Rocker covers. I'm a bad, bad boy!, The crud chronicle Options

[Pat Garvey]

Could have posted this elsewhere I guess, but thought it might be better served here.

In 1974, I decided that it made good sense to annually removed the rocker covers to clean out the accumulated crap that absorbs moisture & causes rust. Did so fervently until 1990 (the last time they were removed until today).

My 914 has accumulated a total of less than 4k miles since 1990, being relegated to "queen" status.

So, today, being bored, I pulled them. Not an easy task for an old fart in a 44 degree garage!

Good thing my 914 hasn't seen water since 1974. Don't know where the crud came from, but if water had been added to the mix I'd have had a problem.

Be warned guys, this accumulation can cause MAJOR problems when left to stew. Couple of screws, couple of driven out rivtets & you can be faced with ugly stuff.
Pat

[jonferns]

That's it Pat? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I still have to pull mine as I haven't done so, and to be honest I don't know if they've ever been off. How are you reattaching them, Tod's rivets?

Any pics of your concours clean longs? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

That's it Pat? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

I still have to pull mine as I haven't done so, and to be honest I don't know if they've ever been off. How are you reattaching them, Tod's rivets?

Any pics of your concours clean longs? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Jon,

Yeppir - Tod's rivets! Bought all I could get in white.

I'll get some pics of the longs up soon.
Pat

[scotty b]

Glad to see you working on it again Pat (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Johny Blackstain]

The pig is back! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

Yep, sometimes it takes a big kick in the ass - I can still do THAT to myself!

Have a potential buyer for the 73T, so it got the juices going again. But...it IS too fuching cold for my old joints, so don't expect any short term miracles.

Problem I have with the drivers' side cover is that there is a support pole in the way & the car is on stands. Got it off, but getting back on, with the pole in the way, won't be easy. Door is in the way.

Interesting thing is....one rocker (the pic) had all kinds of semi-metallic crap packed in it. Other side? Almost nothing! Wierd!

Still, feels good to do something!

Pat

[davesprinkle]

Yep, sometimes it takes a big kick in the ass - I can still do THAT to myself!

Have a potential buyer for the 73T, so it got the juices going again. But...it IS too fuching cold for my old joints, so don't expect any short term miracles.

Problem I have with the drivers' side cover is that there is a support pole in the way & the car is on stands. Got it off, but getting back on, with the pole in the way, won't be easy. Door is in the way.

Interesting thing is....one rocker (the pic) had all kinds of semi-metallic crap packed in it. Other side? Almost nothing! Wierd!

Still, feels good to do something!

Pat

The passenger side rocker always collects more crap than the driver side rocker. That's probably because the right side wheels are off in the gutter where all the road debris gets swept.

[Pat Garvey]

Yep, sometimes it takes a big kick in the ass - I can still do THAT to myself!

Have a potential buyer for the 73T, so it got the juices going again. But...it IS too fuching cold for my old joints, so don't expect any short term miracles.

Problem I have with the drivers' side cover is that there is a support pole in the way & the car is on stands. Got it off, but getting back on, with the pole in the way, won't be easy. Door is in the way.

Interesting thing is....one rocker (the pic) had all kinds of semi-metallic crap packed in it. Other side? Almost nothing! Wierd!

Still, feels good to do something!

Pat

The passenger side rocker always collects more crap than the driver side rocker. That's probably because the right side wheels are off in the gutter where all the road debris gets swept.

Excellent point!

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

Any pics of your concours clean longs? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

[Johny Blackstain]

The passenger side rocker always collects more crap than the driver side rocker. That's probably because the right side wheels are off in the gutter where all the road debris gets swept.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) 100% & would presume they have the opposite problem in the UK.

Dave, is your avatar a 1975 Honda CB400F? If so, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)!

[davesprinkle]

The passenger side rocker always collects more crap than the driver side rocker. That's probably because the right side wheels are off in the gutter where all the road debris gets swept.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) 100% & would presume they have the opposite problem in the UK.

Dave, is your avatar a 1975 Honda CB400F? If so, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thumb3d.gif)!

Good eye, Johny. (Although it's a '76, not a '75...) Another point of contention between me and the budgeting department...

[Johny Blackstain]

Good eye, Johny. (Although it's a '76, not a '75...) Another point of contention between me and the budgeting department...

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/hijacked.gif) , sorry Pat.
Dave- I used to own a 75. I still think it's the best "little" bike ever made. 408cc's of pure power & what a nimble ride!

OK, hijack over (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Tom_T]

Back to Rockers.....

The pic below shows the Passenger-side Jack Point, for which I need to pull off the rockers & replace the tubes & bases on both sides as I;m doing my other body & paint work for my 73 2L resto. I'm sure they're crudded up inside too, since they may never have been off - or at least the last possible time was my 5/80 resto/repaint.....maybe?

Ergo, I'm going to have to pull the rockers off, and being an early production `73 (9/72), it has the aluminum thresholds (I'll post that in a post to follow this one).

I've seen reference to "proper rivets" elsewhere on these forums, and my original/OEM rivets appear to be aluminum or silver metal of some sort, and possibly painted black.

So what are the proper rivets & where can I get some? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

PASSENGER SIDE JACK POINT DAMAGED FROM USE

[Tom_T]

Back to Rockers.....

The pic below shows the Passenger-side Jack Point, for which I need to pull off the rockers & replace the tubes & bases on both sides as I;m doing my other body & paint work for my 73 2L resto. I'm sure they're crudded up inside too, since they may never have been off - or at least the last possible time was my 5/80 resto/repaint.....maybe?

Ergo, I'm going to have to pull the rockers off, and being an early production `73 (9/72), it has the aluminum thresholds (I'll post that in a post to follow this one).

I've seen reference to "proper rivets" elsewhere on these forums, and my original/OEM rivets appear to be aluminum or silver metal of some sort, and possibly painted black.

So what are the proper rivets & where can I get some? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

PASSENGER SIDE JACK POINT DAMAGED FROM USE

HERE'S A DETAIL OF THE THRESHOLD WITH SCREW AT RIGHT & SIDE OF RIVET ON LEFT

[Tom_T]

Okay.....now I'm going to add 2 possibly dumb questions/requests to my query above.

1st - since we should be taking these suckers off occasionally to inspect/clean-out, and pop rivets are not the proper fastener in such an application - is there another acceptable small bore sheet metal screw (such as the one on my pic above at the threshold interior - which could be used in place of the rivets without degrading the 914's value?

To clarify - I'm not asking about show car concours points getting "correct", since I'm not that anal & just want to restore my 73-2L in such a way that is is correct but servicable for my own use, and to maintain it at the high end of collector car value (i.e.: NOT a garage maven, but a clean & nice occasional driver).


2nd - I just crawled under to look it over & (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) do you do to remove those rockers safely without doing more damage to anything else in the bodywork!?

Could somebody pleez post a step by step with proper tools needed list on "How To" - preferably with pix, or direct me to where it is already on the forums if I missed it????

I think I read that Pat drills his out or something - but before I start (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) I want some direction on how to delicately & safely undertake this task?????

[Pat Garvey]

Okay.....now I'm going to add 2 possibly dumb questions/requests to my query above.

1st - since we should be taking these suckers off occasionally to inspect/clean-out, and pop rivets are not the proper fastener in such an application - is there another acceptable small bore sheet metal screw (such as the one on my pic above at the threshold interior - which could be used in place of the rivets without degrading the 914's value?

To clarify - I'm not asking about show car concours points getting "correct", since I'm not that anal & just want to restore my 73-2L in such a way that is is correct but servicable for my own use, and to maintain it at the high end of collector car value (i.e.: NOT a garage maven, but a clean & nice occasional driver).


2nd - I just crawled under to look it over & (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) do you do to remove those rockers safely without doing more damage to anything else in the bodywork!?

Could somebody pleez post a step by step with proper tools needed list on "How To" - preferably with pix, or direct me to where it is already on the forums if I missed it????

I think I read that Pat drills his out or something - but before I start (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) I want some direction on how to delicately & safely undertake this task?????

Ok, let's figure out what you want to do first.

Do you want to remove the rocker covers first, or are you more concerned with the rivets (yes, they are available here)?

Now, let's discuss my "drilling out" the rivets. This was before Tod914 saved me/us, by having the original style rivets remade. Yes, for a period of time I used metal rivets. They weren't correct & made rocker cover removal more difficult. Tod914 made that problem go away & I bought as many as he could supply for my year 914.

Removing the rocker covers is pretty starightforward, if you have plastic rivets in place. Same for you, since you have screws in place (don't recommend this practice, but it's your 914).

On each rocke cover, there is a rear and forward screw, with attached plasric bushing. There are two more screwd in the central part of the rocker. All of these are underneath. Remove them all & the panle will "float", yet not be ready to remove.

Next, you must remove the rivets (by punching them out with a punch) or, if you have replaced them with metal rivets, drilling them out with a micro bit (so as to not damage the holes). If you're using screws, simpley removed them. The rocker cover should now be easilly removed.

You'll probably get a lot of junk that falls out from behind - you know, the crud that holds moisture. Get rid of it. And, clean the whole rocker assembly of all crap and crud.

You already know that your jack posts are toast. Hell, they almost look pornographic! get new jack posts & spurs & have them welded in, while you're cleaning crud. Doesn't cost all that much.

After that, button it all up with new fasters & Tod's rivets. You're good to go for several years.

Pat

[tod914]

Thanks for the plug Pat, and still have plenty left. Glad you got your snout back in the feeder so to speak. Don't forget about zone 1.

[Tom_T]

Thanks for the plug Pat, and still have plenty left. Glad you got your snout back in the feeder so to speak. Don't forget about zone 1.

Thanx Tod,

...so black, white or silver? ...are they plastic, or did I misunderstand? How many will I need for say 2 changes both sides (1 for back-up) & how much coin?

By any chance do you also have those little back "doughnut" spacers for the rockers'& valences" attachment screws' spacing? ...or know of a source?

Details pleeze! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[dcheek]

All this talk about rivets reminds me of a conversation I've had with Tod about what are correct for my car. I've owned it since day one and the are aluminum not plastic. I've never remove the rockers completely, though I have removed the screws underneath and let all the debris fall out. Not as thorough as what Pat has done but every time I try to do the "right" thing I end up messing something else up or breaking a NLA part or two.

Dave

[tod914]

Dave my 74 also has the metal rivets in the rockers. The plastic seem to be for the threshold plates. I haven't searched for alum. replacement rivets. I suppose I could try to find the "correct" replacement if there was enough interest. Being Porsche superceeds parts from time to time, I doubt it should be an issue for an event being they are referencing the clear plastic ones now. Seems very few cars have the metal ones left in the rockers. Pat do you recall if yours were originally metal?
Tom, they are 20 cents per rivet. I have white and black available. Think Porsche wants like a $1.40 each, for their clear ones. I know George at AA has the hardware you are looking for in a kit, which includes those rubber bushings. If your 73 has the alum. threshold plates, you would want white rivets for the those. If black plastic, then black. Your call on the rockers. Do you remember what was originally on there? We haven't had anyone chime in as to what was on the earlier cars. It's unclear in the Johnson book.