Restoration thread for original 914/6, Have to start somewhere Options

[michel richard]

So,

I bought an original 914-6 tub and a couple of mountains of parts in Alabama, and I got them back home. The thread relating that story is here: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=...8&hl=original+6

Now, I have to restore it, and I figure that doing a build thread like others have done may be interesting to members, and may be motivating for me. So here it goes.

I got two things done since I got the car home.

1) I built a rotisserie as per AA plans, except I did not put the diagonals on. The drawings and instructions are here:
http://www.autoatlanta.com/tech/rotisserie_build.html
The steel turned out to be more expensive than I thought, but now that it's built, I realize how useful it's going to be.

2) I got my paperwork organized.
Went to the SAAQ (our dmv) on Saturday, near my house. Lady really gave me the runaround, because I don't have a title (Alalbama does'nt issue titles for cars built before '75).
Tried another office today. This lady actually pulled out the procedures manual. Went to the section on importing US cars and Titles. No luck, until she stumbled a section "exemptions". Lo and behold, the first subsection was titled "Alabama" i.e. the first state in alphabetical order ! Sure enough it said "no title required for cars pre-1975-model-year"
I was pleasantly surprised - this is a manual, in French, in Quebec !
Within minutes, I had a license plate ! although I obviously need to get a technical inspection done before I can drive the car on the road.

3) Next step will be to take care of the old paint and the light rust. Spoke to someone nearby who can sandblast it. His advice was to sandblast, except for the "thin" parts, hoods etc . . . which he said would "wave", and to use stripper on those. I've real all the threads about media blasting, sandblasting, dipping etc . . . but I'm tempted to do it his way, to a large extent because it seems to be what's available locally.

I'll update the thread as progress is made.

Michel Richard

[SirAndy]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif)

schweet! another one saved ...

make sure you post lots-o-pics along they way ...
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smile.gif) Andy

[serge914]

Congratulation Michel. If my count is ok that is your third 914, plus that Europa in the background. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/clap.gif)

I sure will follow that thread...

[Dead Air]

Will it be ready for Mark's Por/Volks Festival? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/boldblue.gif)

[Quebecer]

Hi Michel,

How many Canadian dollars to build the rotisserie, if I may ask?

Where will you be getting your blasting done?
I've been looking around for such a place around Montreal, but haven't found any yet.
Is it expensive?
I was actually considering building a temporary garage within my garage to do it myself.

Good luck with your project, I'll be following it closely. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/beer.gif)

[michel richard]

I bought the steel new to build the rotisserie. Total was about C$250. Did the welding myself.

To do the sandblasting, I found a place in Saint Constant, if I remember correctly, or near there. The gentleman suggested I bring the car on the rotisserie, but I'm a little concerned about that. He said the cost would be something like C$500 for the sandblasting, and another equal amount to spray epoxy primer on.

Coordinates of that shop are at home. I'll be able to dig them up over the weekend.

Michel

[michel richard]

QUOTE (Dave Eddy @ Jul 13 2005, 07:56 PM)

Will it be ready for Mark's Por/Volks Festival? (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/boldblue.gif)

Maybe not . . . ;-)

I should come with the green car, though, or with the truck and a bunch of parts.

Michel

[Verruckt]

Michel

Could you tell me what the height is of that setup when the car is on it's side completely vertical? I have garage issues. Looks like you have about a foot of clearance between the center brace and the car?

[michel richard]

Kurt,

I'll only be able to measure over the weekend, but I will do it. I made my rig a little higher than the AA drawings, because I intend to weld some flares on. FWIW, I can roll it in and out of my garage, the way it is, with an inch or two to spare . . . won't work with the flares on !

I may have made it a little high.

Michel

[davep]

A very good start. I'd be careful about sandblasting and acid dipping though. Sand is a poor media except for heavy parts. Glass bead is much better for the thin parts. Walnut shell is good for fine parts and aluminum finishing. There is plastic media as well, and I have heard of ground up buttons. CO2 is also possible. You sort of have to carefully choose the media to suit the part. Acid dipping can be useful, but be very careful of assembled parts. Doors and lids with seams are poor choices. Especially the lids where there is foam hidden in cavities. You will never get all the acid out.

[michel richard]

QUOTE (Verruckt @ Jul 14 2005, 04:46 AM)

Michel Could you tell me what the height is of that setup when the car is on it's side completely vertical? I have garage issues. Looks like you have about a foot of clearance between the center brace and the car?

Kut,

I was'nt able to directly measure the height of the setup, but I measured my garage door at 81 inches, and the car slips in, vertical, with less than an inch of clearance, at the top.

However, the clearance between the fenders and the brace is currently 9.5 or 10 inches, which is undoubtedly more than is really needed. This is with the center of the pivot 42 inches above the bar. I may actually lower it myself.

HTH

Michel

[michel richard]

I fixed the rust holes in the front floor. I missed one, and I may just braze a small patch over it.

The bigger patch is steel I cut out of a junk front floor Jon sold to me with the car.

[michel richard]

oops

[michel richard]

There was another area near the very front of the floor that neded a little work. I used some common sheet steel and fabricated a patch.

[michel richard]

Not real pretty, but it's an area that really won't show much.

[michel richard]

One Saturday morning, and the rust holes are pretty much fixed !

I also drilled through one of the three bolts that hold left hand side rear radius arm to the body. The one bolt snapped when Jon was removing it. I think I managed to save the thread, but I may end up using a longer bolt and a nut on top, just to be sure. But that's some ways down the road.

The main concern right now is getting the car media or sand blasted and primered.

Michel Richard

[TravisNeff]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/smilie_pokal.gif) Great thread!!

[michel richard]

I figure it might be easier to follow the resto if I put some of the things in "chapters". Plus it helps my own motivation by helping toi break down the project in discrete sub-projects.

Part "un" of headlight bucket repair:

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=...=ST&f=2&t=35090

Michel

[michel richard]

Here is part "deux" of the headlight bucket repair. Thanks for looking.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act=...=ST&f=2&t=35100

Michel

[michel richard]

Small update, sorry no pics.

Today was a half day at work.

So I ran home and built a little dolly that I could drop the tub onto, from the rotisserie. Once on the dolly, had a tow truck pick the car up to take it to a place that will dry-ice blast it.

Here's a link to the process.

http://www.pctriumph.com/section%20englais...ctriumph_a.html

The French language site is actually a little better.

http://www.pctriumph.com/

Apparently, the process leaves no residue because the ice sublimates as it hits the metal. Also, it does'nt heat the parts and therefore does not cause warpage. It actually sligthly cools the parts.

The proof will be in the pudding. It's supposed to be done by Friday. After that, the tub will move to a paint shop, for primer. I may also have the interior painted, so I can start assembly before the flares go on and the exterior gets smoothed and painted.

Should have pics when the car is back.

Michel