A dummies questions thread, Don't laugh at me, I'm learning Options

[23e Heure]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i13.photobucket.com-19057-1454020234.1.jpg)


Now that my 914 has finally arrived in the UK, I'll soon be able to start working through the car and finding all the little jobs (hopefully not too many big ones) that need doing.

I've owned early 911s for long enough to know my way around those OK.
914s are new to me though, so I am going to have lots of dumbass questions.
Rather than drip feed them into the forum as lots of separate threads, I'll start this one up and post my dummies questions all in one place.

Disclaimer: The car lives in a garage 1/2 mile from my house. This means that I can't just pop outside and look at the car (and work some stuff out myself), hence why some of my questions may seem even more dumbass...

[23e Heure]

So then, QUESTION 1:

I need to remove the US number plate mounting brackets.

From memory I believe they are held on with two bolts each?
If I just unscrew the bolts, where are the retaining nuts? On the inside of the bumper?

If so, will the nuts just fall out onto the garage floor?
Or will they sit loose somewhere inside there, rattling away, until I decide to remove the whole bumper and fish them out?

(See, told you the questions will start pretty simple!)

[23e Heure]

QUESTION 2:

I need to replace the seat belts. The retractor reels are too far gone to pass the UK MOT test.

I got lucky already! A generous ddk member in the UK has sent me his old ones, which he replaced with harnesses.

By the power of forum search, I already know I need to remove the seats (and in doing so the first time, probably remove a finger tip by accident!), take out the backpad by removing the 4 screws and lifting and pulling. But then what...

Does anyone have clear pics of the firewall and the mount points for the belts?

My car is a 1974 build, so you get bonus points if you can show correct firewall / mounts for that year ;-)

[BeemerSteve]

You can say "bloody hell" on this forum anytime you like and we (us yanks) won't care! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[BeemerSteve]

QUESTION 2:

I need to replace the seat belts. The retractor reels are too far gone to pass the UK MOT test.

I got lucky already! A generous ddk member in the UK has sent me his old ones, which he replaced with harnesses.

By the power of forum search, I already know I need to remove the seats (and in doing so the first time, probably remove a finger tip by accident!), take out the backpad by removing the 4 screws and lifting and pulling. But then what...

Does anyone have clear pics of the firewall and the mount points for the belts?

My car is a 1974 build, so you get bonus points if you can show correct firewall / mounts for that year ;-)

I currently have a 1973 2.0 that's a tub right now and can send you a picture in an email only because for some reason I cannot post pictures here. I have to figure that one out before too long. Just PM me with an email if no one posts one.

Steve

[23e Heure]

You can say "bloody hell" on this forum anytime you like and we (us yanks) won't care! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Depending on how obvious the answers to some of my questions turn out to be, I may be saying that a lot to myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[nathansnathan]

I recall there being clips that pop into the front bumper that the license plate holder is screwed into. The euro plate holder should mount to the same clips so you don't have to worry just undo the screws, clips will be fine.

The seat belts, I believe it's just 1 bolt holding each in - if you look in the engine compartment like right above the relay board you should be able to see the square weld nut with the end of the bolt in it. It will be really clear how to get them off with the back pad out.

[23e Heure]

I recall there being clips that pop into the front bumper that the license plate holder is screwed into. The euro plate holder should mount to the same clips so you don't have to worry just undo the screws, clips will be fine.

There is a euro version of the plate holder?

The seat belts, I believe it's just 1 bolt holding each in - if you look in the engine compartment like right above the relay board you should be able to see the square weld nut with the end of the bolt in it. It will be really clear how to get them off with the back pad out.

Tried looking from engine bay side when I was last with the car.
Still have the sound deadening mat bonded in, so couldn't see that.
(Yes I am considering removing the pad hear it is a rust factory)

[rhodyguy]

Are you allowed to just drill 2 new holes in your UK plate if the plate holder holes don't line up correctly? As mentioned, there should be 2 captured nuts that press into the bumper. Are they there or did the PO just use bolts, washers and nuts?

[Larmo63]

Bumpers have capture nuts. They are easy to source if yours are gone. There is a Euro plate set up that indexes into those nuts.

The back pad behind the seats actually slides DOWN after you remove the four phillips retaining screws.

The seat belts are all held in with 17mm bolts. Make sure you put everything back together the way it came apart, as the hoops, loops, and floor bolts all pivot on nylon spacers that let everything stay tight but still rotate. The stock seat belts weren't all that great, even when they were brand new.

While you have everything apart, it is a good time to do a thorough cleaning and assessment of what you have and what you need to deal with.

Ask as many dumb questions as you like, we all were wankers at one point too!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[pete000]

You are required to post pictures, we Americans are simple people and like pictures rather than words...=)

[barefoot]

You are required to post pictures, we Americans are simple people and like pictures rather than words...=)

I think the correct term is Yanks.

[BeemerSteve]

You can say "bloody hell" on this forum anytime you like and we (us yanks) won't care! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

Depending on how obvious the answers to some of my questions turn out to be, I may be saying that a lot to myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The reason I mentioned that is because I have many Brit friends since owning classic Minis and LoCorts with a few other Brit cars in the mix. I learned early on with one Brit car forum I said the word and I was almost banned from it. All my buddy's that were Brits say that it's a bad word.
We won't be offended because to us we don't know Brit speak here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[nathansnathan]

I think there is a euro version, no one is really sure actually (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Here's the thread with some info:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...p;#entry1478420

[rhodyguy]

As long as you don't call us 'tossers' just about anything else is ok.

[Dave_Darling]

A couple of things:

The back-pad goes DOWN when you remove it, if you pull it up you might tear the metal brackets out of the back of the wood fiber pad! So the bottom of the pad goes forward and then the whole thing slides down. You'll have to remove the engine lid pull knob and the "escutcheon" around it. (Both unscrew.)

The bolts for the seatbelts are in inch sizes. At the very least the ones for the top loop, the receiver, and the end of the belt are. I think the one for the retractor might be as well, but I'm less certain of that. The threads are US-spec due to our DOT laws, I think.

--DD

[cary]

All the seat belt bolts are SAE 7/16 -20.

[23e Heure]

Thanks All for the response so far.
I am taking the car for MOT test tomorrow. It is bound to fail on the seatbelts alone, but I don't care because:
a) I am legally allowed to drive the car on the UK road (for the first time since purchase), if I am on my (roundabout) way to a pre-booked MOT.
b) If you fail an MOT test, your next one is free of charge if you go to the same MOT test centre
So I get to finally drive the car, and the first test will let me know ALL MOT fail issues that I need to fix before my free re-test.

Thanks to the response so far, I know how to switch out the belts, and have half an idea how to remove the US plate holders for when I finally get to register the car and attach plates.

BLOODY HELL, this is going well so far, thanks YANKS!

So, trying to out-do myself in 'dummy-ness" of dummies questions, here is...

QUESTION 3:

- How do I reset the trip meter?

In the 911 dash the reset knob is mounted on the underside of the dash, under the speedo. I could not find similar in my 914...

[BeemerSteve]

Thanks All for the response so far.
I am taking the car for MOT test tomorrow. It is bound to fail on the seatbelts alone, but I don't care because:
a) I am legally allowed to drive the car on the UK road (for the first time since purchase), if I am on my (roundabout) way to a pre-booked MOT.
b) If you fail an MOT test, your next one is free of charge if you go to the same MOT test centre
So I get to finally drive the car, and the first test will let me know ALL MOT fail issues that I need to fix before my free re-test.

Thanks to the response so far, I know how to switch out the belts, and have half an idea how to remove the US plate holders for when I finally get to register the car and attach plates.

BLOODY HELL, this is going well so far, thanks YANKS!

So, trying to out-do myself in 'dummy-ness" of dummies questions, here is...

QUESTION 3:

- How do I reset the trip meter?

In the 911 dash the reset knob is mounted on the underside of the dash, under the speedo. I could not find similar in my 914...

The reset knob is there you just have to look all around.....if not, it was taken off but they're available. I have a spare if you need it. Good luck on your MOT I know they can be real anal but you'll get through it. Report back with the results.

[914itis]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i13.photobucket.com-19057-1454020234.1.jpg)


Now that my 914 has finally arrived in the UK, I'll soon be able to start working through the car and finding all the little jobs (hopefully not too many big ones) that need doing.

I've owned early 911s for long enough to know my way around those OK.
914s are new to me though, so I am going to have lots of dumbass questions.
Rather than drip feed them into the forum as lots of separate threads, I'll start this one up and post my dummies questions all in one place.

Disclaimer: The car lives in a garage 1/2 mile from my house. This means that I can't just pop outside and look at the car (and work some stuff out myself), hence why some of my questions may seem even more dumbass...

Dumber question ;
Did They used that crane to lift and drop the car over the fence ? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)