Meanwhile, with the 3 screws that I have, I installed the headlight and the retaining ring.

And then the lid.

After just a quick adjustment, the fit looks OK. More adjustment to come.

Nice gaps there man....

... almost as nice as this gap ...



Click to view attachment

Checking the fit of the new headlight surround from 914 Rubber.

A bit more fiddling with the fit, especially matching the lid height to fender edge.

On a roll, so what about the right headlight lid, even if I am missing the right hardware to install the new light.

Another quick fit adjustment.

Starting to look more like a 914.

More parts arrived, including a front caliper hardware kit from an Ebay supplier.

The pad spreader spring is one piece, instead of the original riveted two-piece, but it has the correct spread: about 51 mm.

This should work!

I also got the missing magic inner adjuster gears for the rear calipers.

So now I should have all the rear caliper hardware.

So that meant I could finish the rear brakes. Actual pad clearance adjustment will wait until I install the sub axles. Oh, and that brake bleeding thing.

I also got high-temp anti-seize.

First place to use this is on the mounting hardware for the muffler shield.

Last job today was to finish polishing aluminum trim, with the front and rear window weatherstrip retaining strips. These were also sanded and painted black by the PO.

Not perfect, and with a few local dings, but at least shiny now.

And I tried giving the targa hoop rear trim a polish of the anodized surface. This is a used replacement piece, not a backed-out version.

Last thing that arrived today is adhesive for vinyl (targa hoop and dash to start). Based on recommendations and concern for (1) good stick to vinyl and (2) heat resistance, I decided on DAP Landau contact adhesive. And I found aerosol cans to go along with the 1 gallon liquid can, for brush-on.

Very cool that you can get it in spray cans now. Amazon?

https://www.yourautotrim.com

From what I remember the blue label can is already thinned for a spray gun but it has been a while.
Car is so pretty now I wouldn't even be able to sit in it....

I’ve sprayed right out of that gallon can. But def wear a respirator...it’s nasty stuff that will get you dizzy in minutes

Thanks, guys. I got the liquid for if/when I need to brush some on, most likely around edges. I would have been happy to buy just a pint, but could only find the gallon size.

I'm not sure how well the thinned stuff brushes on. I would test first.
I use one on the $10 HF spray guns to spray it on. Clean with gasoline.
Use it up because it disappears like magic.

Wow, took me almost three days to read through this post. Thanks for sharing all the hard work and detail you have put into this 914. I will be resuming my restorations as soon as I can go to Colorado and retrieve the two I have and bring them down to Texas. I am retired now, so have time to work on them each day, you are a true inspiration.

Thanks for the info. I will try it and report back. For spraying I got the aerosol cans--we'll see how well they work, too.

You had already bought your glue or I would have recommended this stuff.
It was absolutely the best and most Home Depots or Lowes have it on the shelf.
Will be interested to see how the glue you purchased works.
You should be fine I would think.

Click to view attachment

I actually have that stuff, but on the 3M web site they seem hesitant to recommend that for vinyl. Instead they recommend number 80.

I finally got to see my seats and other interior pieces. Not perfect (and not original) but I am very satisfied.

Door panels look good, too.

Those seats look fantastic! Seeing things like that makes me curse being afflicted with CW disease.

Brent, once I broke through the Original True Restoration barrier, I felt liberated, and was able to enjoy decisions like the color change, shaving the front side markers, and messing with the interior. I still feel like I am holding true to the spirit of the original 914 but I am sure somebody will argue with that.

I'd say you are holding true. I'm loving the choices you've made. I did shave the warts. Some things just can't be tolerated. I've also added some modern safety features as stealthily as possible but what good is a perfectly original 914 if it gets flattened by a truck with you in it? I'm also running carbs but there is a story behind that.

once you tear one down you are freed.
100% doing the right thing.

preservation is a bit of a burden.
like having the warts on it .

the cars are for driving for the enjoyment.
its nerve wracking driving mine around in the "family truck" traffic down here.
esp. brakes. can not class those as enjoyable if am honest.
might have been top shelf in 1974, but way short now.
having gotten it going again i wish i had the $ to build myself another one,
completely gone over and sleeper-ed for the 21st century. like you are doing.

Had no problem using it on the sail panel trim and dashboard face.
Your mileage may vary....


Oh and about that "originality" stuff.
At times I'm a stickler....other times not.
Do your own thang as they say.

I think your colors for the seats and cards is bold and they look fantastic, Great choice

Finally home and ready to play in my garage again. Since I brought the recovered seats and interior parts home, I could not resist seeing how these look in the car.

I also (literally) poked around on the center console panels. This is the right side interior.

Months ago, I made paper templates to show all the holes for mounting hardware.

I was able to find all the holes easily.

I did the left side and other pieces, and will get on to assembly next.

Those look great in the car. Once the carpet is in it will really pop

I finished the center console assembly, first with all the metal brackets.

And the end plate, with the original staple nails plus a bit of all-purpose glue.

All done, with the bottom piece and the gauge panel. I am 90% satisfied--just the top seam along the right side that is not centered.