A Texas Sized Project - 1975 2.0L, 12/8/20 - Wiring & Interior Update Options

[ValcoOscar]

Great update (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

I've enjoyed this thread. Beautiful color choice.
Perhaps I missed it, but when are you moving to SoCal? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blue914.jpg)
Fun to meet up with you.

Oscar

Hey Oscar - thanks for the kind words. We’re moving to the Westwood area this September. Would love to meet up! I’ll shoot you a PM when we get settled.

Cole

Excellent Cole-

Good to hear. After talking with a few local members I'm considering having another tech day at my home late Sept or early October so perfect timing.

Exact date TBD for now.

Oscar

[bbrock]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/party.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/clap.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) What a milestone!!! Great post and well done!

[aggiezig]

I spent all of today doing final prep for paint and then renting a trailer and towing the car out to the "booth". Tomorrow is D-Day. Fingers crossed for smooth sailing and no issues with the paint or setup.

Wrapped with plastic to prevent road grime:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534651146.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534651147.2.jpg)

Still have some masking left to do:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534651147.3.jpg)

Wish me luck!

[bbrock]

Good luck! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)

[jesse7flying]

Looks great Cole. Let's see some pics!

[aharder]

good luck !!
Can't wait to see the results !!

[aggiezig]

Alright everyone, some pics as promised. I can't remember the last time I was this exhausted.

We started bright and early. I had a few small areas that still needed scuffing before we could mask. Next up was masking. This was no small task and probably took a good two hours if not three. I wanted to make sure my shiny new suspension was covered.

Here is the final masking shot:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733082.1.jpg)

Next up was spraying the sealer. I don't have any pics at this stage because we had just as many fits as last time. I should have learned from my lesson. Stay away from Shop Line urethane primer surfacer and do a thinned epoxy primer instead. After coating the whole car with the sealer, we had to wait for it to dry and sand everything (again) with 600 grit because the surface was just too rough to lay smooth paint. I think the problem is this stuff flashes quick, I mean almost instantly. So overspray is a real issue.

After that fiasco, it was time for color. Again, I can't say enough nice things about this DCC color. It sprays so smoothly and covers well. I turned my pressure down some to about 25 psi and really got it to lay glass smooth. Because the booth isn't 100% air tight, I will still have to color sand and buff the dust out of the paint. But otherwise, orange peel is very minimal. I shot three wet coats and I am very pleased with the outcome.

Here are some shots, still in the booth:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733083.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733083.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733083.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733083.5.jpg)

Here is the front hood. I had to re-spray after sanding out solvent pop. Should be much better this time around.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733084.6.jpg)

I'm going to let it cure for a few days before towing home. Will probably bring it back on Wednesday or so. It gives me a good chance to clean up the garage bay that the teener has been living in.

On my list to do before moving in 2.5 weeks...

• Fill / Shape / Sand / Paint Rear Trunk Lid
• Tune Engine, Install P.P. & Clutch, Install in Car
• Mount doors, hoods, etc.
• Install windshield
• Pack....

We'll see if I am able to get to everything. More pics in the sun to come in the following days!

I think this is my favorite angle on the car... just a neat reflection.
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1534733084.7.jpg)

[Larmo63]

Anybody who has the balls to take on this project and succeed as you have so far is really alright in my book.

Mexico Blue? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

This thread has been a joy to watch so far, and I can't wait to see the finished product.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[TravisNeff]

Fantastic!

[bbrock]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JW68goC4_es

[saigon71]

Your paint job looks fantastic! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[ValcoOscar]

Your paint job looks fantastic! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Bob also painted his own 914 so he should know. Saw his car in person recently.


Great job guys...keep them on the road!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[aggiezig]

Thanks for the kind words, gents. I am very excited to get this thing out into the sun and see how it shines. Will update with more pics as soon as I pick her up.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[jd74914]

Looks great!! The color is awesome! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Again, I can't say enough nice things about this DCC color. It sprays so smoothly and covers well.

I used the exact same paint/gun (DCC/Devilbliss FinishLine) combination and way very happy with both-I can't recommend highly enough for anyone reading here too.

[aggiezig]

Hello from sunny SoCal! It's hard to believe it's been just over three months since my last update. Needless to say, a LOT has happened since then. Here are some updates…

When I last posted, the car had been sprayed and was sitting / drying in my uncles shop. I rented a uhaul trailer to get it there and back. Here are some pictures bringing the car home:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864451.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864452.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864452.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864452.4.jpg)

After getting the car back home from the "booth" - I started to put the doors and hood on and noticed I had a color discrepancy between the doors and the body. It was very minor and most of the people I asked said they couldn't see it. But, why spend all this time and $ if you're not going to do it right. So, I decided to spray one more coat of color on the doors to help get as close of a match as possible. I know this is always a risk with "panel painting" but I thought I would be OK as Mexico blue is a solid color. Now that I look at the paint, I'm wondering if there isn't a very small hint of metallic pigment in the mix?

Anyways, here is the color mismatch:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864452.5.jpg)

Picture out in the sunlight:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864453.6.jpg)

I also had to finish body-working the rear trunk lid. I seam sealed around all of the support webbing first to solidify the top skin from pushing down as I blocked the top. Used a little more filler here than I would have hoped but I was running thin on time and needed to push through. Overall, I think the rear trunk lid turned out fine.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864453.7.jpg)

Wet check of the lid:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864453.8.jpg)

Here are the panels ready for paint:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864453.9.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864552.1.jpg)

And after three coats:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864454.11.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864454.12.jpg)

While I was finishing up paint and body work, I dropped the engine off for tuning at a local shop that has worked on other aircooleds. After breaking in the cam, I couldn't get it to idle and transition smoothly. After a few days with the shop, they had it figured out and we picked up the engine and mounted it up into the car the night before leaving town. Man, this was a lot more work than taking it out. It was quite an effort to get it balanced and safely down from the makeshift test run stand we had made. Couldn't have done it without Dad's help.

Here are some process pictures:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864454.13.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864455.14.jpg)

(I realized after this picture that the trans bolts needed to go in first… d'oh!)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864455.15.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864455.16.jpg)

Of course, it will have to come back out again to install pressure plate, clutch and throw out bearing. After installing the engine / trans, we attached the rear trunk lid and engine decklid so they would be secure for towing.

My fiancé, her dad and a college buddy of mine made the 1700 mile trek from Houston to L.A. last week and the car is now safe & sound in our new garage. Moving the car was not an easy task as so much of it was still in pieces. There were lots of last minute finds that I had stashed away and needed to pack. I also wrapped the entire car in mover's cling wrap and then a tarp on top to keep road damage and rain out. If it wasn't for the plastic cling wrap as a sacrificial layer, the tarp would have destroyed the paint with all of its flapping around in the wind.

Here are some pics of getting the car loaded and ready for the trip:

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864456.17.jpg)

(pointing to the Indiana plate I think?)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864456.18.jpg)

(I am beyond delirious in this pic)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864456.19.jpg)

After we made it to L.A. and moved the car into its new home it sat for a couple of weeks while I pieced my life back together in our new place. After un-wrapping the cling wrap, it looks like the car made it through OK with a few small nicks on places that can be touched up and won't show. Here are some pics of the car situated in my new man cave, excuse the mess!

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864456.20.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i.imgur.com-19557-1543864457.21.jpg)

I've been tinkering away with small projects since then and will post an update soon about those.

[bbrock]

EPIC!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) Looking forward to seeing the story continue. I still can't believe you pulled this off. Wow! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[jesse7flying]

What mess are you talking about? You should see my shop! Looks great man, happy you made it there in one piece. Good on you.

[Tdskip]

Fantastic!

[ValcoOscar]

Great updates Cole and welcome to SoCal. Hope to meet up with you when time permits.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Oscar

[xperu]

Welcome back Cole, looking forward to you’re progress. Sorry you left Texas. Mike Kelly