Hi Guys, I've been lurking here since last November and have enjoyed all the threads, especially the build threads. I am a retired Mechanic and shop owner . I got started in 1978 restoring VW Beetles. In 1981 I got a 1973 orange 914 rust bucket with a blown engine and a transmission with no first. I completely overhauled the mechanicals but had sagging issues so I got rid of the car but not the dream.
Last November I bought a 1973 Blue 914 from George that was hit light on all 4 corners.
Coming are some pics of the before and current work as soon as I figure it out.

We always like progress threads here!

And oh yea!

Here are some starting pics showing the damage.Click to view attachment Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment[attachmentid=446
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Wow, that looks like a big job. What is your plan? Might be a good excuse to go with fiberglass quarters.

That's the car you had in Florida. Nice to here it made it up to MN.

I may have parts for you very soon. I have a rear clip at Irv's house in the metro. (914coop)


I have a right good right fender too. Some of it may repair nicely though.

The previous pics were in Orlando, Fl. I towed the car to Minnesota about 2 weeks ago and have been working on it in my Austin, MN shop.
I spent a lot of time with the mo clamps pulling and working the metal in order to see what panels will need replacing and what can be salvaged.
Here is the right front straightened and dolleyed:
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More pics of the front end, replacement fender piece, and trunk area.
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Awesome

Hi Rick,
Thanks for the offer.
And the help earlier.
I have a left rear 1/4, a right front fender, and a left section.
I am a welder/ fabricator and am in the process of welding the left section in this week.
I am trying to decide whether to section the right front or to install the complete fender. I will see how the section turns out on the left one.
I pulled the rear quarters out by the taillights and they came out nicely. The taillights fit now and the trunk lid gaps are real close.
A couple thousand more hours and i may be close.

Stock all the way. The car only has 69,000 miles on it and is mostly original.

Some more pics
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Pretty color and Pedrininis!

Please save it!

I will. It's all I can think about.
It's my summer project.
I want it back in Florida next winter.

Let me know when you are back in Orlando!

Here are some pics of my practice welding. I was a little rusty.
Sort of in order from worst to best.Click to view attachment Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment[attachmentid=446
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And a butt weld on a piece of fender.
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The welder I'm using.
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Some pictures of the spot weld cuts, the cutter, and some other tools I'm using.Click to view attachment Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment[attachmentid=446
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Niiice.

Looks like a pretty clean car. Nice find

Will do.

Great work!

Thanks for saving another one.

John

Keep us posted on the progress (and regress) and welcome to the world

Awesome!!

Ummm... this is his build thread Q. Pretty sure he's saving it.

See what happens when you have a keg and a tap in your garage...

I know, I was providing encouragement!

See what happens when you start hanging out too much with the whine and cheese crowd!

So much fun when the shooting starts

Send beer and we're all good.

My beer is keg only at this time.

I do have a conversion gun thing-a-mabob that will allow me to bottle. Haven't done much with it yet.

OK, we will stop hijacking this thread... sorry Jmkorfha!

Back to pics and your restoration...

I agree, most of that could be repaired other than the right fender, at least you have great metal to work with, very solid. Good luck

I have consulted with many different people, some better than others. The opinions I tend to agree with were that all except the right fender could be straightened. The kicker, though, is the estimated hours were adding up so rapidly that cut and replace became more appealing from a cost standpoint.
I do wreck repairables all the time and it's almost always cheaper to replace rather than straighten. The welded on fenders are different, of course. I have opted to do the work I'm comfortable with because I don't add up my hours and I can get as picky as I want.
When I'm done with the welding, I'll have a real bodyman smooth and paint.

Watching this closely. I have two corners to do myself now!

Worked today on the front fender mount areas.
Also patched a rust hole on the left fender section and fitted it to the car.
I used Tig for the patching.Click to view attachment Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment[attachmentid=446
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Before picture:
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Mad skills Jason.

Nice work.

Thanks Guys!
I spent a couple days cleaning the shop
Over the weekend I spent a few hours getting the right headlight assembly hole square so the light goes up and down properly. Gee-ometry.
Today I did the fitting for the Left fender and I'm ready to start welding.
I'm out of weld through primer so I quit for the day.
Here are some pictures of the fender:

Everyone should have an old VW transmission as a shop doorstop.Click to view attachment