1974 914 - Tig welding and Metalshaping saved it! Back on the road! Options

[TRS63]

Hello all,

member and owner of a 1974 1,8l since a few months, I still did not introduced myself.. now correcting it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

First about myself: I am a french guy living in Stuttgart, 32 years old, mechanical engineer but my real passions are metalshaping and aircooled VWs and Porsche (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

After dreaming about a 914 since years, I decided end of last year that it was time to fulfill the dream and after seeing a few 914s, I bough that one.

About the car: originally from the US (sadly I know nothing about its history there), it is a 1974 1,8l 914 originally phoenix red. It was sometimes repainted, before 1991 when it was imported to the UK. It ran there until 2009, where it found its way back to Germany. And since october with me!

It is far from perfect but a good driver, which was my goal, as I want to enjoy it on the road during the restoration of my karmann ghia (for the curious: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic...&highlight= ).

my plan:
-drive drive drive drive (made 1000miles the first month with it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) )
-in the future: repair the rust, paint it original color back, improve the handling (it still has no sway bars, shocks are quite old, frame stiffener will be ordered,..), some interior modification,.. goal is to keep it usable on the street, while lightening it where possible and putting some more power (I am in love with the sound of a 6 but might keep it a big 4 for weight and legal reasons..).

Some pictures:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188443.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188445.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188445.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188446.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188446.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188447.6.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188447.7.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188447.8.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188448.9.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188448.10.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188448.11.png)

cheers

Antoine

[djway]

I just figured out the Ghia in the old stone and timber garage on the Samba is you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Some great metal fabrication.

[TRS63]

I just figured out the Ghia in the old stone and timber garage on the Samba is you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Some great metal fabrication.

Yes it's me, thanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

About metalwork.. Well, looks like the slippery slope is about to start (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

The previous owner had the car more than 10 years, but drove it 100 miles a year, only with perfect weather and always garaged. The black paint (at least 20 years old) was not perfect but not bad too..and it's normally a good sign after so many years.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Then I came.. And what did I do.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) and (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
Which revealed some not so nice things.. Paint is showing some bubbles in some places.. And on some places more than just bubbles.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) Small examples:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584207.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584208.2.jpg)

So... Let's remove the rockers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

Driver's side:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584209.3.jpg)

And under it no surprises, looks good (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584209.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584209.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584210.6.jpg)

And the passenger side..
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584210.7.jpg)

Well, under the door sill is not that bad:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584211.8.jpg)

But under the long.. Well fiberglass was well hidden: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584211.9.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584211.10.jpg)

And on the inside under the belt fixation was also nicely fiberglassed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chair.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1628584212.11.jpg)

Due to the access I have no pictures but of course the hell hole is with fiberglass..

So... I have no choice than taking care of it seriously, I love metalwork and I am not the type doing things halfway/hiding stuff..

So the plan:
-first finishing the heater channel I started on my ghia to avoid stopping something in the middle of it and moving it again in the back of my shop

-repairing the necessary on the Porsche. No extra fancy stuff (I want to have it on the road as fast as possible again to enjoy it and work again on the ghia) but all the necessary: frunk sealing channel, sail panel on both sides, hell hole and right long. What is open is if I am doing in the same time the inner long stiffening/GT stiffening/outside repaint. We'll see (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I read a lot here on the forum to get it as good and efficient as possible.
I will have a lot of questions but for now:
-I will put of course doors bracing, but how do I handle the tube for the hell hole welding? On the lift, without all suspensions, wheels,..? On the floor on its wheels ? On jackstand but positioned where ? I would love to hear your advices here!
-would you build a "frame jig" or with the door braces and if necessary a couple other braces/jig (like trailing arm mount to get the position if rusted) that should be OK ?

Thanks a lot and stay tuned, things will move here!

Antoine