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?

[Tobra]

Clean out under the rocker panels. Use blue loctite on the cone/set screws. New shift bushings will make a big difference if worn

[orange71]

Well I missed the Ebay auction as I was down in LA for a few days (when the auction finished), but I'm back now and started poking around the inspection panel for the shift linkage and looking at the firewall.

New shift bushings will make a big difference if worn

Shift bushings it was! but actually.. it was the shift bushing at the REAR! the grease was so old it had gummed up and the rod was pulling the bushing with it. I've packed some new grease on there after cleaning the old, and pushed the bushing back into sorts. It shifts like a whole new car now! I'll have to order the Shift Bushing Replacement kit from Pelican and see how much it improves when I redo the entire rod grease and put in new bushings.

Thanks a ton for the advice.

Now back to sourcing the bits to fix the horn (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[orthobiz]

Looks like you have a Signal Orange car, the color of my first 914, near and dear to my college memories. Way to go!

Paul