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Posted by: Han Solo Jan 1 2015, 07:30 PM

I couldn't resist a $300 914 today. It's a maraschino red '76 2.0L that I had looked at about a month ago. I had passed on it then but today's price was just too tempting. After getting it up on blocks and cleaning out all the junk and leaves... I'm pretty surprised. The rear trunk pan is in great shape. The front trunk pan is just now starting to rust through but may be salvageable. The drivers side floor pan appears to be solid. However, the passenger side is a real mess. That floor pan has a large hole under the seat and that long is terribly rusted on the exterior with no rocker cover at all. The structure is comprised on that side of the car as there's flexing evident in the passenger door. The interior is complete except for one seat cushion, floor carpeting and horn button. The original radio is missing also. The rear interior window seal appears to have held but the exterior seal is shot. I think the state of the firewall will be the decider on if this tub has a chance. That will be revealed when I pull the back pad, interior and exterior insulators. All the glass is original without any cracks.

Mechanically the intake has been pulled (who knows how long) and the air injection holes plugged. But I did find the distributor in the front trunk. It looks like someone replaced the fuel pump under the tank. The exhaust is after market but the headers still have heat exchangers and they appear to be in good shape. All the brake calipers are on the car but the 17mm master cylinder had been pulled (very rusty) and was laying in the trunk also. All the transmission shift linkage is intact. It may have Koni rear shocks evident by the orange color.

Priority is the pull the engine and transmission as those have the most value. If the crank turns by hand, I'll be really happy.

Posted by: 914itis Jan 1 2015, 07:35 PM

Junk , I wouldn't take it if they pay me $300.00

There is nothing there to make that money back .

Posted by: Garold Shaffer Jan 1 2015, 07:35 PM

swaybars? unless you love metal work (and more) I would say parts car.

Posted by: DirtyCossack Jan 1 2015, 07:41 PM

I'm a resto optimist, but even I think that poor thing is a parts car.

Posted by: stevegm Jan 1 2015, 08:23 PM

Unfortunately, a parts car.

Posted by: Beeliner Jan 1 2015, 08:26 PM

Register the VIN

Posted by: 914itis Jan 1 2015, 08:53 PM

What part? lol

Posted by: boxsterfan Jan 1 2015, 08:56 PM

Parts car all the way.

Posted by: zambezi Jan 1 2015, 09:16 PM

parts car, I agree. In fact I could use the seats as rebuildable cores if you do part it out and don't need them. I am looking for a pair that is in decent structural shape but bad covers. There are plenty of other useable parts to easily make 300 back off of.
Jim

Posted by: TargaToy Jan 1 2015, 09:30 PM

Late doors (regulators), side shift, long block, glass, steering column, steering rack....all kindsa goodies there.

Posted by: Garold Shaffer Jan 1 2015, 09:34 PM

it won't be quick money, but you will get your $300 back and then some. Plus the scrap metal.

Posted by: stevegm Jan 1 2015, 10:18 PM

I agree.

Posted by: type47 Jan 2 2015, 07:34 AM

From the factory, a 75 and 76 should have the FP behind the front bulkhead attached to an access panel/door/thingy. It could be described as behind the fuel tank but if really under the fuel tank, maybe it's a carb pump 'course a visual on the pump would tell if for carbs or FI.

Posted by: RobW Jan 2 2015, 07:39 AM

Too bad its so original. The tires look like 165s. What's the mileage?

Posted by: bembry Jan 2 2015, 08:49 AM

I had to go back and re-read--I thought you had paid 3,000 for! Oh well, 300, no big loss. Definitely a parts car though.

Posted by: CptTripps Jan 2 2015, 09:26 AM

I thought all 76' cars had the "Appearance Group" with the center console. The white interior is pretty snazzy.

For $300...you did real well. There are lots of bits-and-pieces there to make it worth your while in the long run.

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 2 2015, 11:01 AM

And rare! At least the interior should be saved ...

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 2 2015, 11:03 AM

The seats are out and the shells are fine. I've got the rails out also. Shoot me a PM and we'll discuss

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 2 2015, 11:06 AM

88,435 miles and the speed-o cable is intact.

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 2 2015, 11:08 AM

The carpet was trash but the back pad came out okay. Could potentially be reconditioned and re-used. The insulating pad behind that came out real easy and could definitely be re-used.

Posted by: SirAndy Jan 2 2015, 11:14 AM

Too bad about the carpet.

The white interior is the most rare and as far as i know was only used in 75/76, usually in conjunction with darker exterior colors like Ancona Blue etc.

Posted by: computers4kids Jan 2 2015, 11:48 AM

The "fog light delete" big black front bumper has some value compared to its worthless counterpart with fog lights. Sold one some years back to an excited buyer , otherwise, most endup in a nearby dumpster.

Posted by: Mueller Jan 2 2015, 11:53 AM

^This....I am currently 914-less and wouldn't want that if given to me....


Hopefully you can get your money back piecing it out. It could be saved but could cost a small fortune it proper panels and all the required welding equipment

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 2 2015, 08:34 PM

That's good to know. I think I might use the rear bumper on my '73 2.0L autocross car. I'll have to come up with an alternate mounting method however.

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 2 2015, 08:55 PM

I stripped the seats, back pad and carpet remains to get a better look at the floor pans and firewall. Confirmed the the passenger side long is really bad. Rust has started up the inner firewall and cross member. The drivers side floor is probably just being held together by the sound deadening material. I suspect that long will be toast when I pull the rocker cover. The white interior is of interest and the back pad is probably salvageable. The insulated pad behind the pad came out really nicely and is definitely re-useable. The I got under the car and removed the Ansa muffler and tail pipe assemble. That's some heavy exhaust! What I definitely dislike is the later exhaust header and heat exchanger set-up. It does not look like that can be dropped without lowering the engine. Last thing I got done was getting the CV axles loose, clutch and speed-o cables off. I should have the motor and trans out tomorrow.

Posted by: mepstein Jan 2 2015, 09:11 PM

too much work for too little return.
But I'm lazy

Posted by: Dave_Darling Jan 2 2015, 11:13 PM

Considering what you've done to fix up your autoXer, I'd say you do have the skills and equipment to save this car.

Since I'm from California and I can't weld, I think any 914 with significant structural rust is a parts car. Like your autoXer was. But you could fix that if you chose to.

I had thought that the white interior was a 75-only option, but I've been wrong on year-by-year stuff before...

--DD

Posted by: bdstone914 Jan 2 2015, 11:52 PM

If it has the two part speedo cable you should save it. They are NLA.
If it is original it runs up to the EGR counter and the second cable goes from the counter to the speedo.

Posted by: funk Jan 3 2015, 04:55 AM

the floor pans don't look bad in the pics. 76 was the year that the least amount were made.I think its way doable but I am restoring a silver 76 now.I think all 76s have 2.0s in them??could just be an inner rocker and battery tray replacement but its usually always more sheet metal than first thought.I say do it up!!

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 3 2015, 02:46 PM

Thanks Dave. I'm on the fence on what to do with the tub. I appreciate your vote of confidence on my abilities. Priority is to get the motor back in the '73 and have some fun.



Standard speed-o cable from what I can tell. Oddly, that cable and the clutch cable are in good shape.

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 3 2015, 02:48 PM

Today I dropped the engine and transmission. With this car being under cover outside, I needed a different method for extraction. I used two large steel pipe bases, two 6' vertical pipes, two tee connectors and a 8' horizontal steel pipe to make a goal post. Then I spanned the engine case with a ratchet strap and rigged a come-along to the goal post. I also put a floor jack under the tranny. Going slowly and alternating between the come-along and the jack - everything slid out nicely. Set it down on some plyboard and the moved my come-along to a tree behind the car to pull that joker out. Having the intake off made the clearance under the rear perfect with the car on two cinder blocks each corner. Note that I've got the wheels stacked up under the car for safety. I then fired up the Bobcat with a fork attachment and toted the engine to the garage. It was starting to rain and about the time I pulled up to the garage - BAM, the hydraulic pump on the Bobcat fails. Oh boy, another project... Anyway, the motor is in the dry garage, the tub is wrapped in a tarp under cover and I pushed the Bobcat out of the way with a neighbors backhoe until I can pull that engine and fix the broken coupler (I suspect).

Posted by: Johny Blackstain Jan 3 2015, 02:55 PM

Rustbucket aside, that car is damned fine for learning & practicing mechanical 914 work.

Posted by: TargaToy Jan 3 2015, 10:27 PM

Mark, get this thing shipped to your driveway and I'll come hack it up!

Posted by: pete000 Jan 3 2015, 10:32 PM

Sad to see them die, but put that one to rest for sure....

Posted by: rick 918-S Jan 3 2015, 10:41 PM

Specially if the basket weave is good. The smooth vinyl could be matched up and repaired. Be careful with the back pad it may clean up.

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Jan 3 2015, 10:42 PM

10 years from now that's a $5K chassis as it sits. Once gone always gone. Its all fixable.

Posted by: dw914six Jan 4 2015, 12:26 AM

I agree with Jeff. Not so far off, this is worth $5,000. There will be a market for restoring these, because the average driver will sell for $20,000-$30,000.

That is if it goes the way of all other vintage Porsche cars and other old sports cars, and I think it will. I actually believe the VW/Porsche experiment puts a unique flavor on these cars and can eventually add a bit of value as well.

Ever heard of other brands partnering and later the cars are extremely collectible?

Think of the Fiat Dino. That is my example most like the 914. $125,000 or more for nice examples. Similar multi brand mystic is Jensen Healey with Lotus drive train, TVR with Ford drive train, Ford Pantera with body by De Tomaso, Jensen Interceptor with a Chrysler 440 engine, etc.

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 4 2015, 06:21 AM

We can only hope so. At this point I've got the tub with suspension wrapped up and secure. Perhaps I'll ease into the metal work this summer when I've got an itch for welding. I've done a little on my '73 race car...

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=221104

Posted by: DirtyCossack Jan 4 2015, 09:03 AM

Do it! Save it!!!!

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 4 2015, 08:33 PM

Today it was just me and a type 4 engine in a wrestling match. I didn't whip it completely but enough to find it's true colors. The engine tins came grudgingly and are mostly okay. The uppers need some metal work but with some TLC it could be called a complete set. The alternator looks okay but probably needs to be rebuilt. The starter feels silky smooth and was probably replaced at some point. The external pulley on the fan was interesting. I suppose that's for an AC compressor. That assemble came off well and might be of value to someone doing AC conversion. The oil cooler looks really nice inside and with some external cleaning is probably good to go again. When I got the fan out, I found some wildlife (see photo 3) inside the fan housing which is also good to reuse. One head was missing a valve cover so those rockers were pretty rusty. I got all the rockers, push rods and tubes out. When I went to pull the transmission I had a real hard time. That joker is only coming off the engine case about 3/4" no matter how much prying, shaking and cursing I do. I suspect the spline shaft is rusted into the friction plate. If I can rotate the crank and remove the pressure plate bolts through the starter hole, I should be able to separate. So I went to the heads and of course the 3 cheese head screws on the under tins are rusted so I ground off the center screw and bent the tins back to get the heads off. Cylinders 1 & 2 are a real mess with some kind of biology experiment in them. #2 exhaust valve was laying in the cylinder but that happened while inert. Cylinders 3 & 4 actually look pretty good though. Both heads could be rebuilt and have some value. So to get the tranny off I'll have to pull the cylinders (1 & 2 will be problematic) and hopefully spin the crank. The goal here is to have a decent GC case for rebuild. It's sure not letting this be an easy tear down though.

Also, the last photo shows the exhaust with heat exchangers. They look pretty good with some material missing where the pipes cross under the tin. If someone needs those, PM me.

Posted by: Chris Pincetich Jan 5 2015, 02:38 PM

I think the forward part of that exhaust is the starting point McMark used to fabricate his TIV turbo set-up

Also, is the interior light on the backpad in good shape? If it's Hella, it's worth something, and if it has the silver lining, that is more $$.

Lot's of people commented that the "Rusty Bucket" project was too much welding to be a keeper. This '76 tub is definitely worse, but you could rebuild it! Maybe one day the "rare" 1976 914 will be valuable

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 5 2015, 04:25 PM

Unfortunately that interior light was broken in half when I got it

I defied the naysayers on the '73

I'm moth-balling the '76 for now. Looking through the RD parts list and they offer everything that one needs. Probably $1500 in sheet metal and 200 hours welding and grinding time would get that tub in good shape

Posted by: 9146986 Jan 5 2015, 07:35 PM

I'll 2nd the exhaust stubs. I purchased a set in the hopes of using them for a type 4 Beetle project.

Where in TN are you Han Solo? I'm about 45 miles east of Jackson, TN.

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 6 2015, 09:55 AM

Near Lebanon TN east of Nashville.

Posted by: malcolm2 Jan 6 2015, 10:06 AM

Gauges, Tin, Engine, and now you profit..... money wise anyway, your labor will greatly reduce that, but the guys from Wheeler Dealers don't count labor, why should we?

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 7 2015, 08:55 AM

Years ago when I started sports car restoration for a hobby, the old guys at the local car shows told me this is the resale formula...

You should get back what you paid for the car after restoration (if fair market value).

Add half the cost of all the parts and paid labor you put into the car.

All your personal labor is free.

Posted by: 914time Jan 7 2015, 01:29 PM

When you said "up on blocks" you weren't kidding!

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 8 2015, 08:47 AM

Yea, I caught some flack on another forum for that but I figure a 2700 lb. car lifted on 4 points = 675 lb. per block. Stack your wheels under to be safe. The passenger side rear was a little "saggy" so I did put a jack stand under that rear control arm. Then when you get the engine and transmission out the weight really goes down.

Posted by: Brian Mifsud Jan 8 2015, 11:21 AM

That pulley in front of the fan is the drive system for the Smog (Air) Pump. I'm collecting and refurbishing those for the 3 guys who own '76 914s in California and have to maintain the emissions systems.

If you are interested in getting rid of that stuff, can you post a pic?

Same for the Air-Injection rails as associated vacuum valve...

Posted by: clapeza Jan 8 2015, 11:40 AM

Sorry to hear that, but that's a GREAT quote!

Posted by: CptTripps Jan 9 2015, 08:49 AM

For $300...you can't complain! You could sell the trans core for about that.

I'm still loving that white interior too...I think you may have something there if you can get it out and cleaned up.

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 9 2015, 09:02 AM

I'll never use the air pump pulley. I've got another party interested in the heads so I need to ask him first if he needs those injection tubes. Send me a PM and I'll try to get you a photo of the pulley assembly.

To all of you that have requested parts...

Sorry about the delay but temps are going to be better this weekend and I should be able to spend some time getting shipping and photos together. I've also got this broken Bobcat I've got to deal with...

Posted by: zambezi Jan 10 2015, 12:52 AM

I hear you on the temps. I don't feel like doing anything in the cold weather. How did I ever grow up in Minnesota?

Posted by: Han Solo Jan 11 2015, 12:15 PM

After Bobcat madness yesterday (pulling a Izusu motor at 11 degrees ) I jumped back on the 2.0L engine dis-assembly. The two seized pistons were a real pain. I basically had to lubricate the cylinder walls and beat the opposing piston with a hammer to get the rings to break free. But I got all the cylinders off and wrist pins out. That's when the crank starting turning freely. But the transmission was still stuck with the bell housing about 3/4" off the engine case. So I removed the clutch pressure plate bolts through the starter hole and FINALLY the tranny broke free! I appears the friction plate was corroded and stuck to the flywheel. Although that friction plate looks pretty fresh. Anyway, I then got all the case bolts out and split the case this morning. The crankshaft and main bearings look good. The camshaft doesn't have a lot of wear and the lifters all came out easily (no mushrooming). So it looks like I've got a decent GC case and 2.0L crankshaft. Those two items easily cover the cost of the car!

Posted by: Han Solo Jul 15 2015, 12:10 PM

I've decided to cancel this tub rebuild. There's just too much work and cost here with little payback. I've got my eye on another Porsche that's a really good candidate for restoration. This '76 914/4 will be parted out completely (that in itself will take time). Perhaps I'll keep a couple of choice bits for spares for my '73 autocross 914. If you've been following this thread and feel that there's a useful part for your car... let me know. I'll be willing to cut out fenders, suspension mounts, etc. to help someone along with their project.

Posted by: Han Solo Jul 15 2015, 12:22 PM

Link to FS thread...

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=259941

Posted by: grimmel Jul 15 2015, 12:41 PM

looking for a center clip for visors? Got one?

txdunn@gmail.com

Posted by: Bossman Jul 16 2015, 11:30 PM

Hate to see another one get cut up. If you have the space mothball it until time/economics make it feasible.

Posted by: Evil914 Jul 16 2015, 11:52 PM

I need the steering column if its got a key and no slop in the bushings.

Posted by: Han Solo Jul 17 2015, 05:12 AM

Shoot me a PM, all requests are lining up there. The clip shouldn't be a problem.

Posted by: Han Solo Jul 17 2015, 05:14 AM

Same as above, give me a PM so I can prioritize requests. That column won't be a problem though (includes key).