And so it begins…..again Options

[infraredcalvin]

So many of these stories end with lots of parts (sometimes whole cars) gone missing, impounded, or stuck in frozen asset court hell. Get your stuff back (be glad you got it all) and move on, chalk the $$ up to lesson learned, besides values are going up. Anger and energy toward this guy is going to ruin your passion for the car and possibly lead to him to quit taking your calls and your remaining parts disappearing.

Get your stuff and post a warning here to keep another from making a mistake with him. Focus your energy on your car!

[0396]

Sorry to hear of the issues with your build.
As for the suggestion to jump in and take the idiot to small claims court now, as mentioned above, you might not get all your parts back.
Post your comments on yelp and any car forum so to alert his future potential customers. Years ago, I had a local garden shop come by to give me a quote to install new lawn on the front and back of my house. This Crook came and measued the lawns, I gave him $500 cash ,half of the project. Being so trust worthy, I never even ask for a receipt.
Fast forward, after digging up the lawn, this F...ing Crook calls my cell to explain that he made a mistake and is not willing to lose $ on the job. I could pay him another $1500 to complete the job or he will simply leave the sod for me to complete the job...

Needless to say. I paid and got a Real World education on how crooked people can be....oh yes I drive by his garden shop every day and have thought how I can resolve this...
In the end, I just let it go...but I still remember it after 35 years as I drive by!!!!!

[Old Yella]

There are some good people in the 914 community and two great friends who I met through this site, but from shops I learn one thing. Rely on yourself. Fat Performance was good though.

[Larmo63]

I have the car back, and after fixing a bunch of crappy mechanical work this guy did, and a bunch of $$ that I keep spending, I have the car on the road and it is fun to be driving again.

Man, I missed DRIVING.

Why did I have to get the 914 infection? Why me?

[Larmo63]

It's actually a pretty solid car.

PLEASE stop me from spending more money on it.

[Krieger]

You could buy parts for my car instead (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif) Keep drivin the sucker!

[Larmo63]

I fiddled with hooking up the fog lights yesterday, no luck, wiring seems to be correct. I got in the car today, and it wouldn't start. I push started it down the hill and it started right up, but now no tach, gas gauge, and directionals. That's random.

I un-hooked the fogs and left them the way they were before. I'm about ready to sell EVERYTHING and just get out of this hobby altogether. I'm so frustrated, my fucking crooked mechanic STILL hasn't come clean with my money and engine.

Oh, and these Scheels showed up today…..

[carr914]

Sorry to hear of the issues with your build.
As for the suggestion to jump in and take the idiot to small claims court now, as mentioned above, you might not get all your parts back.
Post your comments on yelp and any car forum so to alert his future potential customers. Years ago, I had a local garden shop come by to give me a quote to install new lawn on the front and back of my house. This Crook came and measued the lawns, I gave him $500 cash ,half of the project. Being so trust worthy, I never even ask for a receipt.
Fast forward, after digging up the lawn, this F...ing Crook calls my cell to explain that he made a mistake and is not willing to lose $ on the job. I could pay him another $1500 to complete the job or he will simply leave the sod for me to complete the job...

Needless to say. I paid and got a Real World education on how crooked people can be....oh yes I drive by his garden shop every day and have thought how I can resolve this...
In the end, I just let it go...but I still remember it after 35 years as I drive by!!!!!

You had a Cell Phone in 1981? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[2mAn]

PLEASE stop me from spending more money on it.

sounds like you need to get some money BACK from this car. sounds like you could sell it soon ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

[Larmo63]

I have decided to sell it.

[sb914]

You still have the black one?

[Chris H.]

I fiddled with hooking up the fog lights yesterday, no luck, wiring seems to be correct. I got in the car today, and it wouldn't start. I push started it down the hill and it started right up, but now no tach, gas gauge, and directionals. That's random.

I un-hooked the fogs and left them the way they were before. I'm about ready to sell EVERYTHING and just get out of this hobby altogether. I'm so frustrated, my fucking crooked mechanic STILL hasn't come clean with my money and engine.

Maybe you could have a "sort out the white car" get together. Probably not much wrong with it, just the cumulative BS total is weighing on you. Might want to give it a break for a day or two first. I've been there. Especially with wiring. Sucks about the mechanic who ripped you off.

And you can't just leave, we have to vote on it!

I vote no.

Sorry man, I like your posts (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) !

[2mAn]

Maybe you could have a "sort out the white car" get together. Probably not much wrong with it, just the cumulative BS total is weighing on you. Might want to give it a break for a day or two first. I've been there. Especially with wiring. Sucks about the mechanic who ripped you off.

I second both of these ideas... Take the weekend off, have a few (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) then reassess the situation.

I think make a plan to get the white one to a point where you can sell it comfortably and have a decent amount of cash back in your hand to finish the black car with the -6 in it.

Its a tough situation to be in, but it could be a LOT worse

[PlantMan]

It's actually a pretty solid car.

PLEASE stop me from spending more money on it.

Are you going to give us goof balls first crack????

[Larmo63]

Sorry that it's a Debbie Downer thread, but it seems I take one step forward and two steps back.

I'm just frustrated.

I'd like to know if there is some advice on how the horn wire in the column could affect the tachometer, directionals, and gas gauge not working? I was also fiddling with the fog lights and hooked them up properly. The dash light on the switch came on, but no lights. Now the emergency switch doesn't work either. No blown fuses, no hot spots anywhere, no smoking switches or burnt wiring anywhere.

I thought tomorrow might be a potential Cars and Coffee appearance. No go.

[Vapor_locked]

I fiddled with hooking up the fog lights yesterday, no luck, wiring seems to be correct. I got in the car today, and it wouldn't start. I push started it down the hill and it started right up, but now no tach, gas gauge, and directionals. That's random.

I un-hooked the fogs and left them the way they were before. I'm about ready to sell EVERYTHING and just get out of this hobby altogether. I'm so frustrated, my fucking crooked mechanic STILL hasn't come clean with my money and engine.

Oh, and these Scheels showed up today…..

mmmmm...scheels!!!... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif) Those would help me feel better!!

I agree with taking some time to meditate on the approach to take regarding future plans- things done in haste, out of frustration, often lead to regrets. You may come to the same conclusion in the end, but at least it will have been done with a clear mind and more sound reasoning, I'm sure. For the record, I hate wiring & electronics, I'd be feeling the same way, were it me in your position, which is why I'm giving you the opinion that I currently am.

I also think the get together to sort things out is a good idea, a little help & camaraderie from people also infected by the sickness may help to reduce the inflammation!!!

[forrestkhaag]

It was working fine yesterday when you stopped by.,.,. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif)

[r_towle]

Sorry that it's a Debbie Downer thread, but it seems I take one step forward and two steps back.

I'm just frustrated.

I'd like to know if there is some advice on how the horn wire in the column could affect the tachometer, directionals, and gas gauge not working? I was also fiddling with the fog lights and hooked them up properly. The dash light on the switch came on, but no lights. Now the emergency switch doesn't work either. No blown fuses, no hot spots anywhere, no smoking switches or burnt wiring anywhere.

I thought tomorrow might be a potential Cars and Coffee appearance. No go.

horn and directional circuits could be shorting out in the column, unplug the plug at the bottom of the column and see if things settle with the gas gauge and the other weird electrical issues.

That short harness in the steering wheel may be damaged, but you can set it and pull it out to replace it if required.

Drop the fuse box down, see if it was pushed up in place wrong and created a short

Check the back of the fuse panel to see if there are any non stock circuits, easy enough to spot.

Look for spade connectors touching.

Another place for shorts is in the tunnel area in front of the seats where the wiring comes up on top of the tunnel....screws can damage that wiring.
Fog lights only come on when headlights are on low beam, and on.
There is a trigger coming off the headlight relay to the foglights....gotta see if there is power at the foglight relay under the cowl.

Simple cool mod is to get a standard bosch relay at the parts store and wire up the fog lights directly to the switch, not through the headlights.
Then you can run with just the fog lights on....or driving lights...whatever they are.

Rich

[Catorse]

And after rewiring my 914 during the resto, I can tell you that the "as delivered" circuits for the lighting on that car is a f*cking nightmare of extra wiring, especially at the fuse panel. The switch is a total frankenstein with 11 spade connectors hanging off it. I way simplified mine plus went with a Jwest panel. Works beautifully now.

[Larmo63]

Thanks, Adam, I'll get in touch over the weekend to look at your car…...