Fred's Backyard LE Restoration Options

[friethmiller]

Karmann Tag Install (6/14/2026):

A fun little, tedious task! Before I could remount the doors, this tag needed to be installed on A-pillar. The trick is to use a small drill bit to just barely open one of the corner holes so you can more easily drive one of these small "tacks" through the plate into the car. With badge now on the car, this frees up a hand so you can hold the tacks with the needle-nose pliers and lightly tap the remaining 3 in place. This task is a PITA but totally worth it. It's details like this that make the rebuild fun, IMO (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[friethmiller]

Odds and Ends (6/14/2026):

I didn't have a full day today so I decided to get some things ready for next weekend. First order of business was to install the doors to get them out of the shed and hopefully get the car off of the "cart". My access under the car with the supporting bars and rear suspension made it impossible to get into the engine bay. With the rear tires finally on the car with the long awaited lug nuts and covers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) (don't ask), I started by jacking up the back of the cart and sliding in the wheel cribs. Easy enough. Next, after installing the doors I jacked up the front of the car and used the wheel cribs to support the weight while I removed the front wheel assembly. With the front of the cart and all of the support bars removed, I then lowered the car onto jack stands till the front suspension is ready to go on (later this summer).







Things are rolling along. So glad to be off that cart.


BONUS Pics!!

With new base and clear coat on-hand, I was also finally able to repaint the light covers. This had been on my list for a while. I used a screen tent to keep most of the insects out of the paint. This time things turned out fine. Till next weekend. Cheers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Jack Standz]

Transmission Refresh (6/7 - 6/13/2026):


With the input shaft seal replaced, I then flipped the transmission and pulled the shifter out of the body. I took a break from the sun and went into the equally hot garage to drive the pin out of the shifter arm. This went smoothly and I was able to replace the seal, the o-ring on the back of the shift plate and used a paper gasket on the assembly when I reassembled it back on the transmission.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Hi Fred,

Nice work and you're making very good progress.

You mentioned that you installed the gasket on your 901. If you mean you put a gasket underneath the shift console, that's not where that gasket was designed to go. It' for a tail-shift 901 transmission. The side-shift 901 transmission only uses an o-ring on the shift console.

Not sure if this will cause any problems, but either way, FYI.

[Montreal914]

Very nice progress!

Woohoo, the car is now on jackstands!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) ...on its way down. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sunglasses.gif)

...this tag needed to be installed on A-pillar. ...It's details like this that make the rebuild fun, IMO (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

Moments of reward after the amount of work! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Question on the tag: These "tacks" simply push in? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
Available from regular sources?

[friethmiller]

Hi Fred,

Nice work and you're making very good progress.

You mentioned that you installed the gasket on your 901. If you mean you put a gasket underneath the shift console, that's not where that gasket was designed to go. It' for a tail-shift 901 transmission. The side-shift 901 transmission only uses an o-ring on the shift console.

Not sure if this will cause any problems, but either way, FYI.

Good to know. I was a little unsure since there wasn’t one there from before. I’ll remove it next chance I get. Shouldn’t be too difficult.

Thanks!

[friethmiller]

Question on the tag: These "tacks" simply push in? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
Available from regular sources?

Thanks! Yeah, the tacks came with the repo tag that I believe I purchased from Carbone.

The tolerances are really tight with the tacks. I’m just opening up the hole on one just a bit to get the damn thing on the car. It’s a “ not enough hands” situation.