First 914 Project, Seeking words of wisdom Options

[Creptice]

I recently acquired my first 914. A 1972 with a 74 2.0 and a side shift conversion with 97K on the speedo. The car looks and drives great, my wife and I fell in love with it immediately. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif)

It was a 300 mile drive to get the car home. On the way, the stereo shorted out, no big deal it needed a new one anyway. As it started to get dark I turned on the lights and tried to adjust the dash lights. The dash lights barely flickered when I turned the headlight knob and the fuel gauge popped hard over past full. Ok, I got a little electrical work to do. When I got the car home I noticed the rear passenger side suspension was about 1 – 1 ½ inches lower than the driver side and the fuel pressure sensor was laying on the engine resting on the badly cracked hoses. All of this and I still need to install the heater blower and the A/C components that were never replaced after the 2.0 was installed. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif)

There is no way I’m giving this car up (my wife already acts like she gave birth to the thing) so it looks like I have some work to do. Now I’m not a mechanic, but a short conversation with the local Porsche dealership and I realize that I already know more about just the A/C system than they do. All confidence lost. (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/screwy.gif)

I already know that I have to rewire most of the electrical system, based on the amount of electrical tape under the dash and the fact that I can’t pull the instrument panel out far enough to see the wiring. The electrical system I have no problem with, but the most advanced mechanical work I have ever done is replace a water pump or alternator.

I guess my big question is, can a novice mechanic safely strip down this car and replace/repair all of the things that need to be done to bring it up to snuff?? I have the time, the shop manuals, DerWhite Productions Exploded-View Part Diagram Manual and soon an empty wallet.