I finally got under mine to take a closer look at the right rear long area and found the rust. I need some guidance from the experts, should I replace the entire long on this side or is there a reasonable spot to section this and only replace the offending area?

thanks for your time, stay safe

rust holes on the bottom of the long

the section ahead of the jack point looks good

The first step is to cut out the rust and start inspecting. You really won't know how far you need to go with the repair until you start removing the bad stuff. It looks like someone else completed some sort of "repair" so its anyone's guess as to what you'll find. It doesn't appear to be that extreme but dig into and take more pictures.

Looks pretty bad to me. Usually what you see is the tip of the iceberg. I would explore more.

Mandatory reading:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=16748

You can only weld new metal to good metal, so plan on cutting out anything that looks even a bit rusty.

Andy, thanks for the link, great thread, exactly what I was trying to avoid by buying a car with "solid floors and longs" LOL. I ordered the door bracing from Maddog, I'll start digging into this side once I have it braced.

thanks for your time
Paul

There are also fatigue cracks in the metal. Others have said it, cut out a good amount so you can see more. There will be more.

for 30 years.... I've always said
don't buy a 914 without pulling the rockers off first.

no one listens

I learned the hard way in 1986
and many others have learned the hard way too
brant

Yes! I wouldn't be surprised if the suspension console was compromised as well. Rust in that area usually starts at the battery tray and works down.

100%.

Battery acid mixed with rain water washes down over and then through the longs and pools at the bottom of the long and inside the suspension console (the weep hole is usually filled with crud) so this means the car is rusting from the inside out. It’s very noticeable when the passenger rear wheel starts to lean in at the top. The seller will say it just needs an alignment. It’s sort of true. It will need an alignment ever two weeks until the console fails completely.
Good luck with the rustoration.

Pretty much going to be an adventure. The folks at the factory included rust with our 914's as they were being built. Original rust free examples are few and far between and generally they command high $$. Be patient, ask the guys/gals here for assistance and harvest from the money tree in the yard often.

Just an opportunity to do it right and end up with a car that actually is as close to rust free as can be.

Time and the elements are not kind to these cars. Others in here have started with worse.

Patience and perseverance are the order of the day. If you don’t have those; flip it and count it as a lesson learned and find a better starting point.

Oh now, where is the fun in that?
914s made me a much better welder!

No truer words could be spoken here.

Curious: what is the cycle the factory recommends for removing the rockers?