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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ How hard / nasty to replace front clip?
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 1 2017, 10:18 AM
Hi folks, first time on this forum so be gentle if I ask especially dimwitted questions. Grin.
If I had the missing front section from another car that was straight, how nasty of a job is it to put that on and make this one whole again?
The rest of the car is really straight so it's worth some effort, just not sure where this fits in the spectrum of things you don't really want to have do to your 914...
Thanks!
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Posted by: ConeDodger Dec 1 2017, 10:27 AM
This is a question we can’t answer as we don’t know what your abilities are.
But for a good body guy, not too bad.
Check with some of the SoCal guys. There is an excellent 914 body and paint guy down in your area.
Posted by: mgphoto Dec 1 2017, 10:28 AM
Complex but not impossible.
I Replaced the front facia and the inner fenders and turn signal buckets.
Get a copy of the factory repair manual, there is a chapter on "sectioning".
Took about 3 years for the front and the longs. Did it in my driveway.
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 1 2017, 10:36 AM
Thank you for the fast response and coaching, I’ve clearly found the right place to ask!
I am decent with a MIG, but this strikes me as a pretty key area to make sure the car is straight etc.
Is there a jig required?
Posted by: ConeDodger Dec 1 2017, 12:47 PM
Kent Simmons is the go-to in your area. 914350 on here if you want to seek him out...
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 1 2017, 12:52 PM
Thanks, will try to connect with him.
Posted by: SirAndy Dec 1 2017, 01:06 PM
Maybe not, but as someone who has had to deal with bend cars in the past, i'd be worried that the frontal impact may have tweaked the front suspension mounts.
The front of the a-arms is close to the clip you already removed and the front mounts are somewhat easy to bend.
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 1 2017, 01:39 PM
Maybe not, but as someone who has had to deal with bend cars in the past, i'd be worried that the frontal impact may have tweaked the front suspension mounts.
The front of the a-arms is close to the clip you already removed and the front mounts are somewhat easy to bend.
Good consideration, was not aware if that.
BTW - not my car yet, I didn’t have anything to do with it’s current condition or how it got to be like this.
Thanks!
Posted by: bbrock Dec 1 2017, 02:01 PM
Well... my very first adventure in welding was replacing the clip on my first 914 after I hit a patch of black ice and wrapped the nose around a fire hydrant. I can't say I did a good job, but it drove straight and handled well for years after.
There is a funny (only because I'm still alive to tell it) story that goes with this. I was in college at the time and doing the repairs in my parent's garage on the weekends. After I got the clip welded in, I was in a hurry to drive it back to college 60 miles away. Just after getting on the Interstate, the left corner suddenly pitched to the ground and sparks were flying. I was sure my welds had failed until I saw one of my wheels go flinging down the highway in front of me. Dummy me had forgotten to tighten the lug bolts before driving off, and the left front had launched to freedom. I managed to pull to the shoulder, as did my now wife who was following, and thought she was witnessing my firey death. And a stranger's van also pulled over. The van had smacked into my girlfriend's Honda. I assumed he did so because he was dodging a rogue Empi. But no. He simply had changed lanes without looking, and had not noticed the pyrotechnic show I was performing. It was pure coincidence. The poor officer who had to fill out the report was really scratching his head. As for me, I retrieved the wheel, bolted it back on with some spare bolts, and went on my way.
So if you move forward with this project, my only advice is... tighten the lug bolts when you're done! 
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 1 2017, 03:08 PM
Point noted!
I had a similar thing happen on a TR4a where the past person to touch it reserved the hubs and the wheels became self loosening.
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 2 2017, 01:58 PM
Any other shops I should be trying to connect with on this?
Posted by: Cairo94507 Dec 2 2017, 03:19 PM
Well it isn't tough if you have the right guy/shop doing it. Take a look at my build thread, Parts 1 & 2 (in my signature line) and you will see the front end, fenders and nose, were replaced in Part 1 and in Part 2 they were replaced again.....
Kent Simmons is doing my car. He is definitely the go to guy. But you make that call on your own. My thread should be illustrative of the issues that can arise and what it takes to correctly solve them.
Good luck - and 
Oh,
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 2 2017, 07:26 PM
Well it isn't tough if you have the right guy/shop doing it. Take a look at my build thread, Parts 1 & 2 (in my signature line) and you will see the front end, fenders and nose, were replaced in Part 1 and in Part 2 they were replaced again.....
Kent Simmons is doing my car. He is definitely the go to guy. But you make that call on your own. My thread should be illustrative of the issues that can arise and what it takes to correctly solve them.
Good luck - and
Oh, Thank you
Posted by: 914350 Dec 3 2017, 07:46 AM
Hi Tdskip,
I noticed you said it's not your car yet, sometimes free or cheep can be very expensive. I'm never one to discourage someone from a purchase, I have bought many cars just for the challenge rather than the profit or value. For the money it takes to replace the front clip area, you could probably buy a better 914 with less damage.
I got your message and I'll message you back with my number in case you want to talk in detail about the car/damage.
Kent S.
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 3 2017, 08:01 AM
Hi Tdskip,
I noticed you said it's not your car yet, sometimes free or cheep can be very expensive. I'm never one to discourage someone from a purchase, I have bought many cars just for the challenge rather than the profit or value. For the money it takes to replace the front clip area, you could probably buy a better 914 with less damage.
I got your message and I'll message you back with my number in case you want to talk in detail about the car/damage.
Kent S.
Thanks Kent. Sage advice, and I do understand that cheap ones are often the most expensive.
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 6 2017, 08:00 AM
Good morning, hope everybody’s having a good week so far.
Kent and I have not connected yet, but I was wondering if I could get a rough ballpark on what replacing a clip would run? $2000? 4000 horse? $6000?
Not trying to get a specific number, because that’s impossible as it will vary by car and condition and who does the work etc., just round numbers that would give me some sense of ballpark would be a big help however.
Thanks!
Posted by: Andyrew Dec 6 2017, 08:26 AM
Personally I wouldnt buy a car that needed that much work unless it was a parts car for something else. Way to many good rolling chassis in California to consider this kind of work.
Case in point, This one is 1k..
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=307807
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 6 2017, 08:44 AM
Personally I wouldnt buy a car that needed that much work unless it was a parts car for something else. Way to many good rolling chassis in California to consider this kind of work.
Case in point, This one is 1k..
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=307807
Good morning, thanks for the response. Good advice for sure, but the car I am looking at is otherwise complete and runs. Balancing that against, for example, that purple shell with flares that are not to my personal taste.
If a rough ballpark for replacing the front clip is lower than bring that purple shell to same running condition that impacts my thinking. Make sense?
They are all ultimately expensive.
Thanks!
Posted by: Cairo94507 Dec 6 2017, 05:59 PM
If the purple one is the one I am thinking of, I believe the flares are glass. That would eliminate it for me unless I was building a track car.
Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Dec 6 2017, 06:28 PM
Personally I wouldnt buy a car that needed that much work unless it was a parts car for something else. Way to many good rolling chassis in California to consider this kind of work.
Case in point, This one is 1k..
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=307807
Good morning, thanks for the response. Good advice for sure, but the car I am looking at is otherwise complete and runs. Balancing that against, for example, that purple shell with flares that are not to my personal taste.
If a rough ballpark for replacing the front clip is lower than bring that purple shell to same running condition that impacts my thinking. Make sense?
They are all ultimately expensive.
Thanks!
Is this the white 914 that has been floating around online for sale for awhile?
Posted by: 914 7T3 Dec 6 2017, 06:49 PM
Personally I wouldnt buy a car that needed that much work unless it was a parts car for something else. Way to many good rolling chassis in California to consider this kind of work.
Case in point, This one is 1k..
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=307807
Good morning, thanks for the response. Good advice for sure, but the car I am looking at is otherwise complete and runs. Balancing that against, for example, that purple shell with flares that are not to my personal taste.
If a rough ballpark for replacing the front clip is lower than bring that purple shell to same running condition that impacts my thinking. Make sense?
They are all ultimately expensive.
Thanks!
Is this the white 914 that has been floating around online for sale for awhile?
I think I know that car as well if it is the one in San Gabriel! Depending on where you look it is currently listed at $6,500 and $4,500 simultaneously.
If so that car has been for sale since April at least if not longer.
Posted by: mepstein Dec 6 2017, 07:53 PM
I wouldn’t pay more than $1-2k for a car that needed a front clip.
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 6 2017, 09:01 PM
Is this the white 914 that has been floating around online for sale for awhile?
Might be, not sure. It in San Gabriel.
Oops - missed the post above, yep, appears to be the same car. That pricing is optimistic , seller coming around some.
Anyone know it?
Posted by: 914 7T3 Dec 8 2017, 10:34 PM
Is this the white 914 that has been floating around online for sale for awhile?
Might be, not sure. It in San Gabriel.
Oops - missed the post above, yep, appears to be the same car. That pricing is optimistic , seller coming around some.
Anyone know it?
This one?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/porsche-914/6367256157.html
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 8 2017, 11:09 PM
Is this the white 914 that has been floating around online for sale for awhile?
Might be, not sure. It in San Gabriel.
Oops - missed the post above, yep, appears to be the same car. That pricing is optimistic , seller coming around some.
Anyone know it?
This one?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/porsche-914/6367256157.html
Bingo, same one.
Posted by: 914 7T3 Dec 8 2017, 11:26 PM
Is this the white 914 that has been floating around online for sale for awhile?
Might be, not sure. It in San Gabriel.
Oops - missed the post above, yep, appears to be the same car. That pricing is optimistic , seller coming around some.
Anyone know it?
This one?
https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/porsche-914/6367256157.html
Bingo, same one.
I agree with mepstein. They always need more work than you think.
Posted by: sixaddict Dec 9 2017, 06:30 AM
Two points
1. If this is not a six or LE ------RUN ! It is not worth the agony....It will be expensive and there will be more damage as already stated. .
2. Chassis needs to be measured to determine if it has been tweaked ( as someone so aptly suggested) . That requires real skill and technical information
As a friend once said " this car for free would be expensive"
Good luck
Posted by: Tdskip Dec 9 2017, 07:02 AM
Two points
1. If this is not a six or LE ------RUN ! It is not worth the agony....It will be expensive and there will be more damage as already stated. .
2. Chassis needs to be measured to determine if it has been tweaked ( as someone so aptly suggested) . That requires real skill and technical information
As a friend once said " this car for free would be expensive"
Good luck
Thanks, time to pass on this one.
Thank you all for the input and coaching.
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