Car Covers What to buy, Need something to block the elements while I restore my car in a shade tree environment. Options

[Steve73]

Let me know what you all like. My car's exerior needs to be stripped so I'm not so worried about protecting the paint right now. I just want to keep out the weather so all the work on the floorboards won't be ruined by standing water coming through leaky seals in the body.

If you have an old one that looks bad but works contact me (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I figure those should be replaced almost last in the rebuild process. After the paint and before the interior goes in.

Here is what Pelican Parts offers

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/coverk...ing_outdoor.htm

[charliew]

I would not even attempt this in a high humidity area. You will be wasting your time. It's seems like you really don't have the money to start a project like this right now. You will actually have less productivity because once the car comes apart everything will be open to the elements. All a tarp will do is keep leaves out and moisture in. It sounds like it going to be on dirt instead of concrete. I think you will end up just selling parts but you can learn from that so go for it. I restored a old jeep once and while the body was in the shop I put the complete chassis outside with a tarp on it. One spring day I took the canvas tarp off it and noticed the transfer case seals were leaking. I took the top off the tranny and it was full of water. I spent all day trying to get the rusty look out of the lube and running the motor and tranny and axles through the gears with 30 wt oil in it to get it cleaned up. It came out ok but the gears had obvious stains from rust on them. There were no leaks in the top of the tranny or the transfer case it was from condensation. I never buy anything like a rearend or tranny that has set out in the weather without the body on it. Old tractors are perfect candidates for this also. Cast iron probably will sweat more than the 914 tub but it will still get moisture inside the unibody cavities unless they are already so rusted through that they can breathe and drain.

[Steve73]

I would not even attempt this in a high humidity area. You will be wasting your time. It's seems like you really don't have the money to start a project like this right now. ........

The issues on the humidity are well know here and the advice is well taken. While I don't have a ton of money budgeted for this project, I don't plan on making this car a concours car or do a body off restoration. This car is not cherry enough to be worthy of that kind of work. I don't have much invested in her right now and I could part her out for 3x what I paid for it now that the engine is running. I want to get my feet wet on 914's (and Porsches) with this project and that's what i'm doing. I think I'll end up doing all the paint and body work myself. I have a cousin who's turned a 914 into a 914-6 so I have some technical experience behind me. This site is very helpful too. I plan to work on a section at a time and prime and paint as I go. I have more time than money to work on this so this is a good project since it seems that the engine, transmission, electrical are in pretty good shape.

I have already preformed the same type of work on my 71 Bug so I have some experience with dealing with the hazards of a shade tree workshop.

Thanks for all the Great advice everyone, I and everyone else checking this thread out have gotten some great advice.