New Member! 74 914 widebody (needing resto), the pics you requested! Options

[turdo]

Hello everyone! my name is Aaron and im from central Kansas. i recently traded an Audi of mine for a few other cars that an older gentleman had sitting around his property. among those are a 80 Datsun 280ZX, 80 450SL, 92 Subaru SVX, an 80 el-camino, and a poor beloved 74 914 with widebody fenders that had been sitting in the weeds for nearly a decade (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ... it just amazes me that someone can purchase these cars only to have it sit in the weather. i have decided to take this little jem on as a project car, and sell the rest.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1102.photobucket.com-15376-1358358413.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1102.photobucket.com-15376-1358358414.2.jpg)

the interior is (use to be) burgundy, a color i dont think ive seen in a 914. after a brief look-over the car, it seems fairly rustless for being outside so long, however the floor board near the peddles has a couple holes in it, the interior needs nearly 100% replacing (gauges, lower dash, steering wheel seem fine) the engine is siezed but the clutch still engages and disengages the gearbox. no telling how bad the fuel tank or suspension bushings are just yet. i have yet to pick up the cars.

so here are a couple of questions:

1. my biggest concern is the floorboard - is there a replacement piece i can buy, or just go at it with sheetmetal? id like to keep it looking as original as possible (i think an engman kit would be nice aswell)
2. how can you tell the difference between a 1.7, 1.8 or 2.0?
3. is it worth the work?? (my vote is hell yes)

thanks for reading guys, thoughts, comments and concerns are welcome

[Madswede]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

Your statement, "it seems fairly rustless for being outside so long, however the floor board near the peddles has a couple holes in it" scares me the most. Here's hoping it's not indicative of more serious issues elsewhere. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Those flares look extra large to me. I wonder if they're fiberglass? 5-lug conversion done on it too. Considering the interior, you can make it "look original" there, but elsewhere it would be cost-prohibitive IMO unless you start with a better candidate.

In the end, only you can answer the question, "is it worth it?" I hope you find that the rust isn't terrible and you say "yes!" to restoring it to a fun driver. The more of these rescued the better, and I like idea of having a blank slate with a car that's already "non-original" ... as in wide-body, 5-lug wheels, perhaps redone interior ... make it your own! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)