Rocker covers. I'm a bad, bad boy!, The crud chronicle Options

[Pat Garvey]

Could have posted this elsewhere I guess, but thought it might be better served here.

In 1974, I decided that it made good sense to annually removed the rocker covers to clean out the accumulated crap that absorbs moisture & causes rust. Did so fervently until 1990 (the last time they were removed until today).

My 914 has accumulated a total of less than 4k miles since 1990, being relegated to "queen" status.

So, today, being bored, I pulled them. Not an easy task for an old fart in a 44 degree garage!

Good thing my 914 hasn't seen water since 1974. Don't know where the crud came from, but if water had been added to the mix I'd have had a problem.

Be warned guys, this accumulation can cause MAJOR problems when left to stew. Couple of screws, couple of driven out rivtets & you can be faced with ugly stuff.
Pat

[MDG]

my '73 2.0 has the aluminum threshold and carpet strips & it has metal rivets; the build date according to Sir Andy's chassis number method is Friday March 9 1973. I am pretty sure it was part way through '73 when they swapped to the black trim

To the best of my knowledge the thresholds have never been removed off this car; I bought it from the son of the original owner and it's as original throughout as any 914 I've ever seen - and I have had 914s in the family (6 in total) since 1974.

I'd be interested to find out if the metal rivets were in fact original; maybe the PO took them off for reasons beyond me . . .

[Tom_T]

my '73 2.0 has the aluminum threshold and carpet strips & it has metal rivets; the build date according to Sir Andy's chassis number method is Friday March 9 1973. I am pretty sure it was part way through '73 when they swapped to the black trim

To the best of my knowledge the thresholds have never been removed off this car; I bought it from the son of the original owner and it's as original throughout as any 914 I've ever seen - and I have had 914s in the family (6 in total) since 1974.

I'd be interested to find out if the metal rivets were in fact original; maybe the PO took them off for reasons beyond me . . .

What's this Chassis # dating method???? Is that where you get Pat's "Norwegian Equipment" !? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grouphug.gif)

Here's mine from the rear trunk in the pic below, which I think reads as #5543545 (??). Is that what you see too & how does that translate to the build date?? If so, then I don't see a dating scheme there!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) I peeled my last 1980 repaint (Anthracite Grey) & sanded a bit to get this much readable, but am reluctant to take it to bare metal until I can get the rear damage repaired.

And before you ask......NO I can't get to the Karman plate, and the rear driver's side jamb label & front trunk plates were painted over by the last repaint. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) < Painter in Blue!

So unless someone knows how to carefully remove that paint from the labels & plates, I cannot read them anyway! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

FYI - My early 73 2L is VIN 4732901954, Engine GA000424 & was told by PCNA that its build date was 9/72 (which is close to what I recall from when I could read the plates & labels)......but that was about 30 years ago!

Buuuut, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif) I just got their alleged COA today, which left the build date as unknown (even tho someone read it to me on the phone! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) ), & claims it has black leatherette (not the TAN I can SEE it has (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) ), and the "customer care" person who read me the build date also claimed that it was sold in CONN 10 months AFTER it was first registered in CA (9/73 vs 11/9/72 on my CA-DMV Reg Card) !!!!!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif) So, who knows about their build date!? ...and this was after NUMEROUS emails & telecons!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

With that kind of record keeping, it's really a wonder that Porsche can stay in business!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) ....well at least their COA gal said that they'll redo & correct the COA for errors, lost, damaged, etc. AT NO CHARGE.