To Do List for Bumblebee that needs to be bulletproof, What would you do? Options

[jhynesrockmtn]

So I bought this Bumblebee on BAT that was extensively restored around 2000 and has seen little use since. My plan is to drive it, including to Rennsport in 2023 and other 914 events in the future like Octeenerfest.

So the car runs and drives and is in overall excellent condition. It does "hunt" at idle and has a slight miss under acceleration. However, 20+ years of sitting and having original plastic fuel lines has me planning a winter "refresh" geared toward proactively making the car as reliable as possible. Still running the Djet FI which I want to keep.

Please add to my list to help with projects I will do over the winter. I will drop the engine as part of this process.

Here is what I have so far:

SS fuel line kit from Tangerine Racing
New rubber fuel lines
New vacuum lines
New fuel filter
Take fuel injectors to Mr. Injector for testing - he is local to me
Inspect fuel tank, replace tank screen
Replace TPS board
New spark plugs and ignition wires
Install 123ignition distributor
Valve adjustment
New fan belt
Oil and trans fluid change
Send fuel injection harness to Jeff Bowlsby for inspection
Brakes seem good, will flush and replace soft brake lines
Seat belts re webbed
Inspect shifter bushings, replace as necessary
Install turbo tie rod kit
Install engine firewall pad - was left out of restoration
Clock is inop, send to get converted to quartz
Replace clutch and throttle cables, keep current for spares
Inspect clutch components with engine/trans out
Inspect wheel bearings - repack/replace as necessary
New tires, set ride height (front is a bit proud to my eye) and align
Inspect all suspension bushings
Replace side graphic with new from 914Rubber

What am I missing?

[r_towle]

Buy two of all the little parts so you have spares in the car for long journeys.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Buy two of all the little parts so you have spares in the car for long journeys.

I'm in the process of doing just that. Recently picked up an NOS voltage regulator, spare MPS, rebuilt relay board.

I luckily have a spare GA code engine with all of its FI components including the ECU I got with another car from a buddy years back. Supposedly only 40k original miles on that motor.

[Superhawk996]

Buy two of all the little parts so you have spares in the car for long journeys.

I luckily have a spare GA code engine with all of its FI components including the ECU I got with another car from a buddy years back. Supposedly only 40k original miles on that motor.

Well then, just buy a small trailer. Put spare motor on trailer - ready to road trip! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

I’m not sure I understand the bring spares of everything philosophy. My original 914 was my daily driver for over 100k miles. Driven back and forth between Michigan and Florida for spring break a couple times with only a toolbox, spare points, distributor cap, rotor. Never needed to use any of it. That was in a pre-cell phone, pre-internet, pre-Amazon, pre-overnight shipping.

If you go through the car, updating the items you’ve laid out, you’ll have a reliable ride. Then, put some shakedown mileage on it to put any infant failure parts, or initial mis-assembly concerns behind you.

After that parts failures are highly random. Would you bring a spare set of rear wheel bearings and the equipment to press them out? Front wheel bearings and grease? Maybe spare seals for the brakes? Maybe a spare ECU? Spare Injectors? Spare relay board? You see where this is going. At the logical extreme you’re flat towing a second parts car.

Take care upfront, as you are, you’ll be fine. In this day and age, you have a phone/computer in your pocket and the world at your fingertips + overnight shipping. You’ll be fine - enjoy the ride.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Buy two of all the little parts so you have spares in the car for long journeys.

I luckily have a spare GA code engine with all of its FI components including the ECU I got with another car from a buddy years back. Supposedly only 40k original miles on that motor.

Well then, just buy a small trailer. Put spare motor on trailer - ready to road trip! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

I’m not sure I understand the bring spares of everything philosophy. My original 914 was my daily driver for over 100k miles. Driven back and forth between Michigan and Florida for spring break a couple times with only a toolbox, spare points, distributor cap, rotor. Never needed to use any of it. That was in a pre-cell phone, pre-internet, pre-Amazon, pre-overnight shipping.

If you go through the car, updating the items you’ve laid out, you’ll have a reliable ride. Then, put some shakedown mileage on it to put any infant failure parts, or initial mis-assembly concerns behind you.

After that parts failures are highly random. Would you bring a spare set of rear wheel bearings and the equipment to press them out? Front wheel bearings and grease? Maybe spare seals for the brakes? Maybe a spare ECU? Spare Injectors? Spare relay board? You see where this is going. At the logical extreme you’re flat towing a second parts car.

Take care upfront, as you are, you’ll be fine. In this day and age, you have a phone/computer in your pocket and the world at your fingertips + overnight shipping. You’ll be fine - enjoy the ride.

Point taken, I'll try not to get too carried away and pack a whole car full of spares on a road trip :-)

[kerensky]

I’m not sure I understand the bring spares of everything philosophy. ... You’ll be fine - enjoy the ride.

Point taken, I'll try not to get too carried away and pack a whole car full of spares on a road trip :-)

Most cars have a few known weak spots that are good to carry spares for. My experience with 80s/90s watercooled VWs leads me to carry a spare fuel pump relay. That's a good example of a small, inexpensive part that fails somewhat frequently, is easy to carry as a spare, easy to replace, and whose failure means you're not going anywhere. I mean, there's a reason we carry spare tires, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Besides, in my experience the best way to keep any part from breaking is to have a spare handy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[worn]

I’m not sure I understand the bring spares of everything philosophy. ... You’ll be fine - enjoy the ride.

Point taken, I'll try not to get too carried away and pack a whole car full of spares on a road trip :-)

Most cars have a few known weak spots that are good to carry spares for. My experience with 80s/90s watercooled VWs leads me to carry a spare fuel pump relay. That's a good example of a small, inexpensive part that fails somewhat frequently, is easy to carry as a spare, easy to replace, and whose failure means you're not going anywhere. I mean, there's a reason we carry spare tires, right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Besides, in my experience the best way to keep any part from breaking is to have a spare handy! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

I should have added things that will help you stand conditions. For example, a knit hat is the lightest effective protection from the cold. Water. Etc.