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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ Just starting out- what spares?

Posted by: wrpspddrvr Feb 15 2005, 11:04 PM

Hi all. For those of us investing in our first 914s (non-rusted out project cars...), what are some handy things to have? So far my list is:
1) the Haynes manual
2) the Weber carb book
3) spare accel and clutch cables (I understand these failing are fairly common)
4) shift-bushing kit
5) Car cover

Anything else I should get? What do y'all reccomend?

Thanks!
Cole

Posted by: SirAndy Feb 15 2005, 11:06 PM

AAA membership ...

Andy

Posted by: r_towle Feb 15 2005, 11:08 PM

an entire running parts car of the same year...

Rich

Posted by: Eric_Shea Feb 15 2005, 11:08 PM

MAP torch and a spare 914

MAP torch seriously...

Posted by: bd1308 Feb 15 2005, 11:10 PM

I second the AAA thing....use it all the time. The tow truck guy in the Louisville area knows me by name. Whats a MAP torch? is torch british for flashlight (hehe)

Posted by: scott thacher Feb 15 2005, 11:11 PM

second the AAA membership

go buy a decent socket set in both 3/8 and 1/4 drive with deep 10, 12, 13, 17 mm. you will be amazed how much easier it is to get the 1/4 drive in some places.

okay teri just said a camera in your car to take pics of any other 914s you see . also handy for any parking lot dings , or future mike z avitars .

Posted by: bd1308 Feb 15 2005, 11:36 PM

i'd second that camera thing too.

Posted by: nebreitling Feb 16 2005, 12:23 AM

4 jackstands, a tarp, and plenty of beer.

Posted by: scott thacher Feb 16 2005, 12:38 AM

and if you are like the rest of us, in 2 to 3 years when the car gets on the road. wrap a clutch and throttle cable around the expansion tank ( top of gas tank ) with a spare clutch cable trunnion and nuts.

Posted by: redshift Feb 16 2005, 01:02 AM

QUOTE (scott thacher @ Feb 16 2005, 01:11 AM)

okay teri just said a camera in your car to take pics of any other 914s you see . also handy for any parking lot dings , or future mike z avitars .

Uhh... you lock your car?

The keys work?

M

Posted by: riverman Feb 16 2005, 07:01 AM

Jack stands, two trolley jacks, grinder, sawzall, Mig welder, complete set of metric wrenches, 5 gal. of POR-15, 2 to 3 years worth of space to store your car and all the parts that come off it and you accumulate while you get it road worthy, a very patient and understanding significant other.

Posted by: xsboost90 Feb 16 2005, 07:03 AM

MIG welder, a gallon of POR15, a lawn chair.

Posted by: wrpspddrvr Feb 16 2005, 07:04 AM

Hmmm. I don't think I said that very well. What I meant by "non rusted-out project cars" was a daily driver/NOT a project car.
Considering the answers, I hope y'all were talking about a project car....

But thanks for all the replies! I hope to have one or two of everything y'all mentioned!
See ya', Ben Franklin!

Cole

Posted by: roundboy914 Feb 16 2005, 07:10 AM

VISA and/or MasterCard with big ass credit limit!

Posted by: CptTripps Feb 16 2005, 07:23 AM

with roundboy...That's my secret weapon.

It doesn't matter if it's a project, or a concourse car....here's my list.

4-6 jack stands.
2-ton Floor Jack
Metric Sockets (1/2, 3/8, and 1/4)
SAE Sockets (for when you find 'fixes' the PO made)
Little Mag-Light
Heat Gun (removing undercoating/paint/seals)
Rivit Gun (removing/replacing rockers every few months to clean out the debris that collects there)
AAA Gold Membership (I don't care HOW great your 914 is..it WILL BREAK DOWN!)
A fire extinguisher
...anything morphenspectra, and Engman make.

That's just off the top of my head.

Posted by: jr91472 Feb 16 2005, 07:43 AM

To keep in Car:
-spare fuses
-extra "round" relays

In the garage:
-big ass vice (to kill the pain)
-big ass vice (for holding and pressing things)
-brake line wrench's plus bleeding gear

Posted by: URY914 Feb 16 2005, 08:09 AM

A lap top and a LONG cable.

So you can be in contact with us here at mission control at all times.

Good luck. May the force be with you.

Paul

Posted by: Kerrys914 Feb 16 2005, 08:14 AM

I think all 914's are "Project" cars

Don't forget the scrap pieces of carboard or ? to keep the 914 from marking her spot in the garage.

Cheers

Smilies describing 914 ownership

Posted by: DNHunt Feb 16 2005, 08:18 AM

All of the above plus

Spare bed

Cause the wife's gonna say "If you love that thing more than me why don't you go sleep with it?"

Plenty of rags

Cause it's gonna get messy.

Lot's of old clothes

Cause you're gonna get dirty.

Good sense of humor

Cause it's gonna let you down sometime and it's better to laugh than cry. They can be so disappointing and frustrating but, when they are right it sure is fun.

A supply of JP's magic smoke

Cause sometimes you just can't figure it out and the only explanation is you did something to let the magic smoke out. (this happens mostly with fuel injection)

Good luck

Dave

Posted by: type47 Feb 16 2005, 08:22 AM

spare fan belt (or 2). drives the alternator.

Posted by: bd1308 Feb 16 2005, 08:31 AM

QUOTE (DNHunt @ Feb 16 2005, 08:18 AM)
A supply of JP's magic smoke

Cause sometimes you just can't figure it out and the only explanation is you did something to let the magic smoke out. (this happens mostly with fuel injection)

speaking of magic smoke, on which forum was the lucas jokes?

Posted by: bd1308 Feb 16 2005, 08:34 AM

i have a daily driver.....i have a full metric and SAE toolset, timing light, dwell meter, screwdriver set, all the books (haynes,pelican tech articles, etc.) duct tape, and a few flashlights all in the back trunk....I need it too. I've used AAA many times, saved my hide.

Posted by: mharrison Feb 16 2005, 08:36 AM

Spare car to drive! I don't care how great your 914 is, you'll see somebody doing a project on here and decide you HAVE to do it.

Thus it begins.......

Posted by: sgomes Feb 16 2005, 08:53 AM

Screw AAA. By the time you're don't with your "car that isn't a project" you'll need to sign up with AA.

Posted by: scooter311 Feb 16 2005, 10:13 AM

I've never been stranded...

Thusly, after saying that, I have cursed myself - so when I do get stranded, I'll have, in a neat soft-case toolbag in the front trunk:

Full set of metric and standard box wrenches
2 sets metric sockets, 3/8 and 1/4 drive
double-headed ratchet
1/4 inch driver handle
full set crescent wrenches
needle, flat, and regular-nose pliers
magnetic extendy-tip screwdriver with standard sockets in handle
2 different sparkplug sockets
3 lengths of 3/8 extensions
that screwdriver with the reversible shaft-thingy
small pastic case with different torx, allen, and screwdriver tips
metric allen wrench set
a roll of stainless saftey wire
a set of cutters
knife
scraper
WD40
rag
zip ties
duct tape
electrical tape
misc nuts, bolts, hardware and whatever little stuff fits in a peanut butter jar
I'm always adding to that list too

I know I've stuffed more things in there but those are the ones I remember.
At home I have 6 jackstands, an old 3.5 ton floor jack, and the most amazing thing anyone has ever seen- it's called a "Screwball" - it looks like a small upright pallet jack with a crank at the top and a set of arms in front that raise or lower as you crank. It's like 3 feet tall, and looks like it fell out of the 50s. I can raise the 914 almost 3 feet in the air with it effortlessy. Has anyone seen one before?

Also have a new large rollaround (taller than me) and a few mismatched cabinets filled with the usual gadgets gismos and doodads.

Posted by: wrpspddrvr Feb 16 2005, 10:28 AM

QUOTE (scooter311 @ Feb 16 2005, 08:13 AM)

magnetic extendy-tip screwdriver with standard sockets in handle

that screwdriver with the reversible shaft-thingy

I'm surprised you don't have the screw-jobbie with that flexible whatchamacallit at the end.

Thanks guys, I knew I could count on y'all. I've said it before, but it's worth saying a million times. This forum is SOOO much better than any Jap Import forum I've ever been on. All they can do on there is insult you.

Looks like I'd better upgrade my AAA to Gold then.....

Cole

Posted by: tat2dphreak Feb 16 2005, 10:40 AM

invest in B-12 chemtool and WD40... buy them by the case
1 set of GOOD metric wrenches
1 set of CHEAP metric wrenches
a set of flare-nut wrenches for the brakes
a little torch
a little fridge for the garage to fill with beer...
a list of 914 owners within driving distance to help you out...

oh, and maybe it's just me, but I have a small collection of calipers, I plan to rebuild them eventually, that's one part I want to keep good extras of.

Posted by: CptTripps Feb 16 2005, 10:41 AM

QUOTE (wrpspddrvr @ Feb 16 2005, 11:28 AM)
Looks like I'd better upgrade my AAA to Gold then.....

My Grandparents have given me (and mow my wife) AAA Gold every year for Christmas since I turned 16. MUCH better than the standard, and not that much more. Pays for its self one time...and you'll use it.

Posted by: bd1308 Feb 16 2005, 10:46 AM

my mom asked me if i want to upgrade for the gold? WHat's the difference?

Posted by: Flat VW Feb 16 2005, 10:56 AM

I have a foldable, three legged stool, an umbrella, snacks and a good book to read while waiting for Triple AAA!

Posted by: vagabundo Feb 16 2005, 11:03 AM

. . . don't forget the Superglue for when the rearview mirror decides to self-prune from your windshield!

Posted by: CptTripps Feb 16 2005, 11:05 AM

QUOTE (bd1308 @ Feb 16 2005, 11:46 AM)
my mom asked me if i want to upgrade for the gold? WHat's the difference?

They'll tow you up to 150mi 4X a year for free. I think you get 50mi X2 with the standard one. You can also have them do things like make you keys and stuff for free. For the $50 extra, it's worth it...