Looking to restore my 914 74 2.0 L, I dont know where to start from Options

[Asheikh]

Hi guys, I love THIS website ever since I came across it a few years back.

I want to start off by thanking all the members for creating such a great community and a special thank you to the people who took the initiative in starting it.

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I will try and keep this short.

My name is Ali Sheikh (can call me Ali) I am 32 years old and I live in Lahore, Pakistan.

My father went to Syracuse University in the 70s for his undergrad and that's when he bought a 914 74 2.0L in silver with black interior.after my father was done from university he brought the car back with him to Pakistan.

all of his close ones loved his 914 and I got to hear a ton of great stories about the car from my father and all of the people that ever came across it.

Anyhow the car ended up being neglected over the decades to the point where it ended up being scrap.

the reason for the neglect was that the car started off with having engine heating problems and that too in a very short period of it being imported. not long after that, it ran into heavy engine problems which nobody understood at the time in the country.

it was then parked around indoors and sometimes outdoors in different family garages. Slowly over the decades it just ended up to a point that there wasn't much left to it other than the body. someone also stole the engine while it was parked at one of the locations, probably an open car parking lot.


the dilemma is that I love the car and have been wanting to fix it and don't know where to start from.

Pakistan does not allow the import of used cars that are more than 4 years old. otherwise, I would have probably just bought a few of these. This is the only 914 in the country and their cant be another. unless the government decided to change the law which is unlikely to happen.

there are many great classic car enthusiasts in the country and loads of classic cars but only 1 914.

just been busy with all kinds of other bs in life. I have finally decided to put my money where my mouth is and go for it.

I have 0 car welding or mechanical background, I have read many amazing builds here which got me very confused as to which setup to go for.
the great subi conversions like the ankle-biter 914, to some crazy amazing Porsche conversions cayenne engines, cayman engines. the flat 6 conversions. all beautiful masterpieces. to each there own, I love the black 914 restomod canepa. I appreciate all of them.

I have been reading up on builds for the past 5 years or more on and off and I just can't get enough of it. I have gotten the germs for the 914 now and I can not stop thinking about my 914.

I have been in contact with dr.914, what a great man I highly respect him for his guidance and help. I believe if it weren't for him maybe 914s wouldn't be what they are today in some way or the other. cant place my finger on what exactly.

I am pretty sure I can restore my 914 now with help from 914world and dr.914.
Plus with the amount of will I have now, I think we will figure a way out.

I need to find a great mechanically sound 914 74 2.0L or better. I will strip all parts from it, for my 914.

I would love to build 914 6 Gt but don't have the budget to drop $100,000+ In one go to do so or the technical mindset.

I will appreciate all the help I can find here.

I plan on outsourcing parts of the build to others with experience in the business but trust me I wish I had the technical abilities to do everything my self like most of you guys.

The good news is I got Porsche Pakistan to quote me on complete bodywork restoration, repaint, and reassembly of all the parts I provide. Surprisingly it's not that bad and I have asked the owner of Porsche Pakistan to give me a discount I will post that here once he gives me a new quote.

I feel as if I need everyone on here to give me input on the build I will start sharing the current pictures of the project. I will also share some inspirational images, videos, and features that have inspired me for now and later. (what is the best way to share lots of pictures in a post)

any help, information, and ideas will be highly appreciated

kind regards

Ali

[Cairo94507]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) Hi Ali - After looking at the pictures you posted I agree you are starting with what appears to be a pretty solid chassis. So at least that puts you a little ahead of the curve. I believe the best thing for you to do is to get the chassis in good shape all around.

Inspect the chassis to make sure you have no rust-through issues to deal with. Make sure all of the suspension mounting point are solid. Get a friend or maybe 2 friends to stand in the interior on the floorboard of the car and with both doors open, see if the chassis flexes up and down. Be careful, start with one person and if that's looks good, add another. I am thinking maybe 225 pound is enough to test the rigidity of the chassis so you know if you are in good shape or not. You can also check the area of the floorboard where the pedals are attached as that is another rust spot. Look at the entire floor of the car for rust-through holes. Pull the rocker panel covers off, the long covers that are below the doors that have the jack post holes in them. Inspect that area for rust as it is the most prone to rust.

Of course check the engine compartment out looking specifically at the base of the firewall (the section between the engine and the passenger compartment) look along the bottom of that entire firewall for rust though as that is a typical problem. Then check the areas below the battery box on the right side of the car as you sit in the car, and then look on the left side too. Water tends to get trapped in those areas when the drain holes get plugged up.

Look in both the front and rear trunks for rust-through. The front trunk is going to be prone to rust all around the weather seal channel where the hood seals closed. Also another bad spot is the area of the brake fluid reservoir. In the rear trunk, in addition to the weather strip channel, check the trunk floor where it joins the rear panel in which the taillights are housed. That area where the rear panel and the trunk floor meet is a very common rust area. Of course when you are working in the rear trunk that would be the time to find a repair panel section for the area where someone has added a cover/box, maybe that is where they put the battery. Pull that off and see if the area is cut out or not. That is not a typical body modification that I have seen.

Another spot prone to rust on these is all around the windshield where it meets the cowl. The area where the windshield wipers are attached. Also along the sail panel (roll bar) where it joins the rear quarter panels and there is usually a piece of trim at the base. That and the area where the door handles recess is where you place your hand to open the door handle. Rust is common in that pillar and area.

Oh, yeah... one more place is the end of the quarter panel up high by the tail lights. Porsche packed that area with foam and it absorbs water and causes rust. That foam should be romped and never reinstalled in my opinion.

Your chassis looked good in the pictures, but I always think the most expensive and difficult part of restoring these cars is tackling the old chassis to make it safe, string and reliable for all the work that will come after the chassis is solid.

Cheers and pace yourself.
Michael