Bluey the $400 Porsche Options

[Olympicblue73]

Hello everyone! This whole thing might seem familiar to some of you since I posted about this car a few years ago, but I lost motivation and I feel like starting a fresh thread is a good idea. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

So, this will be my project thread from here on out!

Here’s the story from my post 2 years ago for those of you who didn't see:

“Hello everyone! I’d like to introduce myself: I’m Cian, and I am a high school senior college sophomore 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 buying the exact car I gawked at throughout childhood was a dream come true.

I inquired (without my parents permission 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 three 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.”

Now, two years on, I have finally begun major work on my car- better late than never! I have discovered that the motor is most likely water damaged and is probably in need of a rebuild, forcing me to drop the engine, a job that I was terrified of two years ago. I will send the powertrain over to Russ Kelso and his team at PMCI INC where they will do the necessary work to make it run. I actually laughed out loud when I read “minimal rust” which has to be one of the biggest understatements of all time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

Plan

- Fix structural rust (unsafe to drive at the moment)
- Engine rebuild
- New fuel and brake lines
- Clean fuel tank
- 5 lug swap with new brakes (maybe 911 front struts)
- Install authentic 5 lug Fuchs
- Try not to damage original paint

I hope to make this a weekend driver that I can take to Cars and Coffee and other similar events. This is going to be a big project, but am excited to see this car back on the road! Here’s some photos of the turd for you all: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stromberg.gif)