This is how the story goes: Soon after our dad graduated college (1978) he had the opportunity to buy a 914. His dad, however, talked him out of it; saying something about how it wasn't practical, yada, yada, yada. Well as we were growing up, whenever he saw a 914 he would tell us the story (again). "Yeah, dad, you already told us that one."

Well, dad turns 50 this January so my brother and I thought it would be a cool idea to get him a 914. After a little research it became clear that we'd need some time to work on the car to get it ready. We wanted to give him a car, not a project.

We found what we thought was a pretty decent white one in NC (where my brother works). His work is semi-seasonal so he was able to take a couple months off and live with me in Maryland so we could work on the car. We were able to land a garage for free for a couple months to do the work. It worked out that we would be able to have the car ready for Christmas. We would have waited until his birthday but we both have to go back to work this week.

We started right at the begining of November, but had a puase for 10 days while my brother went out west for Thanksgiving. Things went pretty smoothly barring some missing parts, parts shipped to the wrong place, and the whole doing-this-for-the-first-time thing. We didn't actually get her done for Christmas - but the day after. We were going to go up to New Hampshire (where the folks live) to present the car. But we were working pretty hard core the last week and we didn't make it up. So the parents came down and we did it here.

Anyway, what follows directly is a video of us giving the car to dad. I'm the shorter son, in the blue sweatshirt, Jake. And my brother Adam, is the taller guy in the hat. His ID on the forum is Adammtb.

Video of giving 914 to Dad

I'll post some pictures of the restoration directly on the forum here, but you can find all of the pictures here:
Photos of 914 Restoratoin
As it worked out, they're in roughly reverse chronological order at Photobucket.

I just wanted to thank a few folks before I put the pictures up. Obviously, thanks to our Dad for being so cool, the Forum, Josh (on the forum here, kept us from blowing ourselves up), Peek Performance, Restoration Design, and EBS Racing. Thanks for all your help!

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention some of the things we did to the car. As for the engine: It was originally a 1.7 and had 34 ICTs when we bought it. We rebuilt the engine. New seals, bearings, conrods, crank, 1.8 pistons and cylinders, cam, lifters, valve guides, had the valve seats machined, head machined to accept 1.8s. We kept the ICTs but rebuilt them. We also completely redid the fuel system. When we took the tank out of the car, it sounded like a maraca - yeah, a bit rusty. So we had a local radiator shop rebuild it for us. We also got a new fuel pump, filter and ran a new fuel line. We kept our stock heat exchangers, but welded the outer portion back the the pipe becuase it had come loose. The car also had an aftermarket exhaust, we think it is the Monza, it's super loud. We also installed new plugs and wires, new coil, new distributer cap and a 5800 rev limit rotor.

As far as the body is concerned. There as the standard hell hole rust. There was also a little rust on the doors, rear trunk, under the fuel tank, under the pedal assy, and in the vents behind the door handles. We replaced the rear floorpans, inner and outer firewalls, the right jack post and cover, repaired sections of the right long, we replaced the battery tray and engine shelf and rebuilt the right engine mount. Was also had to weld in new jack donuts, engine lid hinge bracket, and a trunk hinge bracket. We POR15ed all the new metal.

We also had to do random things like replacing the front shocks, ball joints, shifter bushings and whatever else I forgot.

OK!! onto the pictures

Great story! That's the best! Be sure he finds us!

NICE WORK!

Here are some pics from right after we bought the car.
Engine Bay

Rear

Under Rear

Front 3/4

Interior

Damage on Hood

Trunk Rust

Floorpan Rust

Firewall Disaster

Firewall Disaster2

Here are some random shots of the shop

Welding Rocks!



It's cold in Maryland in the Winter

All the stuff we welded

The Wall

Chemicals and a Fridge is all you need

Here are some shots of the car dis-assembled






The new rear firewall




Repaired Jack post


Repairing the Hood


Repaired Long and Inner wheelhouse


Repaired Hell Hole, new frame parts, new inner wheelhouse, repaired engine mount, new engine shelf

POR 15





Under the pedals




Getting ready for paint


Painted Engine Bay

Engine Parts

Engine Assembly

Engine Installation

Giving the Car to Dad

Fired up for the first time, breaking in the cam.

Yeah, it's a Porsche

Awesome

Holy crap! you guys are fast and do excellent work!

Do you make house calls?

Great story, great job, DAD should be very proud.

Great Job!

Takes most people years and years to get a teener to that point....

It isn't too late to adopt you and yer brother is it?

Ken

So, how happy is dad now?....Great work by the way and what a great thought!

Great story and great job!

very kuhl,

fantastic gift,

John

QUOTE

Great story and great job!

That's one of the coolest things I've ever seen done. Nice work. Your dad is a lucky man to have you both.

Never seen a key slot placed here before,,,

Hey you guy's, that is an awesome gift for your father... Very cool!!!

QUOTE (StratPlayer @ Jan 1 2006, 02:51 PM)

Never seen a key slot placed here before,,,

Interesting observation. That was there when we got it. But it doesn't actually do anything. I have no idea why it's there. I guess we should have removed it and filled in the hole, but we didn't even think about it.

Yeah baby...that what this is all about, sharing the love. A great story, a great inspiration to us all. I cannot imagine anyone prouder than your dad must be.

looks like what i used to see back in the 80s - either is or was an old type alarm lock (armed/off)

usually saw em more on the fender areas but by door would make it close at hand

if you look at the back it should have what looks like electrical attachment areas where the wiring used to hook up
tho thats really just my best guess

great story, and you guys did a great job...a lot of hard work...your dad is lucky to have both of you...and judging by your determination, you guys feel lucky to have him.
Joe

goberserk & family

Congratulations, what a wonderful story. Your Dad must be so proud of his boys and will forever think of you ever time he looks at his 914. Great story & pictures.

Tom

Ausgezeichnet

I fell in love with 914's in 1979 and it took me until 1990 to get my first one. I used to tell the same kind of stories about wishing I could find one so I know exactly how your Dad felt. I'd say that his smile is about 10 times larger than his face will allow.

You two are a pair of very special sons. Every father should be blessed with kids like you!



Oh, yeah - you do really good work too! You had quite a restoration job ahead of you when you started. I could hardly believe the firewall rust in those photos. Lots of other folks would have just run away. Congratulations on having the fortitude to stick it out!

Very cool. Thanks for sharing!

Congrats to your Dad and he has great taste in Sons! You both did an outstanding job!

QUOTE (lincoln @ Jan 1 2006, 04:12 PM)

looks like what i used to see back in the 80s -  either is or was an old type alarm lock (armed/off) usually saw em more on the fender areas but by door would make it close at hand if you look at the back it should have what looks like electrical attachment areas where the wiring used to hook up tho thats really just my best guess

On the key slot. My '71 Charger had one for the alarm (mine was on the front fender in front of the door) and that is what I thought you had when I saw it.

Again thanks for the story and your father is a lucky man!

great resto project, and a wonderful Bday present for Dad !
The pictures are a good incentive for anyone needing to"Get it done !"
Good fabrication and thx. for sharing the pix
Marty

Way to go, that looks like one happy man.

That is about the coolest thread I have ever read here. This is what a Father/Son relationship is all about. Good job guys!

QUOTE (robby750 @ Jan 2 2006, 04:48 PM)

That is about the coolest thread I have ever read here. This is what a Father/Son relationship is all about. Good job guys!

[QUOTE]


One of the best threads I've ever seen!!

Berserker is the son with a beard?

hey guys. I'm the brother of gobeserk, and yes I have a beard. Our dad has a beard but short hair and is shorter than both of us...I am the tall one with beard and long hair. I'm glad y'all think we did a good job. It was a lot of work. The whole last week we barely slept at all...maybe 3 or 4 hours for every 40-50 awake.

I had a great time so if anyone wants help working on their car look me up..I am in South Florida until April and then in Western North Carolina after that. Later

Adam

Wow great job guys...nice story...

its funny...I just moved to the columbia area from New Hampshire...brought my 914 with me...I do know quite a few of the 914 crew up in NH,,,,some of them are here on the board....

If I had known, I would have offered the use of my garage...I do still have lots of various parts, let me know if you guys need anything...herb

that was way too cool

way to go !!!!!

QUOTE (goberserk @ Jan 1 2006, 03:31 PM)

QUOTE (StratPlayer @ Jan 1 2006, 02:51 PM) Never seen a key slot placed here before,,, Interesting observation. That was there when we got it. But it doesn't actually do anything. I have no idea why it's there. I guess we should have removed it and filled in the hole, but we didn't even think about it.

maybe it was an old skool alarm or something?!...


bad ass works boys !!

Awesome job!
I did something similar with my dad, he used to have an old Ducati in highschool so last fathers day I surprised him by buying one just like it as a restoration project for us:
Then again we are still waiting to do the restore, neither of us have space to do the resto yet, but we will.