Optimusglen's build - 91faux6 safari, bodywork and suspension started Options

[Optimusglen]

Hmm, good to hear. I'll have to do some more research I think.

Question for you guys, does 914rubber send tracking info when an order ships? Figured I'd just ask here, didn't want to call them because it's really not that big of deal.

[mbseto]

Electrolysis method worked really well for me too. Gas tank was sludgy and after emptying and drying I dumped out about a 1/2 gallon of rust flakes. Figured the tank was a goner. Ran a few sessions with the battery charger and here's the before and after:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?s=&...t&p=2312315

[Optimusglen]

hile I'm waiting for parts I thought I would start on the steering wheel. It's a vintage Cisa wheel I got off eBay. Leather was faded and stitches torn.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1457619387.1.jpg)


Started out by pulling the leather off, removing all the bits of thread, and sanding down the leather to give the dye something to hold onto.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1457619387.2.jpg)

Next I dyed the leather using Kiwi black. Worked well I think.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1457619387.3.jpg)

Fired up the sewing machine. The adjustments on my machine wouldn't give me a long enough stitch, so I had to manually run the stitches through all of the existing holes. Very time consuming and required a bit of focus. I'm using a heavy duty outdoor thread.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1457619388.4.jpg)

Once all 6 stitches were run, I went to work on the lacing. I stopped after the first stretch because it was late.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1457619388.5.jpg)

This morning I finished it off. Turned out just like I wanted. Still worn and not perfect, but useable and has some character.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1457628893.1.jpg)

[JmuRiz]

I wish I knew how to do upholstery work....good stuff you did on that wheel!

I have some cool ideas for interior on my car, just don't know how to do them myself and they'd be $$ to pay someone else to do.

Are you planning on painting the spokes or keeping that retro-rough? Just curious.

[Optimusglen]

I plan on keeping them kinda rustic and used, won't be painting them. A bit of wear gives it some character I think.

[Optimusglen]

Some good and some bad news for the project.

Good news. Heard back from the previous owner about the cam and distributor. Turns out the car did get a cam and distributor change when the 2.0 bore/stroke kit was installed with the carburetors. The exact details of what was installed will have to wait until I tear it down, but that's a good sign.

The bad news. Tearing the interior down further, found some rust under the tar. Solid metal underneath the rust fortunately. Used a rust converter for now but may revisit it next winter. Also found a rusted through hole on the drivers side sill under the aluminum sill plate. Which means the rockers under that spot are probably no good too. Plan there is to see exactly how bad it is, then patch that hole. Again, I'll dig further into it next winter

Started cleaning up the gas tank and it's coming along nicely, the copper (or brass?) filter sock came free of the fitting.

Also pictures of all of the FI stuff that came off the car.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1458049509.1.jpg)
High res http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1647/25809659...c14cf39db_o.jpg

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1458049510.2.jpg)
High Res: http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1674/25809662...0f079025e_o.jpg

Recieved my new carpet set, I got the plush black 10-piece from the place on eBay. Very pleased with the quality, but of course haven't had a chance to put it in.

Also ordered the Coverall black dash cap. Reviews and pictures seem to all be positive.

[iwanta914-6]

Also found a rusted through hole on the drivers side sill under the aluminum sill plate. Which means the rockers under that spot are probably no good too. Plan there is to see exactly how bad it is, then patch that hole. Again, I'll dig further into it next winter

Obviously it depends on the extent of the rust. Have you pulled the rockers off yet to get a look at the longs? If there is significant rust, you're better off fixing that now than later no matter how badly you want to get it on the road for the spring/summer.

[Optimusglen]

Obviously it depends on the extent of the rust. Have you pulled the rockers off yet to get a look at the longs? If there is significant rust, you're better off fixing that now than later no matter how badly you want to get it on the road for the spring/summer.

I pulled the passenger side already because it looked the worst from the outside. Pictures are further back in my thread. Haven't had a chance to pul lthe drivers side yet but it'll be happening.

Based of the results of the functional test I gave it, I'm pretty confident that a temporary patch will be fine to drive on a bit over the summer. I know that once I start cutting metal to replace stuff, it'll snowball. And once it snowballs it might be a year or two (or more) before I can actually drive it again. If I don't have some sort of reference point for the driving/handling/experience of the car it'll drive me nuts. Never even driven a 914 yet, the closest thing I've driven is a '78 VW Rabbit and I'm sure that's in another ballpark.

[malcolm2]

The fixed passenger seat is really unique and cool. It's a comfortable seating position I feel, so maybe I'll look for a new pad and upholster it.

You won't sit over there much anyway.... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) Neither seat has moved in my 75 since I put it all back together. Kinda wish they had left the early passenger seat design for us late model owners.

Since the seat did not move, Porsche included a box in the footwell to help the passenger get their legs comfy. See if you can find or make a box. It had a strap and some snaps I believe.

Great car, have fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[malcolm2]

If I don't have some sort of reference point for the driving/handling/experience of the car it'll drive me nuts. Never even driven a 914 yet, the closest thing I've driven is a '78 VW Rabbit and I'm sure that's in another ballpark.

I know what you mean. I bought mine in 2011 and did not drive 'til late 2013. In the mean time, I watched craigslist and found 3 that I could drive. So I pretended to be a buyer and went to test drive them.

Another difference on early vs. late is the tranny shift console. Being a mid engine turned backwards from the VW bus, the shift rod had to go to the rear. Lots of adjustments. Not sure when but Porsche designed a console in the middle of the tranny and that works great with less adjusting. Some folks upgrade, some just deal with it.

I drove one early car that the shifting was very sloppy.

[malcolm2]

Hmm, good to hear. I'll have to do some more research I think.

Question for you guys, does 914rubber send tracking info when an order ships? Figured I'd just ask here, didn't want to call them because it's really not that big of deal.

Two brothers run the business. I believe both have "real" jobs. So sometimes you get tracking sometimes you don't. I have always gotten my stuff. If there has ever been a product issue, they have always helped me out. Just be patient, they will take care of you.

[Mikey914]

More than happy to check on your order. The website is supposed to automatically send tracking when processed. A known issue is that its a Hotmail account and the automatic response is from Godaddy servers so your internet provider may filter it out as spam. Anything that we have in stock usually ships in a day or two depending on what time the order comes in. Drop me a PM with your name and I'm more that willing to look it up.
Thanks,
Mark

[Optimusglen]

Thanks! I should have updated the thread, the day I posted about 914Rubber I received an email. Most of my order was already shipped and arrived already (really pleased with the parts) The other part of the order, a drivers seat bottom cover, is back ordered but it sounds like you should be able to ship one out to me later this week.

[Optimusglen]

Did some more work on peeling off the old floor tar on the drivers side. Cleaned up a little rust there too but overall it's solid.

New carpet kit is in, new drivers seat bottom upholstery from 914rubber was delivered today, I have a new strip of the basketweve material for the dash face, and the dash cap I got has been staring at me for a week or so. I really need more time to work on this right now, I'm itching to get the interior back together. Once the interior and gas tank are ready to go I'll drop the engine and start on my favorite part of car building.

I met a member, Ben, from here who had some miscellaneous 914 parts that he was looking to get rid of. Scooped those up because you never know what a new project is going to need. Thanks Ben!

Today I was able to jump on a chrome front bumper for my car, bought it off eBay then saw that the seller was literally 10 minutes from me. Drove there over lunch and picked it up, as well as a rubber bumper trim top piece (is that the official name?) Overall price was around $100, so it was an awesome deal. Phil if you're on here, thanks again!

In somewhat unrelated news, I surprised my wife with another car on Easter.

Rewind a bit for a backstory. Before we were married, my wife bought a 1991 Volkswagen Cabriolet in an effort to "woo" me because I was a VW guy. She learned to drive a manual in it. She was dedicated. Later we were married but didn't have a lot of money. We had her Cabriolet, a $900 Lincoln Towncar, and a VW Rabbit project that wasn't running/driving. She drove the Lincoln because it was more comfortable, didn't leak water all over your arm, and had working heat. I drove the Cabby that had none of those things. She loved the car though, especially in the summer with the top down. Eventually we were able to get better daily driving cars but it meant having to sell the Cabriolet.

She often talks about missing that car.

Ok, back to the present day. On Easter day she was inside relaxing, I scheduled a few people to come look at a pickup that I'm selling. She had no idea I also scheduled the seller of the Cabriolet to come drop it off in our driveway. Then I went in and got her, made her come outside, and she was absolutely speechless.

It needs a little work, but nothing crazy. I'll replace the top, and the seats, and fiddle with the fueling to get it running but otherwise it's solid. Just in time for the beautiful Minnesota spring too.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1459282874.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1459282874.2.jpg)

She walked out to the garage 3-4 times over the course of the evening to just look at it. And joked about how our cars were having conversations in German while we weren't in there.

So currently we're up to 5 cars, but the 1965 F100 sold on eBay yesterday, and the buyer will be picking it up at the end of the week (which means more 914 goodies)

[Optimusglen]

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1459298291.1.jpg)

Got the new seat cover in and on.

[JmuRiz]

Wow, you work FAST...I wish I had that drive and confidence/skill to do all that quickly.

Great price on the bumper!

Even greater story on the cabrio!!

[7TPorsh]

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[Alapone]

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off topic but in your first post you mention an r90 café bike you put together. I have a 73 r75 would love to see a pic of yours. Good luck with your car!

[Optimusglen]

For sure, here's the motorcycle.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1459442552.1.jpg)


And a shot of the motorcycle with the 914. Also have my 2-up seat on the motorcycle here, for when my wife wants to come along.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1459442552.2.jpg)

With these two together, I have a flat 6. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Optimusglen]

Started looking at the wiring over the weekend, the harness shown below had some rodent chew marks and I wanted to see how far it went.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/c2.staticflickr.com-19709-1459786254.1.jpg)
High res: http://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1718/25573849...cc689af11_k.jpg

Eyeballed all of the wires in that spot and followed the harness all over everything forward of the engine firewall and it looks like those 5 wires are all that's chewed. Since it's only those 5 I think I'll solder in new sections and shrinkwrap instead of replacing the whole harness.

Also picked up a set of 4 of these to ease moving the car around the garage.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/demo.joomlaxtc.com-19709-1459786254.2.jpg)