Thanks!

It Happens! Things are always getting away from me. I know I'm not alone and sure like when folks like you weigh in. Good luck on them seats!

Finished the Dash Pad Install

I would have to say it was not as bad as I expected but perhaps more involved than I thought it would be. There is a You Tube video out there where Brad Mayeur from 914 Ltd. installs a 914 Rubber dash. Watch it. One of the key things out of the video is you really don’t have to remove your gages by unplugging all the wires.

There IS another couple of good tips in there and that stubby wrench he uses. Get one. I happened to have a stubby set so that was a good thing. But you do not have to use the stubby as much as he does, I found you can access 6 of the 9 nuts with this set up or a combination of it, all ¼ inch drive with 13mm socket. This really is your best friend!
Click to view attachment

Before, obviously a big crack but there were several smaller ones I had not noticed as much until removed.
Click to view attachment

Go ahead and remove the visors it just makes removing the interior windshield side trim easier. The hardest nut I found to remove was the left one over the gage panel, just real tight space.
Click to view attachment

Disassembly. You HAVE TO remove the radio. Further complicating my remeoval was the PPO had installed a amp under the radio.
You DO NOT have to remove the glove box. I didn’t realize that until after I had removed the glove box door.
Click to view attachment

My disassembly looks worse because I still have my fuse panel dropped and don’t ask I don’t want to talk about.
Click to view attachment

Picture has blue tape roughly marking the location of the 9 nuts. Radio out Yes, glove box out No.
Click to view attachment

Done. Love it! Glad that one is now behind me! On to the next. Started on my frunk board thanks to Defianty inspiration.

Click to view attachment

Perfect!

Great job Jim....getting close!!!!

Dash looks very nice. Good work.

Well thank you! Thanks for weighing in!
Your post caused me to spend most of last night reading both your part one AND part 2 in their entirety! Yes, I have read parts of them before, but only parts, and I decided I wanted to take the time on your thread and start from the beginning and get the entire picture. Wow you my friend have been through a lot! And I was sorry to see some of your set backs, hell I'm sorry to see all your set backs and it makes mine seem rather simple in comparison. When it came time in part 2 for the entire front end to come back off I thought I had dozed off and somehow clicked back on part 1. Holy

Sure looks like it is now in the right hands and making good progress with NOS parts. I see that you have had tremendous support through the whole ordeal and that is fantastic. I will now follow closely your thread and wish you all the best in getting it completed!

Thanks Oscar!
Yes it is. Like I said a couple posts back, you know you are making progress when there are no more parts in the dining room!

Appreciate the support! Thanks

Happy with the results! (new dash pad) Kind of a pain but worth it!

I follow your thread and you are doing great fab work keep it up! Anybody that hasn't seen it is missing out.

Frunk!

Well Defianty showed off his new frunk board (below) so that got me going on mine. Thanks! Something I had thought about several times but just hadn't got to yet.
So now is a good time!

Here is Defianty’s inspiration board in his Frunk.
Click to view attachment

This is mine without:
Click to view attachment

I was actually able to somewhat re-use the one that came with the car which I learned on disassembly was actually a home built thing anyway. I started by using that board (well actually it was a 1/8” piece of flimsy melamine) as a template by removing the carpeting and modifying (sorry I forgot a before pic). Then when I had it to where it would fit with my oil cooler shroud (completed eons ago). I cut up piece of ¼” cabinet grade panel for the final product.
Click to view attachment

Began with a cutout for the spare tire bolt like Defianty has and then put it right back in as I realized the spare hold down bolt when turned sideways supplies additional support for the board inside the rim. Quarter inch is fairly sturdy so the jury is still out on whether to anchor it down as it seems to fit pretty well and I only see a car cover ever going there.
3M 90 spray glue and staples and I am a happy camper!. On to the next thing!

Click to view attachment

Nicely done my friend.

Excellent Jim, looks nice and tidy now. I can't wait to get mine covered in Perlon to finish it off.

Posted a separate thread looking to find out where people were mounting their fire extinguishers inside their interiors and learned a lot.

Check out that thread here http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=320030

Turns out I needed an education on fire extinguishers. There was a lot of really good information that is coming out of that thread and has changed my thinking completely. Some showed and recommended good places and even impressive on board systems but it was, IMHO, Coondog who provided an experienced perspective worth considering. I will add, not cheap extinguishers, but with what we have into these cars, well worth it.
This is the only BBQ I ever want to see

As a public service you should know, and it was mentioned on that thread, that plastic top/nozzle type extinguishers have been recalled and I had heard last week all the way back to 1973. You can get a free replacement. Crazy but true.
My Amazon order placed!


Here is Coondog's choices and location. Thanks! and I hope to post a similar picture in the 4 to 5 weeks it takes for them to arrive.
Click to view attachment

wow............that trunk

Seat Belts Finally!

Doesn't seem as though seat belts would be a very big deal but it kind of turned into one! When I bought this project, which I have mentioned a few times, it had been off the road over 20 years. It came with some very old and outdated shoulder harnesses. At first I thought I too would do shoulder harnesses, and someday that may still happen, but for now I just want to go with stock seat belts.

Seems simple enough. Right?

Actually I thought this issue was way behind me when I bought what I thought were 914 belts 2 years ago from a buddy of mine. I came to find out recently, when trying to install them, they were actually VW, so they were way too long and attachment points were facing wrong. Larmo63 helped me out with info by texting pictures of correct belts and answering questions. Thanks

In the mean time I posted a WTB here for the chrome guides that go behind the recoilers. Got those from puebloswatcop thanks you very much for the great deal! Then I realized the chrome guides could not be installed unless the belt was completely disassembled DUH. Now I am thinking I have to buy "914" seat belts and post another WTB and got some leads.

Now here is the funny part if you are still reading. It dawned on me just last night that I could cut off the end that attaches down on the long and shorten the belt that way and while apart install the correct chrome guides. Both problems solved! I somehow had it stuck in my brain they could only be shortened from the recoil end and that did not look promising. Today I took them to my local upholsterer and we shortened the belts 2 and a half feet and installed the guides.
Ta Daaa! VW seat belts converted to 914 for a very modest price. And the recoilers work great! The interior is coming together.
On to the next thing…………..

Click to view attachment

You can pry the chrome guide apart at the end where it is joined and slip the belt through the small opening. Then, it all bolts behind the reel and doesn't show.

That's what I've done before to make a 911 belt work in a 914.

Moot point.

I believe you but mine looked to be tacked together pretty well up further and even at the joined end of the guide. Have to admit I did not try to pry it apart. Oh well they HAD to be shortened anyway. Thanks again!

Ah Yes The Console

The next thing I’m tackling is the console to house my center pull hand brake. Going to start with this console the PO furnished with the car and see if I can make it work.
It actually is a Porsche PN that starts with 964 so at the least it is a Porsche part!
Click to view attachment

This project has been rattling around in my head for quite a while and it is now time. I’m a wood worker so here goes…… More to come.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment

Console Complete!
Went way better than I hoped it would.
Lots of clamping to achieve the thickness needed to match the outsides after gluing structural pieces inside.
Click to view attachment

The bondo stage, one of several applications.

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

That new piece of vinyl is somehow going to replace the original vinyl shown in the fore ground, pretty cool that grain matches on the new.

Click to view attachment

Gluing was the most stressful part but it went off without a hitch, just slow.

Click to view attachment

Totally happy with the end product and now a place for the interior light!

Click to view attachment

The guy I got the vinyl from said this was thick vinyl and would be difficult to work with but a hot sunny day here sure helped. Would have liked to have made the front rounder but that would be my only improvement. As it is it still took several days to complete.
On to the next thing!

Click to view attachment

Nice work Jim almost factory eh,just ribbing you about when "are you going fire it up" you know your stuff and getting close,honestly I was the same ,older but wiser .
Used to crack up engine conversions to early and not think it out,stuff usually broke .
Go well mate

Wow ........... WAY nice.

Looks "factory"

Awesome work! I see you even left a space for a cup holder. Re-purposing that interior light was a nice touch also.

Cool mod. Reminds me of my old 993 (same part)....

Very tidy - nice work Jim.

Porschetub, Whitetwinturbo, Edward Blume, and Defianty Thanks guys!

Thanks Rob and yes the cup holder was in work already but I was so happy with the way the vinyl came out I couldn’t wait to finish it to post pictures so here it is the cup holder!
Every 914 should have one

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

One last thing on the console and that is there was a casualty with the project.
One of my Dewalt's bit the dust. I first tried some maple and should have used my drill press, the hand drill didn't like it. I may have, shall we say, "dropped" this drill before.
Christmas is around the corner


Click to view attachment

The next Project (hopefully)

My big hurdle to firing it up, and this is what I have been dreading, is to finish sorting out my wiring mess and what will likely be the final frontier. The wiring is something that I got into 2 years ago and now will have to go through some it again because unlike my latest commitment to completion of this project, I did not do the best job then on notes like I have been doing diligently since April of this year. Especially problematic for me since I hadn’t finished it then when I stopped on it, and most importantly, electrical is not one of my strong suits.
Click to view attachment

I have great schematics mind you but I really struggle with them and they give me a headache pretty quick. And worst of all I thought I did this fantastic job of wiring up my frunk fuel pump and fans for the oil cooler with relays and all, but they don’t work.

Waiting on a 914 electrical savy friend to free up some time to help me out in this regard.

So in the meantime, while waiting to get back to the wiring, and trying to do as much as I could on the interior, the likely next couple of "details" are…………..

Going to give it a go on converting this old empty fire extinguisher into an oil breather catch can t Collins here on World provided detailed and helpful information that he painstakingly and thoroughly sent me.
Click to view attachment

And have to get going on having this steering wheel leather wrapped that I found here in classifieds. Oh yeah, and now looking at the picture I have to order that dried out steering wheel cup too!
Oh wait, there still is quite a list left after all......

Click to view attachment

Big Day Friday, No I didn’t fire it up yet! But getting closer!
And I sure had good intentions in my last post but got zero done on those fronts.
Friday was a good day because my buddy Toolguy came by to help me sort out some electrical “challenges”. Thanks

Back in Dec 2015 when I stopped working on the car some of the last things I did was wiring the relays and fuses on the Holly electric fuel pump and oil cooler fans in the frunk. Short story is I got all done wiring and neither one worked. Very frustrating!
Fuel pump and Filter
Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment
Fuse and relay sub panel
Click to view attachment

We trouble shot the crap out of both circuits to find out 4 things:
First is the good news that I basically had the fuel pump and fans wired correctly.
Second, it turns out I wasn’t powering the relay correctly on the fuel pump.
Third we ended up calling the fan manufacturer to understand how the integral relay on the fans actually worked and proper powering for over ride switch.
Forth, I really did not have a good plan on the switches and connections under the dash.

Click to view attachment

So, with proper connections the fans work now too. But the fan fuse could have been better placed in the circuit and I took care of that this morning.

Click to view attachment

We looked at some other minor things and fixed a few and it was a good non-stop 4 hours work on stuff I could not figure out.
I would love to report I can now read a wiring schematic better but I can’t.
Still more wiring to do!

The bad news .No Progress today because I went to try to sell at the swap meet in Escondido. Worst turn out ever! Only 12 sellers there. Wow.

But the good news is that the swap meet yielded a first look at Coondog's car. It drew a lot of attention and looked Niiiicccceeee!
Plus a really good turn out of 914's
Click to view attachment

Afterward Lawrence, Oscar, and Steve stopped by the house and made the culdesac look the best it has in a long damn time. It was great to be around running/ driving 914's. Inspiriational
My awesome wife captured the moment!

Great day! Thanks guys!


Click to view attachment

That's a PRETTY sight

Ok so maybe I can figure out some of this electrical stuff after all.

Studying the wiring diagram last night trying to figure out how to stop my dash brake light from blinking when the key is on (normal function by the way on a ‘74 with the seat belt interconnect system in tack but long since MIA from my car) and also getting said brake light to work with the hand brake when pulled. It Did Not!

I actually figured out the solution and ran it by my electrical savvy friend toolguy and with his concurrence I tried it and PROBLEM SOLVED! I really wanted that behind me cuz it sure bugged me and I am very happy to see that light function properly now. This is me celebrating this small success I can finally push the gages in and attach the gage panel.
Interior assembly continues!
Click to view attachment

Today I finished the FINAL install of the forward tunnel carpet, center console attachment, and passenger seat.
Followed by the driver side upper forward kick panel carpet, pedal board and floor carpets and floor mats. Baby steps but progress and a full day!

Click to view attachment
Dang A little blurry
Click to view attachment

Purdddeey

Dropped off my stock 914 steering wheel for leather wrap today. Decided not to go with the MOMO. Great guy does awesome work! Expensive to me, but likely chump change, small project to him. Here is why. He showed me around the shop and he had some early 911R seats and said the owner had paid 5k for the cores and was paying him 5k to cover them. Bit out of my league but here they are just absolutely exquisite work. Learned he also did an interior and saw pictures for a car that was at SEMA.
So, all that said, I feel a bit lucky he is even doing my piddley wheel. Even got to Pick the leather! I think my wheel is in good hands.
Here are the 10k seats, wouldn’t those be nice.

Click to view attachment

Gave up on fabricating my oil breather catch can myself. Just started to not make sense. I had started on that old fire extinguisher, cutting off the top, and putting a pet cock drain in the bottom. Then priced out a filter, a fitting, and then would still need to spend the time to weld and find a clamp it was already over $25 and I don’t think it would have looked that great all cobbled together anyway.
So, I went with this today for $55.00 Done! Thank you, Amazon!

Click to view attachment

Posted a WTB tonight and Garold Shaffer came to the rescue with a quick response for my early window crank and interior door handle base.
These are mine I needed another set for the other door. Yeah I wanted the early look.
Can’t wait to see his! Thanks Garold!

Click to view attachment

progress

Surprise! And a good one at that!

Went out to check to see if I needed to get in on the group buy for Mikey’s “vortex generators” and finally started address the underside of the floor pan. Been dreading it because I thought I was going to be scraping like Defianty with his “special tool” . I hope he knows I'm teasing.

To my surprise when I rubbed on it pretty good with some Prep Sol it seemed to just cut right through all the, whatever it is, road grime/ crud/ maybe light under coating? I couldn’t say for sure. But it looked like nice painted surface under all that crud.

Click to view attachment

Well I couldn't stop there, and yes it took some rubbing and several applications, but this sure looks to be the original painted bottom to me. It looks like it is a light grey paint and I came to realize that the yellow stuff in the pictures is the factory cosmoline. The cosmoline will come off completely if desired it is like a wax. I mean I knew this car had very little rust in its history and I know the car was repainted 20 some years ago, but this floor bottom is crazy cool. Sure, it has a few extra holes that shouldn’t be there and of course there are some dents and scrapes to fix.

I bet when Moparrob sees this he is going to want it back even more.

Oh, and my “vortex generators” look to be OK, maybe I have ADD? Maybe it was the fumes? That's why I went out in the garage?
Made it all the way to the front on right side! Hope to finish tomorrow!


Click to view attachment

Click to view attachment

Just a quick one here

My floor mats were in pretty good shape on the carpet side but the back sides were deteriorating and crumbling. They are original 914 floor mats I picked up at a swap meet. They have a couple of holes on the one end by the seats from some previous carpet attachment thingy that I may actually use. I was trying think of something I could do to the back to keep it intact and my wife suggested Flex Seal.

You know that commercial where the guy sprays a screen on the bottom of a boat with Flex Seal and then shows him driving the boat? Well I would have never thought of that stuff but it sure worked great on the floor mats! Sorry forgot before pics.

Downside is the coverage is pretty limited and it actually took almost 2 cans just for the two mats at $12.99 a can. That boat bottom at that rate would be like $1,000.00 I figure.
Pluggin away.

Click to view attachment
Click to view attachment
6868

Nice save. Smart wife.

Thanks Mark! She's a keeper

Well there is three days that I’ll never get back!

But the infamous under dash wiring went from this

Click to view attachment

To this and I sure learned a lot! Some we-wiring was needed and some new with a lot of identifying and tagging in the process.

Click to view attachment

I may have maxed out my quota of dumb electrical questions to toolguy, what a trooper, and he would still answer the phone. Thanks!

Fuel pump switch and oil cooler fans over ride switch are located under the dash on my alum panel. Going to try it under here and may end up moving them. Fuel pump switch functions forward /aft and fan override works side to side.

Click to view attachment

Looking tidy Jim,birds nest of wires gone .
Should get it running for Xmas eh ,great present to yourself .

You must not have the buttons on your floors that hold the mats?

You must not have the buttons on your floors that hold the mats?

Part II

Birds nest I like that! Yup gone what a pain. Thanks!
But discovered today the fog lights now don't work so have to figure that out now. Didn't even touch that fuse area Electrical

Believe me I would like that Christmas present idea but while still up in the air I am going to do my best to clean up the bottom. Spent more time under there today. Gray Por 15 arrived yesterday which should pretty closely match the original finish I hope.

Thanks for looking in

Buttons Hmmm I do but unfortunately I just looked and they buried in sound proofing from PPO. So that's what those were for..... I guess there was a floor mat retainer eh? Oh well the mats seem to fit pretty securely in the well. Crud.


Thanks for checking in

The mats should stay put without the stops.

Wasn't going to post this but...............

l.a.brooks posted this thread about door panels this morning http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=321152

And I happened to take pictures of my door panels last night because I just received the matching early chrome window crank and door pull base from Garold yesterday. I had enough for one door and installed them last night.

Anyway thought I would post the door panel thread here because there seemed to be some interest and information to share. Check it out.

I love these door panels and that both sides are completely the same. My panels came with my project and I didn't know where they came from, so I learned from the thread too.

My panel with early chrome window crank and door handle base
Click to view attachment