Irrational Exuberance: a ‘71 restoration thread Options

[mda123]

Hello 914World,

I’ve finally decided to start a restoration thread for my engine/transmission-less ‘71 914. Bought from a 914World user as a project for me and my stepson (but mostly me) to work on and goodness knows I’m going to need a lot of help along the way. Any DC-area/MidAtlantic folks around?

Here’s how she sits today. As I mentioned, no engine or trans but that’s fine since I was always looking for a swap candidate. Lotta work before engine questions become paramount but currently thinking air-cooled six swap of some kind or Subaru turbo four swap if I go water cooled.

Body is reasonably straight. Bumpers are dented but body panels are mostly intact and there seems to be little body rust. Paint is pretty rough: bubbling, adhesion problems, overspray, etc. Current thinking is a full Irish Green repaint when the time comes.

To my amateur eye, it’s probably a 6 or 7 out of 10 on the rust scale (like a 4 if you grade on a 914 curve). Hell hole is remarkably not awful and the longs appear solid, but battery tray is a goner. Frunk and trunk pans have holes. Pedal box area is a mess. Seam between floor pan and front kick panel is pretty bad. Frunk seal channels are a disaster. Driver’s side headlight bucket is bad.

My intention is to restore it to the point where it’s a very nice driver, but I have no interest in concours-level anything and I’m not striving for full originality.

[attachmentid=784
069][attachmentid
=784065]