Mars on a budget, 75 914 field-find into cool driver Options

[Mayne]

I thought I'd formally introduce my 914 project, now that I've been lurking on this great forum for a while.

A little back story: my younger brother and I are car fanatics, especially those of the German variety. He owns multiple BMWs, an early 911 with RS bodywork, and a manual 928, and I own an early Boxster, a 944 Turbo, and now the 914.

Last summer, my brother went to check out an E36 parts car for his M3 in rural New Mexico. Sitting under some trees was this solid but rather forlorn looking 914:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490063976.1.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490063977.2.jpg)
$1800 later, we towed home a mouse infested ran-when-parked 75 914. The 1.8 FI engine had been swapped out for a 1.7 with 1.8 heads and a single Weber carb, and the impact bumpers had been backdated to chrome bumpers. Mars Red with Mahle gas burners!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490063977.3.jpg)
It had been parked because the previous owner thought it had developed a serious front main seal leak. We got it running with a minimum of effort and saw the significant oil leak. We impulsively dropped the motor and resealed the oil pump, suspecting that might solve the problem.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490063978.4.jpg)
Motor back in, along with a dual Weber setup we came across, it seemed like the leak was fixed. But it was running so badly, we couldn't really drive it. Since my brother was working part time at a Ferrari shop that primarily builds vintage motors, we were able to get the carbs rebuilt for cheap by the excellent Ferrari mechanic.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490063978.5.jpg)
Now with the car running much better, two thing were apparent, 914s are fun (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) and we didn't fix the oil leak. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

About this time, my growing love for this 914 was finally too much to resist. So my brother and I made a trade on his half of the purchase price for a ran-when-parked manual 928 that I had picked up. Still not sure who ended up with the better half of that deal, but we're both happy!

With the car mine now, I started in on some of the needed projects. Thanks to 914World, I solved the major oil leak with a bolt in thermostat pulley hole (quite a bit easier than dropping the motor). With that dealt with, I could see a decent driver on the horizon. More soon!

Cheers,
Jeremy

[whitetwinturbo]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)
Go Go Go!

[Mayne]

As mentioned above, I have two other Porsches and really the last thing I needed was another. But there it is, an addiction I suppose. But for as long as I can, I want to try to keep this "build" on a tight budget while making something fun and cool.

The interior really wasn't bad, thanks to some reupholstered seats in black vinyl with corduroy centers. The carpet was nice, but because of the mouse problem, it had to be trashed. Out came the interior, a bunch of scrubbing and deodorizing (not entirely effective), and a new carpet kit went in.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066034.1.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066034.2.jpg)
It will get a molded dash cover soon to cover up that cracked dash. A leather wrap with thicken up the factory wheel.

The nose of the car is a paint mess, but with pretty straight metal. The hood was painted orange (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) at some point and looks awful. It will be smoothed out and I will wrap it in 3M 1080 Matte Black.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066035.3.jpg)
The popup headlights had been poorly painted in gloss black. They got smoothed and wrapped in the Matte Black.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066035.4.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066035.5.jpg)
There was some orange paint overspray on the front fenders. A little wet sanding with 2000 grit removed it pretty well, followed up with some Meguires machine glaze.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066035.6.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066035.7.jpg)
I picked up some Mars Red touchup paint and will gradually work on the chips and scratches.

Old white Porsche script is a major eyesore, so using an eraser wheel in a drill, I went to work to prepare the area for new black Porsche script.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066036.8.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490066036.9.jpg)

There'll be more!

[Frankvw]

Great project and good start ! It is actually a nice basis to get things going, it looks rather solid. Have fun in this project !

[Shadowfax]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
Looks like the car is in good hands.

[Cairo94507]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) Looks like a good start. You seem realistic in your approach and attitude too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Mayne]

Thanks for the encouragement! The car that is serving as an inspiration right now is the Magnus Walker 914. My car will end up looking a bit like this, but all chrome, vinyl sail panels, and stock targa top will remain intact.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104006.1.jpeg)
I just have to keep my sights on that, rather than my long-term dream build inspiration: Black Beauty built by Patrick Motorsports. If I ever get to that, it'll need a different thread, and a couple extra jobs!
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104007.2.jpeg)

Back to the real world. When I got the car, it had Vitaloni mirrors which are okay but don't really suit the car. But that's fine for now. Since there was no mirror glass on the drivers side, I removed them both to see if they could be swapped. With a little wrangling, I managed it, so now I could at least change lanes without trying to look out that joke of a rear window. I'll see if can get a mirror cut for the other one and reinstall it.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104007.3.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104007.4.jpg)
A coating of Plasti-Dip helped freshen up the chaulky plastic housing.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104007.5.jpg)

It's been awesome to take a few short drives in the industrial area by our little shop. Here's a few pics of the 914 and my brother's 911.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104007.6.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490104008.7.jpg)
It's very cool being around these old road warriors! Hopefully soon we'll be able to get them out onto some winding mountain roads for a real drive.

I'm a school teacher on Spring Break and my wife is out of town so I better get my butt down to the shop!

[Eric_Shea]

Looking good Zach! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[Mayne]

Looking good Zach! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Thanks Eric. The 914 is mine and the 911 is Zach's. Sometimes I forget my little brother is a minor celebrity in the car world. For context, you can check out his articles in many issues of Excellence, Panorama, Forza, and Bimmer. Plus his online magazine, Retromod Magazine

Cheers,
Jeremy

[JeffBowlsby]

What the paint code on this 914? It looks like it could be Tangerine.

[dlkawashima]

What the paint code on this 914? It looks like it could be Tangerine.

... or Nepal Orange

[Mayne]

Color code is L31B, Mars Red. It looks like the car had a good quality respray at some point, but the matching wasn't perfect compared to the trunk areas. But the orange on the front fenders and hood is not factory color.

[JeffBowlsby]

Please post a photo of the chassis plate with the paint code for us to drool over. L31B is not 914 color.

Further...not convinced you have a 1975 car from the info made available. You have early (1970-74) bumpers, granted they may be backdated, but if original you could actually have a 1974 MY car, built in 1975. Your VIN will tell you the MY, does it start with 474 (1974) or 475 (1975)? This is all to suggest that the paint could be Tangerine if its a 1974, or Nepal if its a 1975.

[iwanta914-6]

Color code is L31B, Mars Red. It looks like the car had a good quality respray at some point, but the matching wasn't perfect compared to the trunk areas. But the orange on the front fenders and hood is not factory color.

L31B?

[Eric_Shea]

Looking good Zach! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Thanks Eric. The 914 is mine and the 911 is Zach's. Sometimes I forget my little brother is a minor celebrity in the car world. For context, you can check out his articles in many issues of Excellence, Panorama, Forza, and Bimmer. Plus his online magazine, Retromod Magazine

Cheers,
Jeremy

Zach writes articles? I had no idea! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Sorry Jeremy. I was speed reading and I thought it read the "911" was "his" brother (him being the 914).

Enjoy... Bring that thing up here and we'll turn it into a "little brother beater" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Mayne]

[/quote]

Zach writes articles? I had no idea! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Sorry Jeremy. I was speed reading and I thought it read the "911" was "his" brother (him being the 914).

Enjoy... Bring that thing up here and we'll turn it into a "little brother beater" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
[/quote]

Haha, yeah the context was for everyone else.

Thanks for the offer to turn it into a 911 beater. For now I'll just have to live with a beater. Besides, if Zach gets too cocky in his 911, I'll just bring out the 951. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)

[Mayne]

As for the paint code, I was wrong, it's L 31 M.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1322.photobucket.com-20880-1490194692.1.jpg)

When I went to a paint store to get the touch up, they couldn't find it under Porsche colors, but did find it as a Volkswagen code for Mars Red.

[iwanta914-6]

L31M is Scarlet Red

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=colors

[Mayne]

L31M is Scarlet Red

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=colors

Well that's just great. Now my cheeky thread title makes even less sense. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Oh well, back to stripping the hood. My matte black wrap arrives today!

[3d914]

L31M is Scarlet Red

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=colors

Well that's just great. Now my cheeky thread title makes even less sense. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Oh well, back to stripping the hood. My matte black wrap arrives today!

Jeremy, not at all. Mars is red - so it still works. Plus you're about as likely as any of us to actually finish a 914 - which makes them feel as distant as Mars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)