My Official 914 Restoration, The Black Beast is coming to life!!!! Options

[EdArango]

OK.....You guys must think I'm nutz by now!!

Over the last couple of weeks my son and I have decided to keep the car and begin re-doing it. As most of us I would love to have a 6 cyl. but cash and time is preventing me from moving forward with that idea.

What I think I'll do is clean this car us as much as I can, get the rust issues taken care of (see pics)....(I don't know the the PO was thinking, there is expansion foam in all the openings in the car, such as hell hole & pass. longs)..... upgrade the engine to 2056, leave it as a 4 lug but upgrade the suspension, add a front sway-bar, change out the A-arm bearings with the Elephant stuff and I think I'll be good to go for a while.

What do you guys think????????

ED

[roadster fan]

I have looked at alot of used 914 chassis, and I would bet that 90% of the chassis for sale look exactly like yours inside of the longs. The sides of the longs inside looks like surface rust (ever look inside your center tunnel? most have some there too) and the bottom area may have heavier rust from the dreaded battery acid decay from the hell hole. Any area where the metal has been compromised by the battery acid, replace it.

Want to get a perspective on the longs? cut a small hole and put your camera in the passenger side, where the battery acid problem doesn't exist. Bet you find rust there too. If you put a camera in the long of most of the concourse winning cars there is gonna be rust in there too. Fact of life with these cars IMHO.

This chassis obviously has some rust issues that look overwhelming right now. If you have the time and desire you can fix it, but if you have the $$ for a better chassis go for it. I would fix it, but part of the attraction of these old cars for me is working on them. Please don't cut this car up for parts or scrap it, I will come get it, put in the corner of the shop and fix it when I am done with my tub.

Good luck with your car whatever you decide,

Jim