1973 914 was/is my first car, Beginning of a restoration journey Options

[doug_b_928]

Hi Guys,

I'm a new member. I bought my 914, which was/is my first car, in 1985. I drove it as a summer car from 85-95. I would bet that I only put 10,000 kms on it over that time, if that. Then my education and career got in the way and it hasn't been licensed since. It was driven to the spot where it now sits (in a shed on the farm where I grew up, a couple of hours away from me) in 2001 after having not been registered since 1995. I've finally reached a point in my life where I can take time to work on cars. I started doing my own maintenance on my 928 a couple of years ago and love working on it (as long as I don't screw anything up). So, I'm just beginning but am eager to learn (yes, I can already see these coming : (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) )

I'll attach pics of the car in its current condition below. I apologize in advance for the scores of questions that I will be asking in the coming months and years. I've been reading through a number of topics and see how helpful folks are on this forum, which helps to take much of the anxiety out of taking on this project.

This is going to be a long-term project as I'm still busy with work etc. My goal for this summer is to try to get it running and get everything working. Then over the winter develop a specific plan for restoration and give'er next summer. I spoke to the previous owner recently. He has owned many 914s and couldn't recall any specifics of this car. At the time I bought it I seem to recall someone saying that it came as a 1.7 but they had put a 1.8 into it. But the PO didn't recall changing the engine. So, question #1, how can I tell if it is a numbers matching car?

The car was mices free until last winter, and then last summer when I looked at it I found a couple of nests (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) . So, my first order of business in the spring will be to don a P100 respirator and clean out the mouse remnants. I'll throw out the aftermarket carpet I had put in. I've seen on this forum somewhere that there are OE looking carpet kits available. I'm pleasantly surprised by the available of parts for these cars.

Problems with the car that I recall from when I last drove it:

1. when I would drive on a dusty gravel road dust would bellow in from under the dash (maybe rust holes in the longs and heater pipes?).
2. I think the car had been hit in the left rear corner. The left rear wheel always had a slight wobble to it. Maybe needs new wheel bearing? The trunk back corners never sat perfectly flat, and the rear left fender always had an odd bubble area (filler?) by the bumper. I had it repainted and the bubble was still there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ). Rear bumper is black, front chrome. All indications for trauma to the back.
3. At the very end of driving it, the speedo started to make a whining noise. I think the car has about 86,000 kms on it.
4. The brake pedal had lost some tension and so after applying, I would pull it back with my foot.
5. The shifter was always a little bit sloppy.
6. The windshield wipers were never very good; couldn't keep up with a strong rain (this may be normal?)
7. Every spring, after sitting all winter, something would seize in the clutch and it wouldn't work. The technique my Dad figured out was to put the car in reverse and start it up. After the car would move back a bit the clutch would come free and work fine??
8. The only thing I ever had to have done to the car was move the fuel pump to the front due to vapor lock. It never let me down after that.

Any thoughts and advice you have on starting the process of fixing her up will be most welcome. Here she is:

[Dave_Darling]

The 1972+ Buses used Type IV engines with the exhaust ports on the bottom of the heads. The earlier ones had Type-I style heads with the exhaust ports on the front and back of the heads.

Check for a dipstick. I didn't notice it in any of the pics, but I didn't see a very clear shot of where it should be, either. It should be just to the left of the oil filler. The buses (and some of the 411/412 cars) had the dipstick inside a funnel coming out of the left-front corner at the bottom of the engine. (Right-rear as it was installed in the Bus/411/412.) Easy to block off the funnel and add the oil filler from a 914, but not as easy to add the dipstick.

An engine number in front of the oil filler (on a 1.7 or 1.8) would make this one from a VW application as well.


The 73-74 cars had a heater blower with a single outlet. The outlet was connected to the driver's side only; the passenger's side J-tube was capped with a plastic cap. The splitter from the 75-76 heater blowers can be fitted to an earlier blower, allowing you to hook up both sides, but it isn't hugely necessary.

--DD