What have I gotten myself into, New old 914 Options

[Root_Werks]

Rick,

Given your 914 is a 1975 and most likely silver, should have looked something like this when it left the factory. The bumpers are rubber covers over a steal beam:

[bigkensteele]

Mine was built in November and is 5767 so around 1700 were built between mine and yours. It is indeed a '75.

Good luck with the build!

BTW, your motor is most likely a 1.8 but could be a 2.0.

Oh, and yes, I backdated my bumpers. I have some really nice late ones for your car if you want/need them. Free if you want to come get them.

[Rick H.]

I went over to do some of the dirty work today. Double layer rubber gloves and a mask, plenty of ventilation, i fished out most of the rats nest. filled two WalMart bags. What was scary in a Halloween kind of way were the bones that came out. Not mouse bones but much bigger, like a rabbit got stuck in there or a cat or something. Now for the vacuum cleaner.....

Rick H.

[ClayPerrine]

The engine is definitely a 1.8L. The oil filler cap gives it away. That style cap was only used with L-Jet injection, and that was only used on the 1.8L engines. The 2.0 had a completely different injection and a completely different oil filler cap.

[wonkipop]

The sticker in the door frame says it was built in October of 1974. For an American car that would make it a 75 but for German built cars I don't know how they date them by model year. If it was built in 74 does that automatically make it a 74 or that late in the year would it be a 75? I'm not finding anything else to date this car.

Rick H.

germans followed the USA automakers conventions on model years.
new model year starts after summer break of calendar year before hand.
for a 75 usually around august 74 until end of june approx of 75.
yours is a 75.

the model year is also indicated in VIN.
third number.
your vin third number is 5. for 75.

[Rick H.]

I thought I would come back finally. Between rain and stupidly hot weather I haven't done much more to this project. I did get rid of the mouse house and did not require hospitalization afterward. Found tires also. I've been working on the boot covers and doing some sanding because I could do it in airconditioned comfort. They are both ready to prime and that leads to my next question. Eastwood sells a two part automotive grade epoxy paint in any color you can think of and is probably where the finish color will come from on this car. I'm not a master painter but I'm pretty decent and feel I can do this one well. I also have a friend who is very good with it. I can get this paint in spray cans and it comes in a primer so my question is, would this be a good primer for use on this project? They claim it is automotive quality and I've used the clear gloss on some other projects with excellent results. Any reason why not? My biggest reason for considering this is to avoid using an airbrush and all the cleanup required. I'll use the best equipment I can find for color and clear coat but hope I can use spray cans for primer.

Rick H.

[Rick H.]

Next question: I've been working on sanding the surface rust from both of the boot covers. Too hot to do anything else. It's going well. It's almost time to prime both surfaces and both have been removed from the car. It would be easy to keep going and prime them and I've given thought to using Spray Max from Eastwood. It comes as a rattle can and is an automotive grade epoxy. I've used it before on some other projects not related to cars and the gloss clear is superb. Painting isn't really my game and fortunately I have a friend who is very good at it when he's available. When it's time for color proper painting equipment will be used but for now is there any reason not to use the Spraymax primer? Thanks.

Rick H.