Pseudo 914 build thread Options

[Zaffer]

So I will attempt to document my build thread here, but I’m terrible with keeping up with things and life gets in the way.

It’s a ‘75 that I originally bought in 1998 as I’ve always had a love of 914’s. I drove it for 2 years and in that time, had it painted Ford Corona Yellow and had the front markers removed. Work was so-so, but I was 18 and didn’t know better. Engine developed a rod knock and the car sat for another 2 years as I was a poor college student.

Finally got another engine which caught fire 5 minutes after getting it inspected. Insurance took the car as I needed the money more at the time. About 5 years later (2009) I bought it back as the guy who bought it from the insurance company contacted me about parts for the car, but I had sold them when my wife and I moved to St. Kitts for her Vet school.

This is how the car sits now, which is how it was when I bought it:

My plan is to strip the body to a shell and repair any and all rust I find. Upon initial inspection, the worst seems to be the LF fender well and the right rocker/longitudinal. Any advice along the way would be appreciated, but it will be a slow process as I get little time to work on it with having 2 young kids and a 20 acre farm to repair.

[Zaffer]

Passenger longitudinal:

[Zaffer]

LF corner:

[Zaffer]

Passenger rocker:

[Zaffer]

Passenger sail panel:

[Zaffer]

I haven’t had a chance to dig into the extent of the rust in these areas, but I’m sure it’s worse than it looks. There are other rust areas, but they appear to be surface related. I still have more to strip off of the car to get it to bare shell status, so plenty of time for more surprises!

[Mikey914]

You are close to being torn down enough to do a rotisserie restoration. You can plan on the Hell hole, and some of the longs as well as the floor pan at the rear bulkhead.
This will be an extensive restoration. If you have or can learn some welding and metal fab skills this will be a chance to use them. You will put 1000 hrs into this.
I'm not trying to discourage you, but it will not be an easy task.

Good news you are in the right place. Many have done this, but the investment is a lot of time.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[76-914]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) That cancer in the sail panel sometimes extends down the door jamb to the sill. Im going thru minor rust repairs on my 76 currently. Nothing as major as your up against. Pete at Restoration Design has the quality replacement pieces you will need. There are some other brands but they have some issues as others will attest to. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Zaffer]

The hell hole was repaired a couple of years before I bought it in 1998, but the other rust is most likely cancer that was not repaired when the hell hole was. The hell hole looks great at this time.

It looks like the sail panel area was repaired with body filler to make it look like it was fine. I'll dig some more and see what it looks like.

I'm prepared to put in the time, but it might be a little here and a little there. The car has been sitting for 13 years without anything being done, so any progress at this point is better than nothing. I kept going back and forth about doing a tear down or just driving it, but since I'm not planning on selling the car again, I've decided to put in the time and make it a nice car again.

I do plan on performing the welding myself and have some experience, but it's been 20-odd years since I last welded. It'll be a learning curve for sure, but I'm willing and it'll make me know the car that much better.

I already have Restoration Design saved in my bookmarks and am already starting to build a shopping list of panels. Some areas I may just patch, but it all depends on what I find.

I made some progress today with removing the headlight assemblies and pulling the wiring harness back behind the firewall. I don't know if I'll rotisserie the car at this point. I may just try and do the work on the dollies and body cart, but this is a fluid scheme and things may/most likely will change.

I appreciate the help and encouragement and I plan on posting as I make progress.

[krazykonrad]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

You've certainly come to the right place. Let us know how we can help.

[Shivers]

Very cool you being able to get your old car back. Makes it more of a resurrection than a restoration. Lots of great info and talented gearheads here. I like the deleted side marker look. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

[Dion]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png) Best of luck. You’ll get it done. Lots of support here. Seems like you have a plan already. Only advice I can give is clear out all the rust till you find the sound metal.
See if it needs a patch or requires a replacement panel. I was on a similar road 6 years ago. Learn as you go. Nice you have welding experience already. A big plus there!
Look forward to seeing your progress.
Cheers, Dion

[Zaffer]

Definitely planning on keeping them deleted. I was never big on the factory side markers. I've thought about putting some early style Fiat 124 markers there, but I'll most likely just keep the deletes in place.

The car was my daily for 2 years when I first got it and I'm sure driving it in all weather conditions did nothing to help keep the rust at bay. It's a daunting task for sure, but it'll get there.

[Root_Werks]

If the hell hole was repaired properly, that's a pretty big piece of work. Other rust areas look fairly common = can get replacement panels.

If you have time, fix it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

Cool story to know the 914 came back around to you. I would have loved to purchased most any of my old 914's back, but couldn't make anything work. Had to start fresh.

[Zaffer]

A couple years back I had the chance to buy my old ‘83 GTi back, but it was a shell and in worse shape than before. I happened on it just knocking around Craigslist and recognized the RR of the car. If I hadn’t already had my other projects, I would have bought it.

I feel lucky about getting the 914 back because I regretted selling it quickly after it happened. I swore I wouldn’t get rid of it again. This car (914) is also the one I had when I first met my now wife, so there’s that.

Had a little time today so I removed the front and rear bumpers and headlight assemblies.

Underside of the rear trunk is in really good shape as well. A LITTLE surface rust, but no actual rust issues! I also haven’t found any obvious issues a prior accident damage….yet.

I never realized how HEAVY those rubber bumper assemblies were! I’m strongly considering backdating the bumpers, if I can find any in any sort of decent shape. I do actually like the look of the rubber bumpers, but the weight! What’s the weight difference between chrome and rubber assemblies anyway?

[Shivers]

A couple years back I had the chance to buy my old ‘83 GTi back, but it was a shell and in worse shape it than before. I happened on it just knocking around Craigslist and recognized the RR of the car. If I hadn’t already had my other projects, I would have bought it.

I feel lucky about getting it back because I regretted selling it quickly after it happened. I swore I wouldn’t get rid of it again. This car is also the one I had when I first met my now wife, so there’s that.

I got mine when it was ten years old, it was out of my hands for a few years. I got so depressed I had to get it back. My brother had it and didn't tough it, so I got lucky too.

[Zaffer]

Question: while I’m planning on taking it down to a shell, would it be worthwhile removing the windshield and rear glass? I know the windshield is compression fit with the seal, but I’ve never removed this type of windshield and don’t want to risk breaking it. Isn’t the rear glass glued in?

I ask not only for the above reason but I don’t see any rust around these areas.

[Shivers]

Question: while I’m planning on taking it down to a shell, would it be worthwhile removing the windshield and rear glass? I know the windshield is compression fit with the seal, but I’ve never removed this type of windshield and don’t want to risk breaking it. Isn’t the rear glass glued in?

I ask not only for the above reason but I don’t see any rust around these areas.

They used a butyl rubber as a seal. Not much compression. Rear glass is usually ready to pop out. The front there are clips that hold the molding around the glass. You can cut these with a razor knife and remove molding. A guitar string string will saw through the butyl rubber around the windscreen. Be careful with pressure against the glass, I bet someone has made a video

[Cairo94507]

Never heard in 914 discussions: "Yeah, I wish I would have kept the BUB's." I believe the BUB's are about 70 pounds and the early bumpers are about 10 pounds. Now is the time to make that improvement. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Zaffer]

Never heard in 914 discussions: "Yeah, I wish I would have kept the BUB's." I believe the BUB's are about 70 pounds and the early bumpers are about 10 pounds. Now is the time to make that improvement. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Yeah, but then comes the expense! I did a quick search and it’d be about $500-$700 min for anything approaching decent (dented, rust through in spots, peeling chrome, etc). I’ll keep an eye out in case something comes along, though.