Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

12 Pages V  1 2 3 > »   
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> 1974 914 - Tig welding and Metalshaping saved it! Back on the road!
TRS63
post Feb 1 2021, 08:07 AM
Post #1


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 268
Joined: 14-September 20
From: Germany - Stuttgart
Member No.: 24,690
Region Association: Europe
Hello all,

member and owner of a 1974 1,8l since a few months, I still did not introduced myself.. now correcting it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

First about myself: I am a french guy living in Stuttgart, 32 years old, mechanical engineer but my real passions are metalshaping and aircooled VWs and Porsche (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

After dreaming about a 914 since years, I decided end of last year that it was time to fulfill the dream and after seeing a few 914s, I bough that one.

About the car: originally from the US (sadly I know nothing about its history there), it is a 1974 1,8l 914 originally phoenix red. It was sometimes repainted, before 1991 when it was imported to the UK. It ran there until 2009, where it found its way back to Germany. And since october with me!

It is far from perfect but a good driver, which was my goal, as I want to enjoy it on the road during the restoration of my karmann ghia (for the curious: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic...&highlight= ).

my plan:
-drive drive drive drive (made 1000miles the first month with it (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) )
-in the future: repair the rust, paint it original color back, improve the handling (it still has no sway bars, shocks are quite old, frame stiffener will be ordered,..), some interior modification,.. goal is to keep it usable on the street, while lightening it where possible and putting some more power (I am in love with the sound of a 6 but might keep it a big 4 for weight and legal reasons..).

Some pictures:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188443.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188445.2.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188445.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188446.4.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188446.5.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188447.6.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188447.7.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188447.8.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188448.9.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188448.10.png)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612188448.11.png)

cheers

Antoine
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
JeffBowlsby
post Feb 1 2021, 09:34 AM
Post #2


914 Wiring Harnesses
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,201
Joined: 7-January 03
From: San Ramon CA
Member No.: 104
Region Association: None
Nice looking 914 Antoine. All those mods are a slippery slope. Maybe just enjoy the car for what it is for awhile after maintaining it to factory spec.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
mepstein
post Feb 1 2021, 09:41 AM
Post #3


914-6 GT in waiting
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 18,393
Joined: 19-September 09
From: Landenberg, PA/Wilmington, DE
Member No.: 10,825
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
TRS63
post Feb 1 2021, 09:58 AM
Post #4


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 268
Joined: 14-September 20
From: Germany - Stuttgart
Member No.: 24,690
Region Association: Europe
QUOTE(JeffBowlsby @ Feb 1 2021, 09:34 AM) *

Nice looking 914 Antoine. All those mods are a slippery slope. Maybe just enjoy the car for what it is for awhile after maintaining it to factory spec.


You are so right ! That is why my plan is just as you say : first enjoying it, correcting what is necessary on the way (car was driven maximum 300 miles a year the last 10 years..), learning how it is and what I feel I need in the future.. but let’s first enjoy!

Cheers

Antoine
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Shivers
post Feb 1 2021, 10:25 AM
Post #5


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,552
Joined: 19-October 20
From: La Quinta, CA
Member No.: 24,781
Region Association: Southern California
My 72 came without sway bars, and it was fun. Then I joined this group and the next thing I knew I had sway bars, front torsion bars, rear springs, brake mods, and shifting mods. The slope is slippery... But dang, it is a really freaking fun slope.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ndfrigi
post Feb 1 2021, 11:00 AM
Post #6


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,881
Joined: 21-August 11
From: Orange County
Member No.: 13,474
Region Association: Southern California
Congratulations Antoine @TRS63!
Nice start with 914! Looks nice and clean. Yes just drive it and enjoy while doing some upgrade one at a time!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
930cabman
post Feb 1 2021, 11:18 AM
Post #7


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,150
Joined: 12-November 20
From: Buffalo
Member No.: 24,877
Region Association: North East States
Welcome aboard, another fine craftsman in the ranks. Your work on the Ghia rocks!!
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
wes
post Feb 1 2021, 11:37 AM
Post #8


wes
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,577
Joined: 8-December 07
From: Ukiah Ca
Member No.: 8,436
Region Association: Northern California
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) yes drive drive drive enjoy!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
wonkipop
post Feb 1 2021, 06:17 PM
Post #9


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,535
Joined: 6-May 20
From: north antarctica
Member No.: 24,231
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
nice car TRS63

love the bug in the background.

surprised it does not have sway bars.
i once got told all 74 1.8s & 2.0s came with sway bars.
(source my old mechanic way back in the early 90s in chicago).
an old wives tale?

wouldn't worry about the colour. $.
though i do like phoenix red since i got one, same as yours in that colour.

sway bars/shocks make a difference in the here and now.
not too hard to install. front one might need some holes drilled in the wheel wells or they might be already there. just redid all the suspension / sway bar bushings on mine and had the fuel tank out so eyeballed it all again. having all that back in order has made a night and day difference to the car.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
TRS63
post Feb 2 2021, 03:01 AM
Post #10


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 268
Joined: 14-September 20
From: Germany - Stuttgart
Member No.: 24,690
Region Association: Europe
Thanks to all of you for the kind answers and the warm welcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

@930cabman : thanks a lot, that's the kind of feedback that motivates me even more! I am only doing it as a hobby but enjoying it a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wub.gif)

@wonkipop : Thanks, the bug was my dailydriver for the last 4 years, and might become it again, well half time with the 914 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
it has no sway bars and no holes for it in the front, so I need to order all the parts and then plan one long weekend to remove the tank, clean everything, weld the sway supports front and back, and then mount everything. But no emergency, I learn to know the car as is and will improve it when time comes!

Speaking of what, I will share what I did in my first 2 months of ownership (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

I had once some water in due to the front seal being in bad condition.. so I changed the seal:
-before:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256454.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256455.2.jpg)

-and after:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256455.3.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256455.4.jpg)

and then I had the suspicion that water came under the "noise isolation" of the floor so startet to check:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256456.5.jpg)

and of course water under it:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256457.6.jpg)

so I removed it all (was already planned, to save some weight..):
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256457.7.jpg)

but luckily it was in good condition under it and only with some surface rust. So I just cleaned it, treated where there was surface rust:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256458.8.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256459.9.jpg)

and then a fresh coat of paint:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256459.10.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256459.11.jpg)

and the last step was removing the engine bay isolation, as it's so heavy and prone to keep humidity. It was indeed not so nice:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256460.12.jpg)

so cleaned under it, remove the glue and a fresh coat of paint:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/www.thesamba.com-24690-1612256460.13.jpg)

Cheers

Antoine
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Arno914
post Feb 2 2021, 03:53 AM
Post #11


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 228
Joined: 13-May 20
From: near Frankfurt, Germany
Member No.: 24,260
Region Association: Germany
Bonjour Antoine,

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

Hope to see you on the autobahn this spring! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Looks like you have a real solid 914 there.

Arno
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
jhynesrockmtn
post Feb 2 2021, 08:39 AM
Post #12


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 271
Joined: 13-June 16
From: spokane wa
Member No.: 20,100
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Looks like a great car, congrats!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
krazykonrad
post Feb 2 2021, 08:58 AM
Post #13


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,058
Joined: 21-February 06
From: Canton, GA
Member No.: 5,610
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

A lot of my family lives in Korntal.

Konrad
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Root_Werks
post Feb 2 2021, 11:51 AM
Post #14


Village Idiot
*****

Group: Members
Posts: 8,001
Joined: 25-May 04
From: About 5NM from Canada
Member No.: 2,105
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Nice find! That is a clean 914 and you are doing well to preserve it.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ValcoOscar
post Feb 2 2021, 12:12 PM
Post #15


Garage Life
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,339
Joined: 19-November 13
From: SoCal: North OC
Member No.: 16,669
Region Association: Southern California
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

Antoine-
To an outsider, you just bought a used car. But to us here on 914World, you bought much more than a car. You bought an addiction. Ask me how I know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Congrats on your new 914, it’s a beauty.

Thrilled when a young fellow like you takes the plunge.

Oscar
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
FRUNKenstein
post Feb 2 2021, 03:18 PM
Post #16


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 104
Joined: 25-May 20
From: Overland Park, KS
Member No.: 24,308
Region Association: Upper MidWest
Stuttgart? Well, you picked the right town to be a Porsche fan in!

Beautiful car. Congratulations & enjoy!!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
brcacti
post Feb 2 2021, 03:46 PM
Post #17


1974 914 1.8
***

Group: Members
Posts: 674
Joined: 17-July 19
From: PHX AZ 60 miles south
Member No.: 23,302
Region Association: Southwest Region
Looks pretty good congratulations on your purchase mine is also a 74 1.8. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Camaro Mike
post Feb 2 2021, 08:24 PM
Post #18


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 86
Joined: 19-December 14
From: SW Chicagoish
Member No.: 18,234
Region Association: Upper MidWest
Great looking car! Congratulations!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
TRS63
post Feb 3 2021, 03:17 AM
Post #19


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 268
Joined: 14-September 20
From: Germany - Stuttgart
Member No.: 24,690
Region Association: Europe
thanks to all of you for the warm welcome!

@Arno914 : sure hope to see you! But I avoid the Autobahn, too boring..you can find me on small curvy roads (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

@ValcoOscar : you are right, I already feel it..can't stay one week without driving it.. I am jumping in it every day without salt on the roads (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

@FRUNKenstein : you are right about the city..and it's not a coincidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goof.gif) I actually first moved here when I had to choose a city for the end of my study because of Stuttgart being the city of Porsche (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Well, next step on the 914: all shifting bushings, as they all are terribly destroyed/never been changed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Antoine
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
wonkipop
post Feb 4 2021, 01:57 AM
Post #20


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,535
Joined: 6-May 20
From: north antarctica
Member No.: 24,231
Region Association: NineFourteenerVille
QUOTE(TRS63 @ Feb 3 2021, 03:17 AM) *

thanks to all of you for the warm welcome!

@Arno914 : sure hope to see you! But I avoid the Autobahn, too boring..you can find me on small curvy roads (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

@ValcoOscar : you are right, I already feel it..can't stay one week without driving it.. I am jumping in it every day without salt on the roads (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

@FRUNKenstein : you are right about the city..and it's not a coincidence (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goof.gif) I actually first moved here when I had to choose a city for the end of my study because of Stuttgart being the city of Porsche (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Well, next step on the 914: all shifting bushings, as they all are terribly destroyed/never been changed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Antoine


interesting you are a mech engineer.

certain cars are engineer's cars i have noticed.
not than i am an engineer, but i sort of wanted to be one a long time back and deviated slightly. so instead i have just collaborated with one in my work for 30 years.

my engineer mate's taste in cars is interesting in a monocular sort of way.
SAAB, SAAB, SAAB, SAAB.......and now he doesn't know what to do since its all over.
he started with a SAAB 99 EMS way back when.

when the renault clio 172s and 182s came out in aus, it was engineers who picked them all up. that was how i found out how good those things were. went to lunch with an engineer in brisbane. that was a great ride to lunch that one. went out and got a 172 straight away. still got it.

a lot of engineers also drove citroens. how i got my intro to those cars.
have a citroen xm v6 stashed away thanks to an engineer.
a 914 is a walk in the park to work on compared to that.
but when it goes,....its an engineering masterpiece.
i've notice these days that a lot of ex mechanics now own the xm in its late middle age phase. you need to be very handy with a spanner and have time to keep one on the road.

as is the 914.
a 1.8 914 in american spec is a radical piece of kit on all fronts.
forward thinking stuff. maybe not fast (in a straight line). but its german thinking at its best.
apart from the rust problem.
(back about 30 years ago when i first had the 914 in australia, the only folks who offered me enthusiast comments were.......engineers - the rest of them were telling me to park my vw somewhere else).

you are going to enjoy this car.
its got everything that is good about a bug and its got everything thats bad about a bug fixed. not that bugs are bad. i had one just like yours as my first car.
powder blue 64.

whats the vintage on your bug mate. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

12 Pages V  1 2 3 > » 
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 6th June 2023 - 06:01 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2023  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...