After a bit of searching, I can start my build thread!

It was a bit of searching, but I found a clean ’72 shell out of West Virginia and had it shipped. At least, I’m pretty sure it’s a ’72 – that’s what I’ve been told, but I’ll know more once I start digging into it. The whole thing was already sandblasted & primed, so bit of a bonus there. I think the previous owner had plans but couldn't go through with them anymore.

I’m gonna go a factory-restoration route, I think it’d be really good practice before I get my 2nd one; that’ll be more of a restomod I’m already brainstorming.

So far I’ve managed to get it into the garage and up on jack stands.

It’s missing a roof… did you replace the front clip?

Going to be a tight fit

Well, you know, other people's projects... what do you do...

Original 6. Body in yellow. Chrome bumpers and gas burners. Assembly required.

I managed to get the body off the frame.



Gonna give it a once over and should be able to start bolting things to it. I don't have room for the body right now though, but a buddy of mine with a bodyshop who was going to help me paint it anyway let me store it at his shop. He's pretty into these older cars too, said he can source me bumpers and a rood

With the help of some friends and a neighbour, we were able to get the frame flipped upside down so I can work on it's underside.



I'll be getting ready to seal up the underside shortly.

Got the underside sealed up. Left the mounting points for now so as to have a smooth install of parts later. They'll be touched up then.



I also managed to touch up the underside of the spare tire well too.

So while I was sealing up the underside, I got a knock on the garage door. The transmission I source arrived!



It was advertised as an original with low mileage, and boy original is right. I don't know where this thing sat but the casing got completely oxidized! I'm gonna have it sent out and check over just to make sure everything's OK with it.

I sourced a couple of rear trailing arms. They came with axles in em, I wouldn't be surprised if it's cause they're seized in there.



Ordered some new wheel bearings and hubs from RockAuto though. I'll see if I can press them in myself.

This might be one of the truly rust free 914s. Very hard to find.

Did you post the VIN?

Future C.O.T.M.

Looks like you're starting with a pretty clean 914, nice!

First time that I have seen what appear to be chrome Gas Burners, or did Al Reed polish them with clear coat?

While waiting for the transmission to get back from being checked out at the shop, managed to clean up the trailing arms, pack the wheels bearings into the hubs and mount the hubs.



The axles eventually came out with some motivation. For peace of mind I replaced them with new ones.

And to help mount them up, sourced from Koni red shocks.

Bit of a score! Found a locally rebuilt 6 shortblock!

Painted the block and engine cradle black so that the aluminum heads would really pop in the engine bay.





New clutch and flywheel from RockAuto. The transmisison came back with a clean bill of health and mated the 2 right away!

The tranny mount that came with is was all dried up from sitting. Found a nice red poly mount for it that came part of a kit. With the frame still upside down, fitted the transmission body mount bushings with a rubber mallet.

No such thing--there's gotta be rust in there somewhere.

With a heave and a ho, managed to get the frame flipped back right side up, and then got on a role where I didn't want to stop!

Lowered the frame to mount up the engine and transmission. Bolted up the trailing arms into the body and axles in to the transmission. Got my Koni red's in there and hooked up the shift linkage.





Managed to press in and install poly mounts at the engine mounts, transmission mount, trailing arm-to-body mounts, and shift linkage bushings. New rear brake rotors to boot.

Getting the front ready now, should be a lot easier since it's less involved.

Thanks to RockAuto I was able to assembly everything with new parts! New bearing pressed into the hub and matching Koni red's in the front.

Sourced some used aluminum front control arms! They've also seen better days though. Looks like more oxidization from sitting.



Just waiting for the bushings to arrive for these guys. (Of course, red poly one )

Front control arms are in! Cleaned them up, pressed in new poly bushings, installed the shocks, and new brake rotors.

Wheels are in!

I found chrome 5 spokes where the spokes themselves have a machined finished. Popped in some new centre caps.



Looking forward to seeing how they look on the car after I get tires mounted! It'll be nice to get everything off of jackstands finally.

Those rotors look like they need to be turned/resurfaced

One of the faster builds I've seen! Should be on the road in no time.

With the body still at paint and the car sitting on jack stands, decided to take advantage of the space and installed my stacker intakes and carbs! After hunting around K&N's site, found 6 small air filters that do the trick.

The wheels are back with new rubber!

I think they turned out pretty good. Nice blend of modern and classic.

Oh man, that finally-off-the-jackstands feeling...

Front firewall's in place. Also got the pedal assembly together. That's A LOT easier to do when nothing else is in the way yet.



Sealed up the frunk and went with some green pedal covers, bit of an added grip.

Carpet's in with the fixed passenger seat.

Driver's seat came back from upholstery and installed.



Also installed the centre console, shifter and hooked up the handbrake. Found a matching green shift knob

Well, I encountered my 1st rust problem, the hell hole walls were gone on both sides. Not salvageable. Found some aftermarket replacements online and welded them in.



While I was at it and this section was apart, found a used rear strut tower from a buddy, painted it and got that installed too.

Painted and coated the hell hole walls. This part wasn't easy, glad it's done.

Are you installing a fire suppression system?

Got the door panels back from the upholsterer too. I think they match the carpet pretty good.

Nice, speaker pod grills match the other accent colors!

The body's back from paint! I gotta say, they really knocked it outta the park!





I wanted to go with something that's both a bit classic and modern at the same time
(if that's even truly possible).

Had the front emblem shaved and had the door handles colour-matched. Little touches I've always like that's a bit of a modern touch.

The bumpers are done too. Had the rear bumper's trim re-chromed, had to pay through the nose for a new chrome trim for the front. Oh well...

Test fitted the door panels before I put the body on. These look good to go.

Are those Michelin XZX? Nice score! Great progress. Prolly quickest build in history here!

Are you doing any chassis stiffening mods? Hard to tell from the photos but I’m betting there’s a bit of flex in the frame.

Very enjoyable! Bravo! Put a smile on my face through the entire grueling process

Finally got the body on the frame!




Bumper painted and mounted as well. It took FOREVER to convince insurance to get me a new windshield and then took another FOREVER to find one. That was definitely the biggest hold up so far.

One of the last pieces of the puzzle finally showed up from Germany... the exhaust!

Fired her up, broke everything in, and pull her out to the driveway to take some pics.







Looking forward to v2.0...