Newbie from Tulsa, First 914, need to do some brain picking Options

[mrdezyne]

Hey all!

I'm a very new owner of a 73' 1.7l, baby blue, all stock from what I can tell. Story is the motor lost oil back in 1990 and has been in my buddies mother-in-laws garage ever since. I couldn't pass it up so now I have a new project. After doing some searching I ran across this forum and it looked like a place I could call home. I'll tell you all up front that I plan on using you. Using your experience, knowledge, and tips to get this baby back into shape.

First couple of questions should be simple.

1. This thing has A/C but I plan on ripping it all out. Is it worth anything? Should I just hang onto it for resale later?

2. I have always wanted to do a slant nose on one of these. No, I am far from a purist and don't intend to keep this thing stock and by the numbers. Are slant nose conversion fenders still available? If so from where? And is there a market for my rust free front stock fenders. I have seen new replacements priced around $1100!

Any help is appreciated. This is only the begining of the multitude of stupid questions I'm going to ask but hey, I gotta start somewhere.....

[flesburg]

Medezyne from Tulsa,

Hello and welcome to the world of 914 nuts. There are quite a few of us, and we all have our opinions, and most of us can’t agree on much, so consensus in our group is hard to arrive at, except our love of the little 914.

Most of us have come to certain conclusions however about our little cars. As background I bought mine new in early 1974. It started life as a 74 2.0 4cyl. The sticker price on it was about $6400, and that did not include cast wheels, or a radio. By comparison a base 1974 911 was over $11,000. An S or Carrera was closer to $13,000.

1. A 1.7 L 914 is never going to be a collector car.

2. A fully restored almost concours condition 1.7 L 914 will not ever be worth the money it will take to bring your car up to that level.

3. Even if you do all of the work yourself, the cost of the parts will exceed the value of the car.

4. In 1984 and 1985 I rebuild my 914. I spent, between parts and body shop work, and not counting my labor as worth one dime, when I was done I had spent $17,000 and that does not include the purchase price of the car in 1974. It did include steel flairs, a complete repaint, 8x16 wheels, a complete rebuild on the 2.0L 4 cyl engine, and a lot of silliness on new parts that I may have not needed, euro lights, rear reflector all new bearings bushings etc etc…..

5. IF you are interested in resale value, SELL THE CAR NOW before you spend a dime, because broken engine and all, from here on out you will be putting money into a toy that will be more fun than you can imagine, but you will NEVER get your money back. SO, if you are thinking you can ever get you money out of it SELL it now.

6. Or part it out. Your wheels were made in the early 70s by (I think American Eagle) and I always thought they were the best looking wheels made for the 4 cyl, but by 74 they were out of production, and I settled for some wheels by ATS.

7. Once you are okay with this, proceed.

8. Long term you need to be more concerned with rust than anything, including your broken engine. Rust and 914s are like ham and eggs. It can get inside the longitudinals and eat the car from the inside out. I have seen them so bad that you could not jack them up. Had a tub like that one time. You need to get some help from somebody who will show you what to look for. I met a 25 year old young lady 15 years ago and she had bought this 914 and it was beautiful. Until you lifted the rear trunk carpet and pad, and then I hate to tell you what I found under the passenger seat. It was so bad and she was so proud, and she was so cute, that I could not tell her the truth. Her dad was there, and he knew, but he could not tell her either. Get several friends together, take off the top, have them all stand inside the car and jump up and down. While they are in the car, see if you can open and close the doors.

9. Once you know what you are faced with, then I think the first priority is to get the rust damage fixed and probably repaint the car. Do not take shortcuts. Rust needs to be cut our and new steel welded it. At anytime, if you find it is too expensive to go on, then STOP, because it is just going to get worse.

10. Do not spend a lot of money on an engine etc and get it on the street only to find out that you need to spend $5 or $6,000 on body work that you cannot do.

11. Figure on buying: An air compressor, a plazma cutter, a mig welder, a big box of air tools, and painting equipment and LEARNING how to do much of the body work yourself. Then we can start on mechanics tools and learning how to do those things too.

If I have not turned you off by now, WELCOME to the world of 914s, and make it into what you want, not what any of us tell you. If you like slope noses, go for it. Learn some about metal working and get someone to help you get started, and reshape the front fenders into steel slope noses. (I like the little bumps sticking up in the air, think they are cute, and VERY distinct, and that the slope nose 914s look too much like RX7s, which I love to hate….)

Good luck and happy years ahead of you with your 914.