JEH Southern Marin 914 RestoMod, JEH's Build Thread Options

[harlespeed@yahoo.com]

Hi Everyone,

Long time lurker, 1st time post-er. I purchased my first 914 in 1987. It was a sunflower yellow 1.7 that eventually succumbed to Michigan's harsh climate.

I have a 1974 914 that I am converting into a modified 914 GT tribute car. The car was originally from Oregon, and has good rockers, minor hell hole damage, and a rotten rear floor - A relatively clean 914.

This is the first time I have attempted a project like this. Started the restoration in January 2021, and it has been a long road. Setting up the garage, sourcing tools, learning to sand blast, weld-fabricate-paint (still learning all three), chasing down parts, receiving box after box.

Big thank you to Ian Megale, Jeff Robenolt, and Chris Baker for parts, assistance, and advice.

I am 18 months in, so apologies for the posting catch up.

[harlespeed@yahoo.com]

Network wiring pictures. Rewired the entire car including new fuse panel, upgraded LED relay. German car, Japanese engine and trans, American wiring kit designed for a Camaro or Mustang. Really difficult to figure out - kind of like doing this puzzle (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) .

The steering column wiring was the most difficult, figuring out about 20 wires. Every year 914 is different and the configuration of the relays is convoluted and not logical, like they were trying to save money on materials over logic. This makes using the stock headlight switch impossible (I spend many hours and could not figure a way to make the headlights AND the motors work together), as the relays that it depends on are part of the architecture of the stock wiring harness, which is gone.

Between the steering column


The headlight switch


And the hazard light switch, I almost had a nervous breakdown. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)



Prospero's Garage color wiring diagram helped A LOT and was about 90% correct - Best $25 I have spent in my life! Trial and error, and scouring the internet. I ended up having to use the GM headlight switch, with floor switch, to operate the high / low beams. I will modify to look mostly stock.

I wired in a separate, hidden, 3 way switch to operate the headlight motors, similar to a home 3 way switch. Most switches are a two stage switch. This one is a right circuit #1, Center Off, left circuit #2. The switch interacts with relays in the headlights, and the #1 raises the headlights, and #2 brings them down, and then they reverse. Works like a dream. Not sure if others have done it, but I thought it was pretty ingenious. 3-way toggle switch on the right in the picture below.



The power feed to the switch comes in from the fuse panel, and then out again to the headlights (red wires) below. Then your white (circuit #1) and yellow (circuit #2) completes the circuit to raise or lower the headlights. Either can be on either outside connector.



Wired up fuel pump.



DynaBat Battery holder and dedicated fan relay in front trunk.




Fuse panel tucks up under dash on passenger side, behind the glove box.



Encased everything in wire loom. Note the picture below, the blade connectors were shrink wrapped after the picture was taken.