These are the things that I've learned since buying my 914. My most recent
lesson (item #1) occurred just last night:

1) Running over a separated Tire tread in the dark will rip off your air dam (DAMN)
1a) I need brighter headlights
2) How to adjust the shift linkage
3) How to R & R a rear axle
4) I don't have enough tools (also damn)
5) The people on this board are full of good advice
6) How to remove the shift fork while misdiagnosing the problem (damn again)
7) How to change a distributor
8) How to replace interior and exterior door latches
9) How to repair rubber so that the car doesn't leak (as much)
10) You can't have enough knowledge (thanks for the CD at Dunkel's Brad)
11) How to remove the bumpers (to install a bike rack)
12) I love my 914

john

the list will get much longer, but #12 will always be the most important. Glad ya got the axle fixed.

I have learned so much since buying a car, I would have to write a book, I think it does help that I am doing all the work myself, and that it is my first car... I think I have almost touched every bolt (not including the stuff in the engine and trani.. I'll do that with my spare stuff )

You learn something every day on this board. Thanks to everyone on the board! You make my life a whole heck of a lot less boring!

Andrew

Here, let me add a couple that you can just call 'learned', and skip:

13. Magnesium burns.

14. If an Escalade is closer than one car length behind you, he thinks the Suburban in front of you is the next car in his lane.



M

15) You can regularly kick a 911's ass in AX.....

16) You can shoot a .357 out the roof at SUVs accurately.....

17) Motorcycles don't see you either....

18) Cops think you can do over 100mph, but judges don't......

19) Electricity is strange.
20) Rust never sleeps.
21) Gravity never stops.

Paul

22) anything you think will go wrong, probably wont...it'll be the 4 things you didnt think about:)

20 a. A constantly out of adjustment clutch is a torn clutch tube
20 b. A lot of extra negative camber in the right rear is bad

23) 911 struts fit and work nice

1b) It's also hell on headlights/signals when the idiot in the car in front of you runs over a chunk of truck tire tread ("%#@!!!")

24) Missing a 3-2 downshift (3-R) is hard to do, but possible when excited and inexperienced....

25)A four wheel alignment will do wonders for the handling of your 914.
CCLINALIGNMENTLAND

1C May destroy the air-dam on a 914 but on a Boxster it destroys the Airdamn, Gurney Plate, front radiator, a/c condenser, inner fender well, and the front air-damn.

Thank goodness for the simplicity of the 914.

......and, for that reason alone, is why I like ORANGE the best Good one Miles
bruce

24 a.) Going from 3rd to 2nd @6000 rpm (when aiming for 4th) is expensive.

26. Unbreakable tools are.
27. There is no such things as a budget for a 914 project.
28. Yes, there is enough room to get laid in a 914.
29. A good valve adjustment will cure a myriad of ills.

28a even with the top on.

30. when you lay on the 2 tone horns, it gets people talking on the phone attention.

kevin

Curt & Lawrence.......
THAT , in itself, deserves a FAT TIRE or 2
bruce

31. Making love ON a 914 will cause dents in the hood, no matter how careful you are.

32. There is something metaphysical about these cars. Magic dust or gremlins, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it just fixes itself (not often enough).

33. Sometimes a little tap with a BFH helps. If that doesn't help the car sometimes it help the mechanic.

34. Sometimes a beer is the best tool you can reach for.

34a. Each sucessive beer is better medicine than tool

Dave

35. Keep Brad's number (650 All 9146) in your phone for when you can't figue it out.

Geoff

what i learned is, it would be cheaper to maintain a 308 than one of these.

had a friend with a 348. I think we are in a different ball-park altogether than they are maintenance wise.
You could buy a 914 or two every year for what they spend.

I dunno Bruce... sometimes, when you really know you've scored, ya gotta reach for

...not all that good, but giving as a gift, it's priceless

Ah yes Scotty...
I be bringin' me glass down ever so off'en
(but not off'en e'nuff )
bruce

37) You can never have enough horsepower
38) There is a big difference between early and late shifter linkages.
39) The rust is always worse than you originally thought
40) 914 restoratioin and the tools to do it are more expensive than a drug habbit.

38a) there is also a huge difference in a shift linkage with good bushings and 1 with bad bushings...
41) if you see a car that has been converted to square headlights, don't buy it
42) SUVs and large cars DO have the right of way!

43) The other car is faster unless your car is a 6-conversion in which case the other car is cheaper.

THE HARD WAY. PUT A BATTERY CUTOFF SWITCH IN YOUR CAR( THE KIND WITH THE REMOVABLE KEY). HIDE IT WHEN YOU'RE NOT DRIVING THE CAR.

KARLESS KEVIN

Kevin,

did you lose your car?