serious commitment just to knock the new off that piece. Then maybe you can concentrate on the car again!
Posted by: phantom914 Sep 13 2004, 12:50 PM
Most dealerships installed whatever am/fm was cheap and easy...unless they convinced the new owner for a higher quality unit.
My '74 has a dealer installed Audiovox 8-track. This car was purchased in September '74. The 8-Track cost $300 back then. It would cost a little less now.
Andrew
Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 13 2004, 01:40 PM
Was it Blankput by any chance. The original 8-track that came with the car was Blankput but it went kplut, so the one thats in there is a Pioneer. I got lucky and found an Alice Cooper 8-track. I'd rather barf that listen to Elton John or the Carpenters (except for a couple songs).
Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 13 2004, 01:42 PM
No thanks. This car is worth millions and millions to me. I'll never sell it.
Posted by: anthony Sep 13 2004, 04:17 PM
Rob, what level of restoration are you going to do? Factory showroom condition? Nice driver?
Posted by: Rob Ways Sep 13 2004, 08:37 PM
What level of restoration? Super cool nice.
Posted by: 9146986 Sep 14 2004, 06:08 AM
Most dealerships installed whatever am/fm was cheap and easy...unless they convinced the new owner for a higher quality unit.
I've got to disagree with you on this Mike. I've got a '71 with a dealer installed underdash Blaupunkt 8 track player. It doesn't work, but it does look very, um, period for the car.
PK
Posted by: RON S. Sep 14 2004, 07:15 AM
If you want it done really fassst.
Call the producers fo the tv show Overhaulin.
They'll get it done in a week,and it's freeeee to boot. 
Besides,it's about time a 914 gets a spot on the show.
I'm tired of seeing all the 
rust-bucket,lowlife GenericMotors,and chevy junk they've been putting on there since day one.
let's see how good they really are with a real car.
Ron
Posted by: d7n7master Sep 14 2004, 09:02 AM
So sorry to hear of your dad's passing. You have one awesome piece of history there. In the family since new??? Pinch me. That's awesome. I'll never sell mine either. Maybe someday my '73 will look as good as yours does - right now.
Posted by: 1bad914 Sep 14 2004, 11:01 AM
I do all of the work myself and can turn one in about 6-9 months, I work on it when I have time. Hmmmm, maybe that's why my ex-wife left me! Great car and story, If I had one that clean to start with, it would take me a month to restore! Mine look like this!
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