History of the Car:

The story of this car starts with my father. He was the definition of a 914 enthusiast. He actually paid his way through engineering school rebuilding 914 and Volkswagen engines in my grandmothers kitchen. I believe he owned a total of 5 Porsche 914's over the years and one mid 80's 911. His latest car was a neglected 1976 2.0 he purchased with the intent of building his dream 914. Even though the paint was horrible, body needed work, interior parts were missing, etc... my dad saw the potential in the car. After spending some time getting it running he began to drive it everywhere. My dad loved this little car. Unfortunately he never actually got the chance to finish it. Despite living a healthy life never smoking a single cigarette or drinking a beer, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2013 at age 53. Doctors didn't take it seriously at first stating "People live a long time with this type of cancer." Just 3 months later almost without warning, the greatest man I ever knew passed away. After my father's death my family decided to sell his 911 but there was no way I was letting the 914 go anywhere. The car sat for a few years but I just recently had it brought out from the east coast to Utah where I now live so I could get started where he left off.

My father with his 911:


The Plan:

My dad was always kind of a purist. He loved to keep things stock and only liked modifications that were considered "factory options". He had mentioned however doing GT style flares on this car. While he liked things stock, I couldn't be more of the opposite. I've extensively modified every car/truck I've ever owned. I also used to own a Subaru shop that specialized in drivetrain swaps. So this sparked an idea. I want a car that looks the part of an original 914 GT but is reliable and up to my performance standards. While the exterior and interior will be true to an original 914 GT, powering the car will be an EJ205 and 5spd out of a WRX making an reliable and efficient 350-400hp. Since Utah had some very dangerous canyons, I will be running a full roll cage. I also plan to upgrade the brakes, suspension, fuel system, etc. Before all the fun stuff, I will have to do extensive rust repair. This is going to be the most important and meaningful build I have ever done and it will for sure push my abilities. The result will be worth it!

The 914 the day it arrived in Utah:

You can upload the pics directly to 914world posts, and not have to deal with photophucket holding your pictures for ransom... and what part of Utah? I'm in Sandy...

I just found that out about Photobucket... I switched the links to google. They should work now. I'm down in Orem currently so not too far from you.

Started stripping the car and I definitely have some rust to deal with....








The rear of the car seems to be mostly rust free



Engine and transaxle came out pretty easy

Welcome! I am sorry to hear of your Dad's way-to-early passing - I understand. Looking forward to seeing your progress - it will be a long and arduous road - just being real - that is allot of rust. Sounds like you are game. There are quite a few folks here in Utah, many of whom might be able to help one way or another, as the resto gets tricky.

All the best!

Tony

Good luck with the build!

Sorry for your loss. Your dad would be proud that you are going to complete his project with your own twist. Best of luck. Cheers. Michael

That left jack point looks like it might have been replaced before. Good luck with the project.

That's just a shame. Way too early. My condolences. But let's get this tribute together and on the road. Always happy to see another convert. This will probably be my next project and on a 76 as well. Will you keep the stock/sleeper look? Keeping it Black? Say yes.

I think you are correct. There a few spots on this car that that appear to have been repaired (poorly) at some point in the past that will require some attention


Im leaning towards black. Orange is a close second since that was the color of the first 914 he had.

So the first question I had regarding this build is really how to get started. I understand I'll have to come up with some sort of chassis jig to keep things straight before cutting into the rust. My thought was since I'm planning a full roll cage anyway (for safety as well as future competition) should I start with the cage and use it as kind of an internal brace to hold the car together during the body/rust repair?

Welcome to the World. Sorry for your loss of you dad so early. We have to be pro active with medical, as no one knows just how we feel inside but us.

Bob B

An ej205 is only good up to about 300-330 ish before the internals get the best of it. However an ej207 out of an sti would be better. The come stock with forged internals vs the cast of the 205. A 207 should b able to make 400 but don't expect good gas mileage

Does your front spoiler end look like this and if so are you interested in selling it?

Could help defray some of your rust repair costs.

So sorry for the loss of your Dad. Good luck with the 914 project. That is a very cool tribute.

Suggestion: Make friends with Eric Shea from PMB Performance. He's not too far from you, and has done GT builds before. Plus any time you need brake or suspension stuff, he has it.

--DD

The bottom end will handle 350-400 all day. The benefits of an EJ257 don't outweighs the cost difference and I really don want the variable timing that comes with it. I'm doing drop in forged pistons regardless in the 205 so it won't be an issue. The 207 is simply a reinforced (semi-closed deck) block like the 257 that in my opinion is way over priced and overrated. With an efficient small turbo build like I'm planning I won't have to worry about the cylinder walls stretching on the 205. If I were planning any more power or boost I would get an aftermarket fully closed deck from someone like IAG and then the sky is the limit but I don't think the car would handle it.

I believe it does look like that and yes I'll be selling the bumpers, valances, entire drivetrain, wiring, 5 matching Fuch wheels, and anything else I'm not using

Terrific, please contact me when you are ready to sell it.

Loosing our parents is an unfortunate right of passage, most of us will have to deal with, and it sounds like you had to far too soon. Your Dad sounds like my kinda guy.

Go to a 914 gathering and spend as much time as you can checking out the other cars, so you can get a good idea of what works, and what not so much. Check out a street car with a cage, and you might change your mind, unless you want to wear a helmet on your way to work

My old fart .02 is get the chassis cleaned up a squared away first, make it stop and reliable first, then let the hack begin.

Bob - For clarity sake, specific to this young mans father, not everyone "experiences" symptoms...I am sure it wasn't meant that way but (FWIW).

Tony

.............may your dad carve all the canyons in heaven

Any idea what I can expect to get out of the stock drivetrain when I sell it? I'm trying to come up with a budget for this build