Help - Search - Members - Calendar
Full Version: Resto-Thread: '73 Marathon Blue 2.0
914World.com > The 914 Forums > 914World Garage
Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
914_7T3
I have been on 914 World for just a few weeks and with the knowledge and support of everyone was able to get up to speed quickly on values and things to look out for. when considering a vehicle to purchase.

I just acquired this matching numbers '73 Marathon Blue 2.0 up in NorCal on Wednesday. Straight car with a strong motor and minimal rust issues. Fuel lines and pump have already replaced and rear suspension and brakes were done about 5,000 miles ago back in 2012.

The required rust repairs of significance will entail a partial front trunk pan and minor hell hole repair so in the grand scheme of things a great starting point.

My plan is to get her tuned up, fix oils leaks and anything else of concern while I drive her over the summer. Once fall/winter hits I would like to do a full repaint down to the metal.

Special shout out to Arne as well as Craig from Camp 914 for the behind the scenes consults. Also shout out to John at Hayes European in Santa Cruz for the PPI!

Wish me luck!

Click to view attachment
mepstein
Congrats! beerchug.gif
LowBridge
congrats, looks like a nice one... welcome.png
Tom_T
Congratz!

Marathon is a great color - hopefully you'll keep it!

welcome.png .... officially now! driving.gif

Cheers! beerchug.gif
Tom
///////
arne
Well, you leap-frogged me, Jeffery, by buying a car that already runs and drives. I figure I've got a few weeks yet to get to that point. Once there, we can continue to compare notes on our progress.

I better head to the garage now, I'm behind....
Cairo94507
Looks like a terrific car. beer.gif
iwanta914-6
Must be rough living in the land where 914s are plentiful...congrats!
infraredcalvin
Congrats... welcome.png
JOEPROPER
QUOTE(iwanta914-6 @ Apr 21 2017, 04:02 PM) *

Must be rough living in the land where 914s are plentiful...congrats!


No matter where you are, they're just a click away...
JOEPROPER
Looks Great! Good Luck! welcome.png
Coondog
Congrats, I would have a detailer look at your paint job. Seen them make old paint jobs look new again.
iwanta914-6
QUOTE(JOEPROPER @ Apr 21 2017, 03:10 PM) *

QUOTE(iwanta914-6 @ Apr 21 2017, 04:02 PM) *

Must be rough living in the land where 914s are plentiful...congrats!


No matter where you are, they're just a click away...


Yes, they are a click away but shipping costs suck biggrin.gif
914_7T3
QUOTE(iwanta914-6 @ Apr 21 2017, 01:57 PM) *

QUOTE(JOEPROPER @ Apr 21 2017, 03:10 PM) *

QUOTE(iwanta914-6 @ Apr 21 2017, 04:02 PM) *

Must be rough living in the land where 914s are plentiful...congrats!


No matter where you are, they're just a click away...


Yes, they are a click away but shipping costs suck biggrin.gif



Many of them around Cali are still beaters. I had to drive 700 miles round trip to get her bought and will still ship back here to LA. Luckily, the cost of intrastate transport is about 1/3 of what it costs to ship cross country.

Should see her here on Wednesday.
Jett
Congrats and great color!

Btw. You should bookmark 914Rubber.com smile.gif

Cheers!
914_7T3
QUOTE(Jett @ Apr 21 2017, 06:44 PM) *

Congrats and great color!

Btw. You should bookmark 914Rubber.com smile.gif

Cheers!



I love the color too. The car also came with a box of parts, including all new rubber from those guys. I have to list it and verify against the complete kit that they sell to see what if anything is missing. It also came with a set of yellow Hella Euro lenses for the fogs.
914_7T3
Not all is perfect however. Here are pics of the front pan where there was fiberglass repair and the hell hole corrosion. Paint is bubbling in areas, but nothing major.

The rest is pretty straight as you can see.

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachmentClick to view attachment[attachmentid=601
490]Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

EdwardBlume
Congratulations! smilie_pokal.gif
914_7T3
QUOTE(Tom_T @ Apr 21 2017, 12:34 PM) *

Congratz!

Marathon is a great color - hopefully you'll keep it!

welcome.png .... officially now! driving.gif

Cheers! beerchug.gif
Tom
///////



That's the plan. I've also got a '72 Super Beetle Convertible going on 30 years this June. Need to clean out the garage and they can park side by side.
914_7T3
QUOTE(arne @ Apr 21 2017, 12:53 PM) *

Well, you leap-frogged me, Jeffery, by buying a car that already runs and drives. I figure I've got a few weeks yet to get to that point. Once there, we can continue to compare notes on our progress.

I better head to the garage now, I'm behind....


Difference is you may be challenged by time and I'll be challenged by $ as I am going to have to bring mine to the Pros. I will be the Project Manager and General Contractor on this deal.

This car was purchased new from Gateway Porsche Audi in Portland, OR on July 26, 1973.



Hope you have yours on the road ASAP!
arne
You'd think a retired guy would have more time, but I seem to be busier than ever now. In any case, I've got a new goal now - to get mine running and driving before you get yours trucked home! poke.gif
914_7T3
QUOTE(arne @ Apr 22 2017, 09:20 PM) *

You'd think a retired guy would have more time, but I seem to be busier than ever now. In any case, I've got a new goal now - to get mine running and driving before you get yours trucked home! poke.gif



That would be Wednesday. I will schedule an afternoon delivery just to be fair.

Back to work for you if yours is going to look anything like this welder.gif




Click to view attachment
914_7T3
Finally got my '73 delivered today and after a quick wash was amazed at how well she cleaned up. I was surprised to see a nice car under the grime. All gauges are working except the clock and interior is in better shape than I originally thought.

Off to TRE Motorsports in the morning for a more thorough once over, but she is already running great. Shifting is just a little crunchy getting into first sometimes however.

I will get her detailed and a new set of tires and start enjoying the ownership experience while I sort out the rest.

Even better, I got Porsche to verbally confirm my original matching numbers motor this morning while awaiting the COA.

Click to view attachment
arne
Ok, so I did get mine running before you got yours home, but while I have moved it around under its own power some, I can't truly say that it is drivable yet. So you win!
914_7T3
We all win in 914World!!!

smilie_pokal.gif smilie_pokal.gif smilie_pokal.gif
914_7T3
I think we will be in good hands here at TRE Motorsports for a Major Service!



Click to view attachment Click to view attachment
ValcoOscar
Great color indeed.....here's mine.

Enjoy!!!!

914_7T3
Probably going about this the wrong way, but I decided to spring the Car from the mechanic for the weekend to get the new tires installed. Decided on the 195/65 Altimax RT 43s for handling on dry roads and ride comfort.

Also took it in for a quick detail and was able to get the exterior cleaned up and waxed. Looks like a different car altogether, but still a 10 footer.

Once the mechanics are complete, this will be a respectable driver until the repaint gets underway at some point next year.


Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment

Mitox
Very Nice - Congrats!
forrestkhaag
My first 914 1.7 back in the early seventies was that color. Many a chick fell in love...with the car.... beerchug.gif

Nice score. Your car......... Not the 74chicks lol-2.gif
914_7T3
QUOTE(forrestkhaag @ May 1 2017, 10:25 AM) *

My first 914 1.7 back in the early seventies was that color. Many a chick fell in love...with the car.... beerchug.gif

Nice score. Your car......... Not the 74chicks lol-2.gif



Sweet Pics! As for the Chicks, it really depends on what they looked like.

shades.gif

Curious to know if "Tranche" is in reference to the french translation for slice.
SHREK914
Did you buy this car in Santa Cruz, Ca?
914_7T3
QUOTE(SHREK914 @ May 1 2017, 06:54 PM) *

Did you buy this car in Santa Cruz, Ca?


Yes it was listed here on 914 World in December and again in March, however I first saw it on Craigslist.
SHREK914
I thought it looked familiar, that car lived a few blocks away from me.
Larmo63
Cool car, great color, but GET RID OF THOSE mirrors.

That's all.
914_7T3
QUOTE(Larmo63 @ May 1 2017, 09:38 PM) *

Cool car, great color, but GET RID OF THOSE mirrors.

That's all.



Ok then! The question is, "Do I feel lucky"

"Go ahead, Make my Day!"

ar15.gif


http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=309416


914_7T3
The full service up at TRE Motorsports has been going very well overall. So far dealing with a lot of minor issues,

valve adjust
filters
new plugs
clean fuses and headlight relay
replace headlights with a new set of H4s
clutch adjust
fuel line & pump, suspension and brakes all found to be in good condition

A large oil leak has been found under the plastic cover of the side shifter. The seal most likely has been leaking for a while as the cup is full of oil.

Needless to say, seals will be replaced in the morning and shift bushings and linkage will also be verified.

If all goes well, she will be good to go by the end of the day.

Overall, more mechanically sound than I anticipated. Hopefully there will be no surprises before they finish.



Click to view attachment Click to view attachment
914-300Hemi
Great color piratenanner.gif

It will great to have another Marathon Blue in the neighborhood.
914_teener
QUOTE(Calvinator2016 @ May 1 2017, 03:00 PM) *

QUOTE(forrestkhaag @ May 1 2017, 10:25 AM) *

My first 914 1.7 back in the early seventies was that color. Many a chick fell in love...with the car.... beerchug.gif

Nice score. Your car......... Not the 74chicks lol-2.gif



Sweet Pics! As for the Chicks, it really depends on what they looked like.

shades.gif

Curious to know if "Tranche" is in reference to the french translation for slice.



Yes....slice of a mortgage pie.

It is a financial term. AAA bonds with shit value is what got us the Great Recession.

Your thread, your question so no Hijack. av-943.gif poke.gif

914_7T3
Update:

Sanded and Painted the Air Cleaner Cover that I bought from Mark S. with 2 coats of semi-gloss. Thanks Mark!

Had the cover installed when I picked up the Car from TRE MotorSports earlier today.

All mechanical work has been completed and the car is running great! Can't say enough good things about how great this shop is and the knowledge of their techs in getting everything sorted out.

Major Service Complete; valve adjust, plugs, points, belts, filters, fluids etc...

Oil leaks fixed, new shift bushings, wheel bearing replacement, new Hella H4s & chasing down some electrical/lighting issues with contacts, grounds & switches relays.

Now after three weeks from purchase she is home and settling in with the '72 VW Room mate.

Finally ready to be to be Driven!!!!

driving.gif driving.gif driving.gif

Click to view attachmentClick to view attachment
Cairo94507
Great looking car - nice job getting her road worthy.
914_7T3
COA-Birth Certificate Arrived Today!

Turns out the car celebrated its 44th birthday yesterday unbeknownst to me as per the Production Completion Date.


Click to view attachment
914_7T3
So After 3 months of ownership, it has become apparent that my 105,000 mile original motor with good compression burns a shit ton of oil after spirited driving in the canyons.

It is noticeable on deceleration and the also likely the result of oil getting in where it shouldn't be from all of the sloshing around in the turns and cresting the downside of the hills.

I have been advised it is most likely valve guides and/or rings. So here is the question, would it be advisable to consider only a partial rebuild on the top half if the bottom checks out?

Or rather would it be a mistake to pull the motor and not go all the way in the event one day it could just:

blowup.gif

I would like to hear the opinions of those that are more knowledgeable than I.

mepstein
Do a leak down test first.
Make sure you are not overfilling the oil.
Cairo94507
Assuming the problem is not as pointed out by Mark, if you are going to touch the motor, and you have the resources, I would really touch it. I would pull it and do a complete rebuild and take it to a 2056 but otherwise keep it essentially stock so it remains very reliable and trouble free.

That, of course, would be a great time to freshen the engine compartment, repair any rust issues in the engine compartment, send the tins out for powder coating, have the exhaust blasted and jet-hot coated, SS fuel lines if not already done, new clutch, etc.

Yeah, it is a slippery slope. But for me, if it goes up on jack stands, I would want to get as much of the mechanical out of the way at that time as possible. Then once it goes back together it is just the cosmetics, suspension, paint, etc.

Then again, you could just drive it and wait until you are ready to pull it apart. beerchug.gif
T H O M A S
COA Paint Code 89 WTF.gif ,is it not L96M
914_7T3
QUOTE(T H O M A S @ Jul 16 2017, 08:05 AM) *

COA Paint Code 89 WTF.gif ,is it not L96M


As per an email from Porsche North America, "The exterior color is Custom Color/89. The sample color was not recorded on the kardex. The COA will read Custom Color/89."

L96M was an optional color as was L96D, L96B, L99A & L041. The Karmann plate in the door frame is stamped L96M as per the color of the car.

Apparently many of the kardexs from the factory were not 100% specific with respect to build dates & paint codes.


Click to view attachment
914_7T3
QUOTE(mepstein @ Jul 14 2017, 03:36 PM) *

Do a leak down test first.
Make sure you are not overfilling the oil.


Are we talking right on the top line of the dipstick and no more? Presently I am slightly above the top line.

Also, for some reason my mechanic says that the leak down tests may not necessarily be conclusive.

In the event a rebuild is in order, is it OK to do the top half only if the bottom appears to be good. Some say yes, some say no. I want to hear all opinions.
914_7T3
QUOTE(Cairo94507 @ Jul 14 2017, 04:19 PM) *

Assuming the problem is not as pointed out by Mark, if you are going to touch the motor, and you have the resources, I would really touch it. I would pull it and do a complete rebuild and take it to a 2056 but otherwise keep it essentially stock so it remains very reliable and trouble free.

That, of course, would be a great time to freshen the engine compartment, repair any rust issues in the engine compartment, send the tins out for powder coating, have the exhaust blasted and jet-hot coated, SS fuel lines if not already done, new clutch, etc.

Yeah, it is a slippery slope. But for me, if it goes up on jack stands, I would want to get as much of the mechanical out of the way at that time as possible. Then once it goes back together it is just the cosmetics, suspension, paint, etc.

Then again, you could just drive it and wait until you are ready to pull it apart. beerchug.gif



Reason why I am asking is that at first I was enamored with doing the 2056 from a specialty shop. Can't argue with the upgrade.

However, I also have an old school air cooled specialist locally that can do it stock for literally half the cost in about two weeks. If it is top end only it would be about 30% of the cost of doing the 2056. The air cooled specialist works on VWs & 914s and has been working on my Beetle for 20 years and is in the same location for 50.

I have no doubt he can do a great job so long as it is bone stock and I'm OK with preserving the originality. Truth be told I did a PCA run last month with all the 911 & Cayman types and couldn't keep up. So when my lease is up on the daily driver I will consider a pre-owned Cayman or 996. No need to worry about making the teener quicker at that point.
arne
Whether to do just the top end or the whole enchilada at this point is a hard call. If it is in fact burning oil badly, at a minimum rings and valve guides need to be addressed. At that point, if oil pressure is good (indicating good bearing clearances) you could leave the bottom alone. Could still bump the compression and displacement while at it, but I'm not thinking that would be satisfying with the stock cam.

The performance aspect is what clouds the decision. If there was no desire to boost the output, top end only would be my choice. But trying to get more HP without splitting the case to change the cam doesn't seem viable.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.
Invision Power Board © 2001-2024 Invision Power Services, Inc.