Intro thread.... New to the 'World' :), Car just arrived. Options

[gandalfthegray]

Hello all, my name is Steve and I have been a lurker for just over a month and was on the hunt for a 914. As of today, I'm an owner!

I'm not new to 914's however. My first car, (1987) was a 1975 914. I loved it! Unfortunately though my time with it was short. Only 4 - 5 months after buying my car the 1.7 met it's demise and the car was hauled home on a trailer. Being in high school and broke, it was parked for over a year and then finally sold. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) I've never forgotten my first car, and remembered how much fun it was.

Well, fast forward 25 years later, I'm back in the game. Today my 914 arrived. Most of you have seen it as it belonged to a member here who lives in Houston, Texas. The car had been for sale for quite some time and I had spoken a few times with the owner before finally coming back and purchasing the car. It's a black on black 72 with a 215 Buick V8 conversion. Definitely more kick then my former tired 1.7 motor had. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724014.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724014.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724014.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724014.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724014.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724015.6.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i856.photobucket.com-14788-1348724015.7.jpg)

I've got a handful of things I plan to do to the car. Nothing against slant nose owners, but I'll be putting the car back to the 914 GT front fenders so as to match the rear flares. I just don't care for the slant nose fenders. Also, I may fit the original front bumper as well, I'm not sure. At this point I'll have that front hood adjusted so as to eliminate the rather large gap. I do have a lower rear valance which came with the car that I'd like to try to fit as well.

Over the course of the winter there are some mechanical issues I'll be working on as well. I received along with the car a new rebuilt side shifter trans as well as the JWest shifter and linkage. My hopes is to get this installed as well as fix a leaking timing cover (I think) gasket. She's leaking pretty good. I was made aware of all this by the seller however, so I planned for the project. I'm actually looking forward to the project. It'll be fun to have a car I can actually do something myself for a change. All my other cars are newer and well beyond my abilities.

Possibly going to do a five lug conversion as well. Still on the fence with this for now. I kinda like the mini-lights. I've considered powder coating the centers to black and leaving the outer brushed aluminum. Any thoughts?? Good idea??

Well, I won't ramble on for ever here. Just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself to the forum and post a few pics of the new car. Feel free to comment good, bad or ugly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)