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Posted by: clsmooth Jun 2 2021, 06:59 PM

After a bit of searching, I can start my build thread!

It was a bit of searching, but I found a clean ’72 shell out of West Virginia and had it shipped. At least, I’m pretty sure it’s a ’72 – that’s what I’ve been told, but I’ll know more once I start digging into it. The whole thing was already sandblasted & primed, so bit of a bonus there. I think the previous owner had plans but couldn't go through with them anymore.

I’m gonna go a factory-restoration route, I think it’d be really good practice before I get my 2nd one; that’ll be more of a restomod I’m already brainstorming.

So far I’ve managed to get it into the garage and up on jack stands.

Posted by: Jett Jun 2 2021, 10:04 PM

It’s missing a roof… did you replace the front clip?

Posted by: dhuckabay Jun 2 2021, 10:07 PM

Going to be a tight fit

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 2 2021, 10:13 PM

QUOTE(Jett @ Jun 2 2021, 09:04 PM)

Posted by: rhodyguy Jun 3 2021, 08:28 AM

Original 6. Body in yellow. Chrome bumpers and gas burners. Assembly required.


Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 4 2021, 07:19 PM

I managed to get the body off the frame.



Gonna give it a once over and should be able to start bolting things to it. I don't have room for the body right now though, but a buddy of mine with a bodyshop who was going to help me paint it anyway let me store it at his shop. He's pretty into these older cars too, said he can source me bumpers and a rood

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 8 2021, 05:14 PM

With the help of some friends and a neighbour, we were able to get the frame flipped upside down so I can work on it's underside.



I'll be getting ready to seal up the underside shortly.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 9 2021, 10:03 PM

Got the underside sealed up. Left the mounting points for now so as to have a smooth install of parts later. They'll be touched up then.



I also managed to touch up the underside of the spare tire well too.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 9 2021, 10:06 PM

So while I was sealing up the underside, I got a knock on the garage door. The transmission I source arrived!



It was advertised as an original with low mileage, and boy original is right. I don't know where this thing sat but the casing got completely oxidized! I'm gonna have it sent out and check over just to make sure everything's OK with it.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 10 2021, 11:38 PM

I sourced a couple of rear trailing arms. They came with axles in em, I wouldn't be surprised if it's cause they're seized in there.



Ordered some new wheel bearings and hubs from RockAuto though. I'll see if I can press them in myself.

Posted by: 914e Jun 11 2021, 02:03 AM

This might be one of the truly rust free 914s. Very hard to find.

Posted by: KELTY360 Jun 11 2021, 01:51 PM

Did you post the VIN?

Posted by: JOEPROPER Jun 11 2021, 01:57 PM

Future C.O.T.M.

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 11 2021, 01:59 PM

Looks like you're starting with a pretty clean 914, nice!

Posted by: Jett Jun 11 2021, 05:15 PM

First time that I have seen what appear to be chrome Gas Burners, or did Al Reed polish them with clear coat?

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 12 2021, 03:21 PM

While waiting for the transmission to get back from being checked out at the shop, managed to clean up the trailing arms, pack the wheels bearings into the hubs and mount the hubs.



The axles eventually came out with some motivation. For peace of mind I replaced them with new ones.

And to help mount them up, sourced from Koni red shocks.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 12 2021, 03:28 PM

Bit of a score! Found a locally rebuilt 6 shortblock!

Painted the block and engine cradle black so that the aluminum heads would really pop in the engine bay.





New clutch and flywheel from RockAuto. The transmisison came back with a clean bill of health and mated the 2 right away!

The tranny mount that came with is was all dried up from sitting. Found a nice red poly mount for it that came part of a kit. With the frame still upside down, fitted the transmission body mount bushings with a rubber mallet.

Posted by: bkrantz Jun 12 2021, 08:34 PM

QUOTE(914e @ Jun 11 2021, 02:03 AM)

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 15 2021, 09:31 PM

With a heave and a ho, managed to get the frame flipped back right side up, and then got on a role where I didn't want to stop!

Lowered the frame to mount up the engine and transmission. Bolted up the trailing arms into the body and axles in to the transmission. Got my Koni red's in there and hooked up the shift linkage.





Managed to press in and install poly mounts at the engine mounts, transmission mount, trailing arm-to-body mounts, and shift linkage bushings. New rear brake rotors to boot.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 15 2021, 09:37 PM

Getting the front ready now, should be a lot easier since it's less involved.

Thanks to RockAuto I was able to assembly everything with new parts! New bearing pressed into the hub and matching Koni red's in the front.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 15 2021, 09:39 PM

Sourced some used aluminum front control arms! They've also seen better days though. Looks like more oxidization from sitting.



Just waiting for the bushings to arrive for these guys. (Of course, red poly one )

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 16 2021, 06:06 PM

Front control arms are in! Cleaned them up, pressed in new poly bushings, installed the shocks, and new brake rotors.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 16 2021, 06:08 PM

Wheels are in!

I found chrome 5 spokes where the spokes themselves have a machined finished. Popped in some new centre caps.



Looking forward to seeing how they look on the car after I get tires mounted! It'll be nice to get everything off of jackstands finally.

Posted by: Jett Jun 16 2021, 06:53 PM

QUOTE(clsmooth @ Jun 15 2021, 08:37 PM)

Getting the front ready now, should be a lot easier since it's less involved.

Thanks to RockAuto I was able to assembly everything with new parts! New bearing pressed into the hub and matching Koni red's in the front.

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 17 2021, 02:32 PM

One of the faster builds I've seen! Should be on the road in no time.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 19 2021, 01:22 PM

With the body still at paint and the car sitting on jack stands, decided to take advantage of the space and installed my stacker intakes and carbs! After hunting around K&N's site, found 6 small air filters that do the trick.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 19 2021, 01:23 PM

The wheels are back with new rubber!

I think they turned out pretty good. Nice blend of modern and classic.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 19 2021, 01:24 PM

Oh man, that finally-off-the-jackstands feeling...

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 23 2021, 11:59 AM

Front firewall's in place. Also got the pedal assembly together. That's A LOT easier to do when nothing else is in the way yet.



Sealed up the frunk and went with some green pedal covers, bit of an added grip.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 23 2021, 08:12 PM

Carpet's in with the fixed passenger seat.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 27 2021, 03:26 PM

Driver's seat came back from upholstery and installed.



Also installed the centre console, shifter and hooked up the handbrake. Found a matching green shift knob

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 27 2021, 03:35 PM

Well, I encountered my 1st rust problem, the hell hole walls were gone on both sides. Not salvageable. Found some aftermarket replacements online and welded them in.



While I was at it and this section was apart, found a used rear strut tower from a buddy, painted it and got that installed too.

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 27 2021, 03:36 PM

Painted and coated the hell hole walls. This part wasn't easy, glad it's done.

Posted by: Jett Jun 27 2021, 08:29 PM

Are you installing a fire suppression system?

Posted by: clsmooth Jun 28 2021, 09:30 PM

Got the door panels back from the upholsterer too. I think they match the carpet pretty good.

Posted by: Root_Werks Jun 29 2021, 05:16 PM

Nice, speaker pod grills match the other accent colors!

Posted by: clsmooth Jul 7 2021, 12:29 PM

The body's back from paint! I gotta say, they really knocked it outta the park!





I wanted to go with something that's both a bit classic and modern at the same time
(if that's even truly possible).

Had the front emblem shaved and had the door handles colour-matched. Little touches I've always like that's a bit of a modern touch.

Posted by: clsmooth Jul 7 2021, 12:45 PM

The bumpers are done too. Had the rear bumper's trim re-chromed, had to pay through the nose for a new chrome trim for the front. Oh well...

Posted by: clsmooth Jul 7 2021, 12:45 PM

Test fitted the door panels before I put the body on. These look good to go.

Posted by: Dion Jul 7 2021, 01:03 PM

QUOTE(clsmooth @ Jun 19 2021, 11:23 AM)

The wheels are back with new rubber!

I think they turned out pretty good. Nice blend of modern and classic.

Posted by: rjames Jul 7 2021, 03:45 PM

Are you doing any chassis stiffening mods? Hard to tell from the photos but I’m betting there’s a bit of flex in the frame.

Posted by: slowrodent Jul 7 2021, 07:36 PM

Very enjoyable! Bravo! Put a smile on my face through the entire grueling process

Posted by: clsmooth Sep 6 2021, 12:41 AM

Finally got the body on the frame!




Bumper painted and mounted as well. It took FOREVER to convince insurance to get me a new windshield and then took another FOREVER to find one. That was definitely the biggest hold up so far.

Posted by: clsmooth Nov 20 2021, 03:04 PM

One of the last pieces of the puzzle finally showed up from Germany... the exhaust!

Posted by: clsmooth Nov 20 2021, 03:07 PM

Fired her up, broke everything in, and pull her out to the driveway to take some pics.







Looking forward to v2.0...