Intro from Montana: '73 2.0L rustoration thread Options

[bbrock]

^^^^ That's a pic my wife would take (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

Got the front calipers reassembled and finger tight on the car. Ran into a couple snags over course, because we can't have too many delays getting this tub off the rotisserie.

Somehow I wound up with one short brake pad pin so I'll have to order one. Otherwise, the calipers look real purty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)



Even better bolted on the car.





Then I noticed a problem. Brake line no connecty.



I didn't remember seeing banjo fittings there but sure enough, verified they should be there with the PET. Laid awake a little last night wondering where I might have misplaced them. Spent some time early this morning rummaging through boxes with no luck. Finally, I pulled all the old brake lines out of the scrap pile to see if they held any clues. Sure enough, they did.



Somebody had performed a banjo delete by just straitening and reforming those lines. I knew those PO receipts for brake work at Midas were going to bite me in the butt. Now I need to track down a pair of banjo fittings for these fronts. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[sixnotfour]

the calipers I sent had the brake line that went directly into the caliper...

#12

https://www.pmbperformance.com/914-brake-lines.html

[bbrock]

the calipers I sent had the brake line that went directly into the caliper...

#12

https://www.pmbperformance.com/914-brake-lines.html

Well look at that!! Now I know what happened. 73 MY cars can have either early or late hard lines. Based on the pics I sent to PMB of my brake regulator, I needed an early brake line kit. My car appears to be a true bastard step child with its mix of early and late brake components so it looks like I had a mix of hard line components to match. I need to send the b-stock nose pieces to @Eric_Shea anyway so I'll toss these early lines in the box and order the late ones. Thanks for pointing that out! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[sixnotfour]

i even took a pic.. line from the cali.

[Superhawk996]

the calipers I sent had the brake line that went directly into the caliper...

#12

https://www.pmbperformance.com/914-brake-lines.html

Same - 1973 April build per door sticker

[bbrock]

i even took a pic.. line from the cali.

Thanks for the pic. I'd say if you account for my original being a bit more beat up than that one, they are a pretty good match. At least I'm not losing my mind not remembering those banjo fittings! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t2.gif)

[bbrock]

Might be overdue for a critter pic. Took these a few minutes ago from our deck.

[bbrock]

PMB Performance came through once again! Yesterday, I received a pair of late hard lines to connect my front calipers. Eric didn't even bill me for shipping. Can't say enough about how helpful he's been. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)



That leaves me one caliper pin short of being able to fill and bleed the system before pulling the car off the rotisserie. The curse of the brakes continues though. While I was installing the final hard lines, Pelican sent an email informing me that the pin I had ordered would have to be ordered direct from Germany with a 20% upcharge over what was frankly an already overpriced item. I cancelled that item and just ordered it from another vendor in the US that claims to have it in stock and for a better price. Just another of what seems to be endless delays this summer.

After being out of town all of last week and having other obligations over the weekend, I'm eager to start making progress on the car again. Body filler should arrive tomorrow so I can start smoothing the little blemishes left from the body work.

[sixnotfour]

put the pads and one pin ,,start the sometimes horror of bleeding 914 brakes... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

[bbrock]

put the pads and one pin ,,start the sometimes horror of bleeding 914 brakes... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif)

Thanks. I have one correct pin plus the short one in the last caliper and plan to pick up brake fluid next time I'm in town. Figure I'll get enough tubing to hook up all four corners for the "gravity" method and see how far that gets me. While the car is still on the rotisserie, it will be easy to crack lines at the MC and regulator if needed to coax the fluid through. Curious to see how this magic gravity method works on a brand new, bone dry system. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif)

Oh, it looks like the other pin should be here Friday which is probably my next chance to get brake fluid anyway.

[bbrock]

Gearing up for the weekend. Those who've read my first intro post on this thread may recall I've had a big beef with AA for decades. Received a small order of some hard to find bits and that caliper pin today and must say George did okay. Good prices, cheap shipping, and it shipped and arrived promptly. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)

Picked up enough tubing today to open all four calipers at once and let gravity do its thing over the weekend. We'll see how far this goes toward making me... er, I mean my brakes... hard. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[raynekat]

OK Brent....I'll be watching your brake bleeding progress.

I will be doing the same thing next week I believe.
I've got one of those pressure brake bleeding systems, so hopefully there won't be any drama.
But these are 914 Porsches, eh?
What could possibly go wrong? Ha

[Archie]

Sorry, but I gotta ask...

Are you gonna be a dental floss tycoon?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSsCU1Dym-Y


--DD

"I'm moving to Montana soon,
yippee hi-ho kayaaay!"

[bbrock]

OK Brent....I'll be watching your brake bleeding progress.

I will be doing the same thing next week I believe.
I've got one of those pressure brake bleeding systems, so hopefully there won't be any drama.
But these are 914 Porsches, eh?
What could possibly go wrong? Ha

I should probably add a link to the article I'm following from the brake guru himself: https://www.pmbperformance.com/gravity-bleed.html

Tubes are on and reservoir is filled. This is the first fresh fluid in the car in 35+ years! I'm actually skeptical that gravity bleed alone will work. I think I read somewhere that Eric recommends pressure bleeding for fresh, completely dry systems. I think I'll need to crack the lines around the MC to break vapor lock before the fluid will start moving through the lines. With the car up on the rotisserie, this will be pretty easy. Stay tuned. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[bbrock]

Sorry, but I gotta ask...

Are you gonna be a dental floss tycoon?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSsCU1Dym-Y


--DD

"I'm moving to Montana soon,
yippee hi-ho kayaaay!"

Where in Montana? You need to watch this for sure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyLMwzDR4qY

[bbrock]

Well okay. I'm kinda sold on this gravity bleed method! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) As expected, the MC was a little stubborn. The rear circuit flowed just fine and I'd say after 20 minutes of just sitting, I had fluid standing in the tubes at the calipers. I drummed on the calipers and regulator with a rubber mallet a bit to knock any air bubbles loose and left it sit.

The front circuit was a different story. It just didn't want to flow. I tried cracking the line where it exits the MC and pumping the pedal but no fluid would come out. I started panicking that the inlet tube was somehow clogged but verified that wasn't the case. Or maybe something was wrong with the MC. Finally, I hooked up a Mity-Vac to the front circuit outlet of the MC and pulled a vacuum. That did the trick to pull fluid through and break the air lock. After that, it was just sit and wait.

After shutting down the bleeders, I tested the peddle with my hand. It took a few pumps to push the pistons out, but it feels pretty good! I don't expect a really firm peddle until I've set the rear vent clearances, bedded the pads in, and bled the system again. But I have to say, I like how it feels and it was a pretty painless process. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[Superhawk996]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

Glad you and George have made up!

I had a couple of bad transactions back in the 80s but have had nothing but success on this recent project. One little thing got a little screwed up but it was made right after a few emails. I don't even know if it was George on the other end, it just got fixed with no drama.

I chalk it up to:
1). Cocaine, big hair, and pastel linen sport coats of the 80s.
2). Age. We are all a bit older, wiser, and maybe more patient now?

[bbrock]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

Glad you and George have made up!

I wouldn't go that far, but it's a start. I'm willing to believe people can change. I do appreciate the knowledge and help he brings to the forums and his positive contributions to the community.

[Superhawk996]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

I agree you got hammered way harder than I ever did. But as you state, he continues to contribute and has a passion for 914's.

Who else is still in business from the 80's?

I used to use Performance Products out of LA and liked them but they are long gone.

Stoddard - they don't seem to support 914's like they used to but not bad in anyway.

AASE but they have changed ownership if I recall. Still good folks though!

Wasn't there one called Automotion?

Plus who else had the foresight to buy a 916 back before they were loved. Gotta love that move.

[bbrock]

Got filler applied and sanded on the passenger side. Can't say I'm proud of these pics because I was envisioning a lot more bare metal showing after blocking the filler. The filler is a max of 1/16" deep except for one small area on the rear quarter where the filler is closer to 1/8." That was after spending probably 40 hours trying to straighten both quarters after all the cutting and welding. What can I say? I'm an amateur. It is still WAY better than most collision shops would do and far less filler than I took off the car.

I was surprised and a little disappointed to find the sail panel had a slight concavity to it from the stamping. I guess I should have spent some time prepping that panel to make sure it was flat before welding it on. Since my car will have painted sails, I didn't think I had a choice but to fill it. Again, it only took 1/16" to bring it true but I hate seeing all that filler over a brand new panel.





The rest of the afternoon will be spent tracking down a small brake fluid leak from the master cylinder area. I'll have to pull the gravel pan off to see exactly where. Hopefully, it is something simple. It could turn into a really bad day. What's worrisome is that I let the car sit overnight with fluid before putting the pan on, and there were no drips. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)