Yep. I told my wife after that she would have been proud; I didn't yell & curse. I got quiet and thought "ok, that just happened. Now what?". I did scramble to get jack stands under where I could to stabilize it

I'm trying to keep cleaning and doing things that I can while I wait for the rest of my parts to show up. Still need strut top mounts, steering coupler, ball joint hardware, and rear rotors...Shipping these days sucks!

On today's menu; smoked 5-bolt hubs is today's special! I figured this was an easy way to heat the hubs up to 250-300 degrees like the manual says to.
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Still was quite the fight to get the inner races fully seated Managed OK in the end, but I did go pretty Tourette's for a bit during the process!
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I need to write this date down - I actually bolted a couple parts onto the chassis!
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Wrapped the car up tight again...70% chance of rain by Wednesday.

Ok, don't do what I did here:
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The toothed/splined washer goes on the end of the threaded pivot shaft - the goal is to keep the shaft from spinning. Only the flat washer and nut should be on the outside.

Painted the Brembo logos today before the rain is due tomorrow. They need to cure for a week before I can clear coat them.

Little Brembo "packages"...
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First coat...
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I followed the paint directions of 2 light coats with 10min between each, followed by a 3rd medium coat. Seems like it was too thick/heavy for the logos.
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Hopefully, after they cure for a week and get clear coated and cure for another week, they will end up looking ok from 5-10 feet. Oh well, I tried...
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If I had to do it again, I might just buy the cheapo high-temp stickers off Amazon and clear coat them; it was $30 for 4 stencils, plus cost of paint, etc. The stencils were not centered on the backing, which made placing them challenging. I guess I expected too much for my $30+ postage

Been puttering around trying to work on random things while I wait for parts to arrive. I stripped the engine lid, cleaned up the mesh and primed and painted them. I had a rattle can of the sample Ravenna Green, so I figured WTH I'll use it on the engine lid! I ran out of the clear coat to go over it, but it doesn't look half bad...for a rattle can job!

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Speaking of parts arriving...My hood and deck lid finally made it! The box looked fine, I pulled them out to check them before the driver ran off. Just when I thought things were looking up. After getting them fully unwrapped, it looks like they must have dropped the box pretty hard and it crushed the corner of the duckbill spoiler on the one side.

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My Rebel Racing parts finally made it!
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It took me two tries, and looking back at the pics on RR's site to get these assembled correctly
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I went with the billet steering coupler...Don't want to mess with it again!
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I think it should stop ok...
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Congrats on all the forward progress! But man, oh man, all the shipping damage you're suffering just sucks. So sorry to see and fingers crossed it all works out.

After destroying a new bearing for the steering column, I regrouped on the front axle. Getting there, inch by bloody inch!
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Front rotors and brakes look great. Moving right along with it.

Really excellent work. Your attention to detail is just superb. Gonna be one handsome car.

My brake lines arrived from Pelican/Stoddard...
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Laid out the old & new together to match everything up. No clue what the two, short "S" shaped lines in the lower, middle are for - don't see any old lines that size/shape!
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With the Boxster calipers, these two lines from the rear trailing arms are no longer needed. Let me know if you need/can use them, especially if your local.
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I got the lines all installed - still need to decide what I'm doing with the pedal cluster/master cylinders, etc. Thinking of using the Wilwood pedal cluster. Started scuffing and checking the deck lid and filled a few spots. Still need to spray it with the high-build surfacer and block sand it, but getting closer.
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Gaps along the sides are bigger than I hoped for, but it's just sitting loosely in place. Need to start on the hood now!
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Did a quick test fit of the hood before I start scuffing it and looking for spots that need to be filled
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I filled some larger imperfections, and sanded them out on the hood and decklid. I also used up the last of my high-build surfacer/primer but managed to get both the hood and decklid coated pretty well.
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Now for more fun block sanding them both out!

Arrrrrrgggh, even the birds are out to get me!
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Block sanding is so much fun...except it's not really fun.
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Only 2/3 more to go plus the duck tail
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I did managed to get my steering column reassembled. I just need to get it installed into the chassis.

Oh my, she has a hood and trunk...sort of. Or, Look, its her Cars & Coffee pose!
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Now all I need is wheels, a fuel tank, some fuel lines, maybe some wiring...Oh yea, and engine & trans too! But, it's still progress, right?
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Your 914 is shaping up. Beginning to look like my '70 conversion in many ways. If you paint it red they will be "Twisted Sisters".

Still doing wheel research and trying to keep moving forward in some way. Today I media blasted the steering rack cover piece and the dash. Looks like the dash was baby blue - no idea why they would use blue on a red car...
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Media blasting is quicker - except waiting for the compressor to catch up. But, having to vacuum out my shoes, then my socks, then between my toes, and...my ears! Grit just goes everywhere!

I'm waiting to collect enough stock $$$ for the purchase of wheels - easily double what I expected to pay!

In the meantime, Chris aka Tygaboy provided some much needed parts porn! I'm the proud second owner of his SpeedHut gauge setup. Woohoo
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I've already replaced the ring on the speedo so it matches the other two. Still debating if I need to replace the "glass" on the tach - has some barely there scratches. I have the replacement already, just not sure its worth the effort, at least for now.

Our Son's Miata started having some really odd timing issues. The lead tech at the auto shop where he works finally narrowed it down the crank pulley. It's not the dreaded "short-nose" crankshaft - that was the NA 1.6L engine. Once we started taking it apart, it became obvious what happened...
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The Woodruff key that holds the timing pulley on the crank, the timing plate, and the harmonic balancer sheared in half. I can tell you from personal experience drilling out a hardened steel pulley to get the broken half of the key out is a true PITA!
At least the keyway in the crank seems ok!

I did finally get some time Sunday afternoon to work on the 914 dash. I wanted to get rid of some openings I no longer have use for:
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I think it came out rather nice!

What are your plans for a wiring harness?

I plan on either using a Painless street/track kit, or possibly the same kit that Tygaboy used on his LS3 914...

Not much progress lately - waiting for stock to go positive again so I can fund the next needed part for the 914. But, that finally happened - Parts Porn!
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After some runaround, I finally got my wheels ordered and they actually made it to me intact on the first try! The lugs even arrived the same day - maybe shipping is getting back on track!

I did a quick test fit to see how things looked, cleared, etc.
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I still need to hit the local Discount Tire to see what my options are for some temporary tires while I finish the rest of the 914...Still a long road ahead!

Car looks great Mike. Excellent wheel choice! FYI my dash is blue too...seems to be pretty common

Keep up the great work.

Kevin

Looking great! 15 or 16 inch wheels?

I love your build! If I was doing mine over, I think I'd do riveted flares. LOVE the "tough guy" look they have. Keep up the great work!

16x8 and 16x9. Needed 16's to clear the Boxster calipers. Probably should have gone 17's but nobody seemed to have them in stock.

Awesome car, I got the same wheels but in size 15. Interested to see what tire choices you come up with.

Congrats on the wheels! Looks great Mike.

So...I've been trying to track down the BFG's I wanted to use - no luck. Backordered everywhere. I had moved on to my second choice General GMAX RS, but on the way to the tire store I got distracted - SQUIRREL!

After a marathon day to run to Santa Fe Springs, CA and back, without a stop at Disneyland, I now have some more goodies to move me a few BIG STEPS closer to that far away goal...
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A US market EZ36 with low miles, plus a 5 speed Subaru trans already converted to two wheel drive, AND 930 output flanges already installed was too good an opportunity to pass up! Not to mention the included radiator, braided hoses, AN fittings, stainless steel cradle, brand new motor mounts, MR2 shifter. Feel like I struck gold!

And a huge shout out to Bob Asam for helping me load it all on the trailer

Maybe I can find some CHEAP, used 16" tires to at least get me back to roller stage while I repay my savings account

Did a test fit of the coolant hose down the passenger side, and tried a few things with the radiator that came with the EZ36.

Hose routing seems viable, just need some grommets for the openings to protect the hose.
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The radiator is too tall for where & how I would like to place it. I tried laying it at an angle, but the upper hose connection would need some kind of elbow to get it headed back down in the right direction.
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I'll go with the Mishimoto Celica GTS radiator. Input/ouput in much better locations, and about 2" shorter also. If anyone's interested in this radiator, just let me know!

Engine and trans in-house is a huge step Mike. If nothing else for the moment, it's a huge motivator! I saw the posting for that engine/trans and wondered if you'd jump on it. Congrats. As usual, your work looks great.

Can't go wrong with the Celica GTS rad. I bet 20+ 914s are using it. The Mishimoto will probably barely get warm. I have the regular old e-bay aluminum rad with my EG33 and it stays at 185 regardless.

UGH

If I could only find some cheap, used 16" tires I could roll her into the garage and still be able to do something!
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Looking good! I’ve got the eBay Celica GTS radiator in my evolving conversion and it seems like it’ll work well. Nice score on the drivetrain and parts.

Been trying to do some little things while I replenish some $$$ for the 914. I got the radiator hoses run through the longs and got the grommets in place to keep them from chaffing on the openings.
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It's not much, but it's something - especially with all the rain we have been getting!

Your build looks fantastic! Never complain about the rain in az

Happy to have found your build . I'm doing the same thing up in Glendale.

What wheel offset did you get ?

Randy

Good to hear your on the same journey! Just let me know if you can use any parts I'm not gonna use; I have 4-bolt wheels, brakes, struts, etc. as well as original gauges.

Here's what I ended up getting for wheels...

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Looking back I should have tried harder to track down the 17" diameter wheels. Tire choices would have been much more plentiful, and I think now they would have looked fine with the 911/Boxster suspension & brake setup.

Been really bummed that I'm out of funds for the 914 at the moment, and still waiting to get tires so that I can get it back down off the jack stands. But, my son hooked me up, and yesterday we took an adventure to EVIT where he attended the automotive repair program. His first year instructor Mr. Mota was a huge help! He turned us loose in the dreaded "tire room". I was warned to picture a scene from Indiana Jones where we would be swimming through, and climbing over old tires! Smaller room than I imagined, but not far off at all!
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We both climbed up in there and back as far as we could get, and in the end we found four tires that worked! Not close to the final "correct" size, but I just need to be able to roll the 914 around to the garage. My son was able to mount them for me on the swanky European tire machine so nothing got scratched (with a bit of a refresher from Mr. Mota). Some awesome personal service! Nothing like free tires AND free mounting!
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A huge shout out to the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) & Mr. Mota. If your in the East Valley and you, or your kids are interested in automotive stuff, or welding, or medical I can't say enough good things about EVIT. The people are great, and the facility is amazing!

And the coolest part was Mr. Mota introduced us to another 1st year instructor whose class has started work on the green 914 I donated to EVIT. It was in the garage when we were there. He was really interested when I shared how the Subaru motors & trans fit in the 914 since they have several donated Subaru engines there in the garage. Between the welding classes, the auto body classes, and the automotive repair classes, maybe they will save another one!

Now, if the rain would just calm down a bit so I can get them mounted and be able to get the 914 back on the ground where I can torque ball joints, etc.

I believe its taken at least about twice as long as expected, but she's finally a roller again!
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The EZ36 on the cradle tipped forward so bad I thought the motor mounts would tear, I had a 4x4 under the front of the oil pan! I decided to try bolting the transmission up to see if it would balance things out. Sure enough, that did the trick. An interesting side note on the more recent EZ36 motors - it looks like Subaru added a front motor mount bolted to the aluminum front timing cover. It reminds me a little bit of the Porsche six mount...not sure there's really anyway to utilize it, or if its needed at all...
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I got some U-bolts and added casters to the cradle so it's easier to move around, but I can remove them when its mounted in the car. The trans acts like it has the LSD installed (what I was told, but no way to confirm), which is an incredible bonus!

It also has the SubaruGears 108mm 930 output flanges installed:
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A bit premature, but I like to plan/am a total overthinker With the 108mm 930 flanges on the transmission side, and I installed 914 splined stub axles on the outboard side. Is there an axle/CV joints I can use? Or, is it still going to be a custom axle? Totally not there yet but...

Car looks great, I love the flares and the wheels.

Progress looks great Mike.... Starting to look like a car again..and a vastly different/better one than the one you began with. It;s quite handsome indeed

Looks great.

What tran's are you using ?

It's a Subaru 5 speed. Not sure what it's out of though. Based on the model/serial number probably a WRX with a 3.9:1 final drive. It was already converted to two wheel drive. 930 flanges from Subaru Gears installed, and a LSD added.

Not much going on here...Too busy paying for and fixing things that break; water heater, pool equipment, garage door opener

I did manage to roll the 914 out, clean her up a bit and then cut the radiator inlet opening. Not much, but something!
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Nice intake; I like the minimalist approach. I drilled holes between the factory holes, so maybe about the same amount of airflow. Counting on my EZ30R not being too hotheaded. Car looks great, BTW!

I'm still saving up $$$, but in the meantime trying to keep doing little things as distractions.

Here's this afternoon's diversion...
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Had to use rivnuts instead of pop rivets, and my holes did not line up perfectly, but close enough!
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Trying to keep myself busy without spending money

I decided to see if I can reuse the old steel bumpers that came on the 914. They are not great, but not horrible either. I mounted the front up real quick to mark where the cooler opening from the valance lines up.
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Once I had the sides marked, I laid out where the opening needed to be to line up with the valance opening, and match where I can cut the opening on the nose without messing with the bracing that goes around where the spare tire sat.
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I drilled the holes for the two corners (was off a smidge on both), grabbed some earplugs and started cutting
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Came out pretty good. Toyed with using the cut out piece to match the lip on the rest of the bumper & valance, but need to mount on the car and measure first.
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I cut out and welded in some patches for the openings where the license plate bracket was mounted, and where the holes were for mounting the rubber bumper blocks.
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I still need to fill and sand my patches. Front does not look too bad, but the back was pushed in where the blocks mounted and will take a bit more work - you can see the dent on the right side of this pic!

Looks very good Mike... Your body cutout looks very similar to mine. Ive yet to attack the bumper, but your approach seems spot-on..

Quick test fit on the car to get some measurements for trimming out the opening I cut.
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Once I had a rough measurement, I started cutting and forming the pieces I would need.
I needed to do two pieces because the scrap steel I had was not long enough for a single piece. I think it worked out better that way because the angle on the bumper would have made a single piece a challenge!
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Mostly in place and tacked.
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Pay no attention to my crappy welds!
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Did a quick, rough trim with the nibbler. More work to do with the angle grinder and body filler!
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Thanks Kevin! I got to see Rich's 914 in person last Friday - was nice & helpful to look at things in person and talk through how he accomplished things on his car. Re-stoked some motivation for me to keep moving forward!