New User/Owner - Orange71, With lots of questions! Options

[orange71]

Hey folks, just thought i'd take this chance to introduce myself.
I'm the new owner of a 1971 914-4 that has been in my family since my father bought it new back in the day. It's floated around my family until finally coming into my hands at the beginning of this year.

It sat for the last 3 years and tooks minimal effort to get it back on the road. A fuel flush, new fuel, new battery, new tires and a tune-up and it's been a dream since I picked it up on Friday. Even took it for a long drive up the coast on sunday.

Also, I saw a thread about wood dashes, this one appears to have a solid wood dash that was installed soon after it was bought, I'll try to post some pics when the weather clears up here.

I've not got a BUNCH of questions and hope y'all don't mind me rattling them off here in hopes that everyone's experience can help catch me up quickly!

1) That lever that is just rear of the shift lever, what does it do? I can't find head not tail about it in any of my manuals!

2) I've taking the horn ring off and the 'Rubber Sleeve' that sits between the horn sleeve and the nut/steering wheel is missing. I also don't see anything that looks like a horn switch in there, not too much about it in my manuals, anyone got a picture or description of what should be in there? Any suggestions on where to go for the 'Rubber Sleeve'?

3) Shifting has gotten MUCH more difficult to the point that I can't get into 4th and 5th gears anymore! (as of last night) 2nd and 3rd gear appear to be extremely 'wide' on the shifter... does this sound like a simple adjustment or potentially a larger problem? (Mechanic who got her running/tune up did replace the transmission fluid)

4) The tab that is welded to the chassis to bolt to the engine cover just behind the seat has broken off. Does anyone make repro tabs or should i just have a body shop fab something up?

5) My rear trunk hinge on the right side has also come off it's weld and parts of it look in bad knack... can anyone recommend a body shop in/around San Francisco CA?

[Bleyseng]

A wire should come out of the hollow steering column and thru that small hole in the ring and push onto the male tab. It just grounds out the circuit to make the horn work.

Nice car (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

[Dave_Darling]

A wire should come out of the hollow steering column and thru that small hole in the ring and push onto the male tab. It just grounds out the circuit to make the horn work.

I know that's how the later cars (I think 72+) work, but I believe that the early ones have a separate horn switch that grounds the wire going up the steering column. Similar to the one in the evil-bay link--but I don't know if the one in the link is the original part or not.

--DD