Flood damaged 914, Ouch Options

[GeorgeRud]

A friend of mine just moved down to Baton Rouge, LA last month, and had his cars in storage as they were having a large garage built at their new home. Of course, they were involved in the flooding up to the top of the windows. Besides his 914 2.0 and his Porsche tractor, he last a Jaguar XKE, Jensen Healy, 67 Ford Mustand, and a 35 Ford Coupe. At least their home is on higher ground and didn't flood so they are OK!

Has anyone ever had any luck resurrecting a flood car? Since his was nice and straight, I wondered if it could be stripped to a bare chassis then rebuilt? Same ? about he Porsche tractor.

[mepstein]

I would take the insurance money and move on. The car, especially a 914, will never be right again, no matter what you do to restore it.

I'd make an exception and do my best for a real GT. Less than that, forgetaboutit

[earossi]

A friend of mine just moved down to Baton Rouge, LA last month, and had his cars in storage as they were having a large garage built at their new home. Of course, they were involved in the flooding up to the top of the windows. Besides his 914 2.0 and his Porsche tractor, he last a Jaguar XKE, Jensen Healy, 67 Ford Mustand, and a 35 Ford Coupe. At least their home is on higher ground and didn't flood so they are OK!

Has anyone ever had any luck resurrecting a flood car? Since his was nice and straight, I wondered if it could be stripped to a bare chassis then rebuilt? Same ? about he Porsche tractor.

The mechanicals of the car can be salvaged if they are dealt with quickly following the flooding. The issue with most cars is the wiring and the electronics. No way to really assure yourself that moisture hasn't done any damage to these items.

Since the 914 is much less complicated than other cars, it is possible that the car can be resurrected. I would be more concerned about the XKE and Jensen Healy since they are much more valuable cars,and parts are relatively harder to come by for them.

The Porsche tractor can be easily resurrected. I believe that you simply have to drain the water and then fill the block with oil to guard against corrosion.

I would be devastated if this happened to my cars. But, nothing that money can't fix. Hopefully, he had full insurance on the collection.

[zambezi]

I just got my friends 2012 Camry back up and running from the flood and will start on his 993 next week. He only had about 18 inches though. He was smart enough to disconnect the battery on the 993 so I hope his computers will be ok. With the Camry the air bag module is in the center console and it was full of water but I was able to take it apart and let it dry fully and it is working good now. The key to a flood car is you must take it down completely to let everything dry out. If not the upholstery will stink. If not the electronics will continue to short out or corrode. You also must ensure you have all new fluids if water entered the sumps. We got lucky with the Camry as the water was not higher than any of the vents to the trans or engine. If I can be of any help let me know.

[boxsterfan]

It's hard to find straight cars. Strip the 914 down to bare bones. Build it again.

[SirAndy]

It's hard to find straight cars. Strip the 914 down to bare bones. Build it again.

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[gms]

it might be a good candidate for the e-coating process, the dipping is suppose to get everywhere. just need to remove air mufflers in the longs

[Vapor_locked]

it might be a good candidate for the e-coating process, the dipping is suppose to get everywhere. just need to remove air mufflers in the longs

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) this! I was thinking the same thing - dip strip & e-coat it!

[Mikey914]

Bows by could do a wiring harness, I think with the right amount of parts and a new engine it could be done, just money ....right?

[Krieger]

It's hard to find straight cars. Strip the 914 down to bare bones. Build it again.

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Yo!

[sixnotfour]

fresh water..ok salt water ..doitnow

Das Boot fllood 914
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...c=40075&hl=

[ThePaintedMan]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) save it. Every one of those cars should be stripped of their interiors as quickly as possible, fluids drained from the crankcases + transmissions, refilled and turned over by hand if nothing else. Get oil on all the internal surfaces as soon as possible, including in each cylinder. The next thing would be drying out the wiring looms, but not as time-sensitive as the upholstery and metal bits.

[billh1963]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) save it. Every one of those cars should be stripped of their interiors as quickly as possible, fluids drained from the crankcases + transmissions, refilled and turned over by hand if nothing else. Get oil on all the internal surfaces as soon as possible, including in each cylinder. The next thing would be drying out the wiring looms, but not as time-sensitive as the upholstery and metal bits.

Yep. Since that flooding was freshwater they absolutely can be saved.

Anything that can hold water has to be taken out immediately

Anything that is metallic needs to be dried out. Anything that s mechanical needs to be oiled.

Take the insurance money and buy them back.

[GeorgeRud]

Fresh water, but muddy!

[loux951]

I live here in Louisiana and I feel for your friend. I was lucky and my car was at my house in New Orleans during this event. New Orleans is dry (never high and dry) for this disaster. I drive through Baton Rouge quite often on the way to my lease property in Lafayette.

My boss had his 1970 Mustang completely flooded (over the roof) in Hurricane Katrina. He stripped the car to bare metal and restored it. He sold it a few years later for $40K. Here is the kicker...he let the insurance company total the car, then he bought it back with a salvaged title. If the car would have had a clean title, he could have gotten about $60K for it. He recommends that unless the car is rare (914-6, LE, etc) then take the money and get another car with a clean title to restore.

I will PM you with my phone number to give your friend. I just finished restoring my car last year. If he needs parts, I have plenty. If he decides to part out the flood one, I am interested.

[zambezi]

Looks savable, but with lots of cleaning. Again if you or he needs help with these let me know. The 997 and 991 Porsche is the only model I have not yet worked on so I know Porsches. I have also restored many other makes including British cars. Am currently restoring a 1951 Jaguar XK120.
Jim

[Perry Kiehl Clone]

If he can get those cars gone over soon it's always better than a flood car 8 months or a year after the fact.

I'd take a flood car project over a rust bucket any day.

[shuie]

I'd take Jim (zambezi) up on his offer to help. Jim is the first person I call whenever I have questions about anything related to any car. I've seen several cars he has restored in person, multiple old Porsches, Healeys, Jags, an old Corvette, etc.. He is a serious Porsche enthusiast who does really great work.

[0396]

Sorry to hear of your friends collection.
Regarding rebuilding these cars, as suggested its best to focus on the more valuable ones.
To completely rebuild these back properly.....you just need buckets of $$$$ (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[mbseto]

It's not water alone that's the problem, it's water + time. I'd keep the cars(s) I wanted to spend immediate time on, and get the others to people who had immediate time to rescue them. Best of a bad situation, rescue the cars, make some friends in the process. Cash that chip in on another day when you can build your collection up again.