New to 914s and 914 world Options

[Olympicblue73]

Hello everyone! I’d like to introduce myself: I’m Cian, and I am a high school senior and a car fanatic who lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In October of 2019 I purchased this ‘73 914 2.0L in Olympic Blue from my neighbor across the street. I have always wanted a 914 and finding one in a backyard about 100 feet away was a dream come true.

I inquired (without my parents permission (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) ) and the owner and I met up the following week. He knew quite a bit about 914s, and he loved the car, but it was obviously time to let it go. He left it under a tree, and it was covered in dust and rotting leaves. However, under the filth, it was in pretty good shape overall, with minimal rust and dry rot. The dash was not cracked (!) and at least the front of the car could be salvaged paint-wise. He said that it has dual Weber carbs, and the engine was rebuilt a few years before it was parked (sometime around 1998.) he said the carburetors were in dire need of a rebuild, and I should replace the fuel lines as well. He also said it has minor rust issues (what abandoned 914 doesn’t??)

I asked about the price, thinking that I couldn’t possibly afford it. I ended up buying it for 400 bucks, complete, with a clean title. One and a half years later, I am still just as thrilled with it as the day I got it- it is my prized possession, and the fact that I got such a nice 914 for that cheap just makes me even happier.

One problem though- I have zero mechanical skill or experience whatsoever. We used to have a beetle, a karmann ghia, and a Volvo 240 wagon, but I was way too young to experience any of those.

I’ve started work on many aspects of the car, just haven’t finished them.

I’ve removed the carbs, but the passenger side one is seized!! Purchased rebuild kit.

I’ve removed the fuel tank (full of Porsche poo and sludge) and cleaned it out.

“While I was in there” I removed the lines from the tunnel.

Cleaned out the heater box and deep cleaned the entire car.

I just need help now figuring out what to do. I want to try and get it started without removing the engine, but I understand that it is a necessary evil of 914 ownership. I want to eventually do a 5 lug conversion, and get some nice replica Fuchs, and just have a fun car to go on spirited drives in from time to time.

In this forum I’m looking for any good tips, ideas of what to do, general sage advice, and a forgiving community if I end up asking really dumb questions about the car (I know I will.) I feel sorry for not joining this community sooner- I knew you were here, just shy (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

So, I took the plunge- and the plunge is a hell of a lot deeper than I thought. Anyway, thank you for reading my tome... Nice to meet you 914 world!

Included are pictures of the little beast including one showing how it looked when I got it... doesn’t work right now but at least its good looking yard art (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)