Looking for some help Options

[mr.midget]

Hey everybody, I'm new here and wanted to tap your expertise on everything 914. I've been looking to find a car I can maintain myself and have always wanted a Porsche. I should humbly mention I currently know nothing about fixing cars, but am really interested in learning, so I thought I'd ask some experts!

I recently stumbled upon a 1974 914 for sale across the street from my parents. the guy was asking $3500. He says it has a 1.7L fuel injected engine, 57k original miles. He and his brother work on cars, so he says it's about 90% restored and was probably garage kept the entire time (he's the 3rd owner) Says it needs a valve adjustment and might have a bad plug, but no significant engine trouble. No rust, but needs a new paint job.

I'd really appreciate anybody's input on what I need to look for when I go evaluate this car, especially anything specific to 914s I should know when I check it out.

Also, if you guys could fill me in on owning a 914. My brother-in-law has told me to be wary of the difficulty in working on the car, as well as the great expense and rarity of parts. I know nothing, but figure if I'm gonna learn how to work on a car, it might as well be on a sweet one. I'm not looking to completely restore it (yet), but I'd love to get it purring, paint it, and have a fun car to tool around on the weekends with. Am I getting in way over my head heere with a 914 as my first project car?

Thanks!

[ericread]

Very cool! You will get an amazing amount of help from this board. I was in your place about 18 months ago. Due to the support from the "World" members, I now do all of my own maintenance.

I have a '74 which is my daily driver. My operating costs, including all of my gas, oil, parts, repair costs, and insurance, costs me about the same per mile as my Hyundai Tucson.

Pelican Parts has a very good primer on what to look for when buying a 914:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/How_to_buy_a_914.htm

Parts costs are as inexpensive or as expensive as you want to go. I have chosen to keep my teener as stock as possible, so I post requests on the "Classified's" and "Member Vendor" forums, as well as check out eBay from time to time.

"How To" articles are easily available through this BBS, the Pelican Parts BBS and the "Automobile Atlanta" web site.

If you really want to know about the type-4 engine, check out Jake Raby's "Air-Cooled Technologies" web site, or search this BBS for "Jake Raby".

Post lost of pictures and you will get back some really excellent (and sometimes what passes for somewhat humerous) advice.

Good luck!!!

[mr.midget]

Thanks, this gives me some great reading for the weekend! I'm currently trying to get pictures to post (the car is actually in detroit, which is why I haven't been able to eye it myself). You mentioned that you keep your car as stock as possible. Stupid question coming, but seeing as this is my very first attempt to work on a car, and I'm probably more concerned with just having it run sweet than being 100% original, can I still easily find engine parts that work but aren't neccessarily "stock" or "original" parts?

[ericread]

Thanks, this gives me some great reading for the weekend! I'm currently trying to get pictures to post (the car is actually in detroit, which is why I haven't been able to eye it myself). You mentioned that you keep your car as stock as possible. Stupid question coming, but seeing as this is my very first attempt to work on a car, and I'm probably more concerned with just having it run sweet than being 100% original, can I still easily find engine parts that work but aren't neccessarily "stock" or "original" parts?

Fisrt of all, Patrick and the others are exactly right. The three major issues are rust, rust and rust. The longs, Hell hole and under the rockers. Get pictures of the floor pans, and from below the vehicle. They will sometimes show rust indications the shiny pictures won't.

However, any car with zero rust is automatically suspect. Our little cars rust. It only becomes an issue if the rust becomes significant.

As for parts, they are easily available. Some people consider them expensive, but I don't really see it that way. Check out Automobile Atlanta and download their new PDF catalog. I feel it's the best parts reference out there. Pelican Parts is also very, very good, eBay has parts avaiable, but any item with the word "rare" in it's description is probably overpriced. If you decide you want a 200+HP engine in the stock 4-cyl case, check out Aircooled Technology (Jale Raby's site). If you decide to go for a V6 or V8 upgrade, they are all detailed in this forum, try the search function. Also check out the "Member Vendor" forum in this BBS. There are some really cool upgrades there.

Most importantly, If you don't know, post it here. You'll get some great advice, and of course, some lame advice (usually posted by people like myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) )

The members here have everything from Concours level stock vehicles to turbo'd cars with stoopid wings and atrocious paint jobs.

But above all, drive your car. That's the fun part!!!