Steve's Gemini Blue '71 Restoration Thread Options

[stevegm]

We had the opportunity to buy this fairly original '71 914 recently. The car is fuel injected, complete and everything works, right down to the light between the seats and the bell when you open the door. The car is almost completely rust-free. We are looking forward to taking it back to original color (Gemini Blue) and doing the restoration.

We are hoping to finish it in time for next year's (2015) Octeenerfest., eventually. The primary goal is to drive it to the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 in 2016, with my son. But, in the back of my mind I would still like to make a cross-country trip in a 914 someday. Maybe this is the car to do it in. I will post our progress here.

[stevegm]

Last weekend we pulled the rocker panels off and did a complete inspection. We were really pleased that there have been no surprises. The car is very clean.

Yesterday we started to strip the tar out of the floor pans. A heat gun and a scraper makes the job go fairly quickly. It took about 3 hours to get them to this point. Now we need to strip them to bare metal.

[mepstein]

Great color. Here's mine.

[stevegm]

Great color. Here's mine.

Very cool. This is a Gemini Blue car? I have been looking everywhere for a picture of a narrow-body 914 that was definitely Gemini Blue. So we could see what the color will look like.

[mepstein]

Great color. Here's mine.

Very cool. This is a Gemini Blue car? I have been looking everywhere for a picture of a narrow-body 914 that was definitely Gemini Blue. So we could see what the color will look like.

It had a respray so the exterior wasn't exactly the same as the interior but my firewall looks identical to yours. The car had extensive rust and terrible welded patches so I cut it up into little pieces so other cars could live.

[stevegm]

Great color. Here's mine.

Very cool. This is a Gemini Blue car? I have been looking everywhere for a picture of a narrow-body 914 that was definitely Gemini Blue. So we could see what the color will look like.

It had a respray so the exterior wasn't exactly the same as the interior but my firewall looks identical to yours. The car had extensive rust and terrible welded patches so I cut it up into little pieces so other cars could live.

Somehow got locked out the rear trunk. I know it worked when we bought the car. But, when I went out to the garage this week I couldn't get in. I read quite a bit (on 914world) about going through the plastic roof holder things with a very long extension. I finally decided to drill the lock out. I used a small drill bit, drilled straight through, and then used a screw driver to push the mechanism in. Worked like a charm. But, now I need to replace the lock.

[mepstein]

I'm pretty sure I have an extra.

[stevegm]

I'm pretty sure I have an extra.

Thanks. I'll PM you. I am not sure how hard they are to re-key and all.

[stevegm]

This weekend we made a plan for restoring the car. So far there really have been no surprises in terms of rust, etc. We have started buying key parts. Looking for a near perfect hood if anyone knows of one we can buy. The one on the car is in great shape. But we really want this car done well. And a little of the bracing underneath on this one is pulled off the flat metal. We are also hunting for targa chrome in excellent condition.

We will take the engine out next weekend.

[stevegm]

My son is home from college for Fall break. So, we pulled the engine out of the '71 914 to get it ready for restoration. It went well. It always amazes me how easy it is to pull these engines. I remember doing it by myself in the 80s and 90s in about an hour or so. I am a little older now, so it took us about 2 hours.

[stevegm]

Once the engine was out, I had to jump in the engine compartment and really inspect the hell hole. I had looked at it pretty well with a flashlight before we bought the car. But, you know there are often surprises once you get the engine out.

I can officially say - we have a heaven hole (if that is a term). No rust. Zero. Original metal, no repairs. No rust. Thumbs up.

[stevegm]

Is it possible that this car has the original battery tray? Does this look original? It has the bracket for the computer box on it. The tray itself has a little rust (3/4" hole) in it. But, it is only in the tray. Should I replace the tray with a new one?

[era vulgaris]

I remember seeing this car on craigslist and the samba this summer for $8K. Good score!

Trying for a quick flip on me, eh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Ha, no worries, I'd probably do the same!

[stevegm]

I remember seeing this car on craigslist and the samba this summer for $8K. Good score!

Trying for a quick flip on me, eh (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) Ha, no worries, I'd probably do the same!

Ya, when we first bought it, I considered flipping it. But, now that we've gotten into it, it is pretty clean. We are going to do a complete restoration. My wife really likes the blue, and I like early original ones. It fits both.

[Johny Blackstain]

I'd see about getting a COA if your going for a full resto. I know, they're not really worth it, but they will tell you interior color, serial numbers & options the car came with.

[stevegm]

I'd see about getting a COA if your going for a full resto. I know, they're not really worth it, but they will tell you interior color, serial numbers & options the car came with.

Really? I did not know they came with all that info. Where do you order a COA?

[Johny Blackstain]

I'd see about getting a COA if your going for a full resto. I know, they're not really worth it, but they will tell you interior color, serial numbers & options the car came with.

Really? I did not know they came with all that info. Where do you order a COA?

Yes, they do. You can get them from PCA & they're around 100$. Will have engine serial number, car color, interior color, options such as appearance package, etc... Will not have the trans number & will probably be wrong on the "birthday", as mine is:

[stevegm]

I'd see about getting a COA if your going for a full resto. I know, they're not really worth it, but they will tell you interior color, serial numbers & options the car came with.

Really? I did not know they came with all that info. Where do you order a COA?

Yes, they do. You can get them from PCA & they're around 100$. Will have engine serial number, car color, interior color, options such as appearance package, etc... Will not have the trans number & will probably be wrong on the "birthday", as mine is:

Thanks. I will order one. I probably shouldn't. Because I was thinking about changing the interior color to beige or brown (looks great with a blue car). It has a black interior now, which appears to be the original. Once I get the COA confirming that it came with a black interior, I won't have the stomach to deviate from what it was originally. :-)

[Johny Blackstain]

Thanks. I will order one. I probably shouldn't. Because I was thinking about changing the interior color to beige or brown (looks great with a blue car). But, once I get the COA, I won't have the stomach to deviate from what it was originally. :-)

Ya, I know the feeling. My six is supposed to be green with a black interior- it's not. Black w/ a tan interior from a 74 LE no less (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Car is so far from original & I have no idea where or if the original engine even exists. I bought it modified, so I feel no guilt. My LE however, is another story: I even hid the extra red wire when I installed a Pertronix in her.

[stevegm]

I took the gas tank out today. Also removed the ventilation box under the cowl, and started figuring out the best way to remove all of that stuff under there without damaging anything.

It seems to me that the two most difficult things to reassemble in the car when it comes time to put it back together may be the wiring harness and the ventilation system cables. Those cables look like a real PITA.

Anyone have any experience with these cables?

I am wondering if anyone has sources for:

1. New Front Trunk cable and sheath.
2. New Ventilation System Hoses (large - maybe 2 1/2 inches or so in diameter)