Resurrecting a Bumblebee and me, A slackers attempt at keeping Pandora in the box Options

[KELTY360]

So it's time to get off my ass and deal with this rare gem that has wandered into my garage. Much to the skepticism of some, it's an original 21,000 mile LE that was parked by the original owner in 1988 and didn't move til his heir's sold the car and the new owner moved it from Honolulu to Pt. Townsend, WA in late summer 2022. My somewhat accidental purchase is documented in a previous thread: Low mileage LE?

For those who don't know me, I'm a longtime 914 believer since purchasing a Sunflower Yellow 1.7 brand new in 1973. I've since owned a variety of these little cars, currently holding a '74 2.0 and the LE. I've also encountered a couple of major oral surgeries over the last year that have put me in a state of slow recovery that leads to my personal resurrection. I didn't really intend to buy the LE but that ship has sailed and I'm trying to bring it back to life for my own resurgence, with the help of some friends of course.

The car is very solid and straight with minimal corrosion, as verified by @Root_Werks and @Greenie . My plan at present is to get it sorted out mechanically and some cosmetics, without performing a complete restoration. I do not plan on keeping the car when the plan is done. So, anyone who's interested in a very original, documented and compete LE is welcome to contact me. In this thread I'll be posting a list of parts needed and pictures and descriptions of work planned or completed.

I'll end this long post with an obligatory pic so I don't get the dreaded TTIWWP emogi. Many more pics to follow as I progress.

[KELTY360]

I've hit the first crossroad in the LE resurrection. The front bumper had to come off because the frunk cable wouldn't operate; that's another story. My intent has been to repaint the bumpers, front valance and Mahles at the same time; leaving the rocker covers alone as they are in good shape and still have the original rivets. Some of the comments here have caused second thoughts about that plan. Here is the bumper off the car with the spoiler in the background.


As you can see there are spots of serious surface corrision.




I've soaked the nuts for the bumper top but when I went to remove them, the first one turned the stud along with the nut. I immediately stopped knowing I'd just pull the stud out of the rubber. The stud appears to be firmly rusted to the nut.


So my question is: do I just reattach the bumper and call the corrosion 'patina', or do I proceed with the plan to repair and paint the bumper and replace or repair the bumper top also? The bumper top is not pristine. It has light dimpling on the left end.