I am finally starting on the build thread for the IMSA 914. This is a 1971 914-4
that was bought in 1975 or 6 as a used car and turned into an IMSA GTU car.
It is a well crafted but not big budget car with a lot of clever touches that helped
it to beat a lot of more famous and undoubtedly better financed teams.

My wife and I plan to restore the car to racing condition and then enjoy the
heck out of it without abusing it any further (its clearly had a hard life).

Our priorities are (1) make it safe and legal for current vintage rules (2) keep
it original as practical (3) keep it period correct, in that order. We also want to
avoid over restoring it too much, but it is easy to understand the temptation
to cad plate, power coat, and perfectly repaint everything. I think this last issue
will be the biggest, other than going broke or insane first (either one would
be a short trip at this point).

I plan to post way too many photos, the best quality I can, until people flame
me big time to stop. I also expect you, yes YOU!, to help me figure out what
to do and give me ideas and comments. I may not always do everything people
want, but I will consider all ideas. I'm really just a novice restorer and I know
I can't do this without your help.

OK, so screw the BS, lets see some pictures.

Competing at Sebring as a 4-cylinder (changed to a six soon after).

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T.C., who found the car in a barn, passes it on to me (what luck!).

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I had to turn to a close friend for the financing, but it worked out.

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Huge ATL 500A fuel cell. The hood just closes over this.

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TC, URY914, SMG914, and I working on my Explorer flat six conversion.

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Fiberglass flares and paintwork need a little bit of work.

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Wife: Are you sure we are buying the right car? Why don't we just buy this one
from T.C., it actually has an engine inside the car.

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I have started to dissassemble the car so it can be soda blasted and I have tons
of pictures to post.

So what do you all think?

John

Post all the pictures you would like and, If you'd like to share ALLL of them without being to crazy just put them all in a indexed online album anyone can look at like on photobucket

Oh and GODSPEED good sir

Cool project. Post lots of pics!

This is gonna be awesome...

THe whole over restoration thing is a difficult one. Your already soda blasting and that's the beginning of the cycle. I'm assuming you've already determined that the car needs significant work, so why not aim high and bring it back to the condition is was when it started its racing life. If you want to drive, I think that you should buy a driver. If you get a car to restore, it should be done with the most perfection you can manage.

Just my 2cents. Then again, I can walk right past a race car, but a restored car will stop me in my tracks.

Encouragement is right here across the State. Advise is Free.

T.C.

Thanks everyone for the encouragement.

Billy: I think what I am trying to avoid is making it more perfect than it ever was
during its racing career. The two guys who ran the car built it to be a practical
racer and never a show car wth perfect paint, etc. I am sure when I get done
it will be better than it ever was when it was a race car, its just a question of how
much better. A lot of the fabrication has a quick and dirty look to it. It has a lot
of surface rust that needs to go so there is no question of saving the original paint.

John

John, I told you I would dig up a picture of a Mazda RX-7 Cooler I had in 914 racecar. Also there is one on eBay from AutoAtlanta right now sitting at $25 with the reserve not met.

T.C.

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I think the term is sympathetic restoration.
Keep up the photo's

Did you take detailed photos of the graphics? Do you care?

That's the only thing I'd add... Godspeed.

Cool, and take/post all the pictures you want, the more the better.

Best of luck on the project!

I did a car with hand painted graphics and used trace paper , then the sign painter redid em exact.

That's an awesome project

That will be a sick project!

So... Where the hell are the pictures


Just kidding. We can't wait to see your progress

I was planning to get good photos of all the graphics, but full size tracing sounds
like a good idea as well. T.C. located the jewelry store in Miami that was once
the sponsor, but they seem to be out of business now. Maybe if we can dig up
the address, some World member in Miami can swing by and see what they can
find out???

John

The Sponsor was Le Trianon Jewelry Corp - 3807 NW 7th Street, Miami, FL - Owner, Alfred Curi. It was near the Airport & Flagler Dog Track

T.C.

John, Did you get ahold of Manual Cueto Jr.?

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No, T.C., I have not done that yet. I have worked every day since I picked up
the car from you. The big crunch should end in 10 more days or so. Then I plan
to take off a few weeks and make some progress.

Here are some more pictures. I got a lot of great advice on taking pictures from
people, not all of which I have been able to implement yet, but most of these are
ok. First thing I did was to take apart the fuel system.

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Here is an oil filter that was loose inside the car. Is this company still around?
It looks like a stainless screen filter, do people use these on the 914-6s still?

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Notice the dual fuel pumps, filters, and relays. These connect to a fuel pressure
regulator and then to the normal fuel line in the tunnel. Don't know if the plastic
lines are in there still.

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This is the custom made oil tank. You can see the fuel pressure regulator, which
is bolted to its side. It has a range of 1-6 pounds so the car had to be running
carbs. Geez, I sound like I actually know something about 914s, ha!

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I know just enough now to realize how much I have to learn.

John

John, That Par filter was actually in-line for the tranny cooler at the rear of the car. The lines were all brittle and when I was stripping the trunk I took that filter off.

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The best I could tell the car was running a Twin-Plug motor due to the twin ignition boxes & Coils that are attached to the firewall where the passenger seat would be. I'm sure they were running carbs.

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T.C.

COOL!

More pictures!

Thanks T.C. for the pictures. You know I will be calling you with questions.

Here is the dash area. Notice the old halon fire system. I am a little nervous
about disconnecting it. I guess the worst is that it triggers and sprays halon,
which I think it pretty inert and non-staining.

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Weird roll over fuel cut off device which uses ping pong balls.

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Twin coil ignition system. I'd like to run a twin plug six motor but I guess
this is much more expensive than a single plug? Also notice the dzus fastened
motor access plate in the firewall. For safety, I will either weld this back up
or install some better sealed panel.

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Wide, fiberglass flares are pretty cracked and beat up. I think I will cut them
off while the car is being blasted. There is a lot of rust underneath the fiberglass.
I plan to repair the flares and reattach them once the car is expoxy primered.
I used to shape and laminate surf boards, so this should not be too hard. The
flares were rivetted and glassed originally. I think I will just glass them to
eliminate the rust holes created by the rivets.

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John

Found some wide, three piece Gotti wheels with Porsche center sections and caps.

I think T.C. had some pictures of 914s from the same era running Gottis.

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These suckers are wide. Tires have no wear but may be too old to use.

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Rear tires are rubbing even with 1" spacers.

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I haven't decided if I like the red accents or not.

John

Time to pull the fuel cell.

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A vintage racing rats nest. I'll be saving this to sell on ebay soon.
These rats knew how to live. There had to be 50 snail shells in there. They
must have taken them back to their lair for some tasty dinners.

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Cleaned it up wearing a respirator and gloves. Don't want any of the humma
humma (sp?) mouse borne virus another member posted about.

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There are a lot of holes and pieces cut out of the front to make room for various
things. I'd like to see something besides the fiberglass bumper between the
front of the car and the fuel cell.

John

If anyone out there has pictures of this car from any event, I would love to have
a copy and find out what you know about it.

I'd also like to see more pictures of period 914 race cars, especially the privateer
run cars.

That is it for tonight.

John

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This is sweet, keep on posting them pics!

Thanks man, I found one more to post...

Not sure why they cut this big hole from the trunk to the gas tank area.

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Don't be shy if you have any comments, people.

John

I will be following your rebuild you have work to do. GOOD LUCK

Pulled the fuel cell and checked it out. Might need some work.

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The fuel cell has a very sturdy rubber bladder filled with foam in it, or maybe not.

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I guess that is what 33 years of soaking in racing fuel will do to something.

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Looks like it was bought in 1976 and is a 500A model.

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I'm pretty sure the receipt for the cell came with the car. Do you think ATL will
honor the warranty still???

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Back of the front bumper shows layers of fiberglass repairs and bondo. Sorry
about the poor photo quality. You can also see the mounting brackets for the
main head lights.

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John

I screwed up the pictures in that last post about 4 times and had to keep editing
it. Sorry about that if you saw it when it was de-ranged.

John

The pics are great keep them comming.

I'd send that Fuel Cell back to ATL for warranty replacement

Don't laugh, I am going to try it...

I read somewhere how they helped refurbish a cell for some other race
car restoration.

John

I need some help from you all. I am planning to use braided steel lines and AN
fittings for plumbing the car, for safety reasons. What dash sizes will I need to
use for the oil and fuel lines. I will be using a carburated six engine.

I bought a used RX7 oil cooler. I'll take it to a radiator shop to be cleaned
and tested and get the right size fittings welded on.

Can the normal steel brake lines be used? I will probably replace all the brake
lines throughout the car.

I would like to start collecting the fittings for this. I want to get some reusable
AN fittings (used) to save some money, but I will use all new hose. How many
feet of each kind of hose (approximately) will I need?

Thanks,

John

John, I'll look through my receipts on my last racecar build to see how much Steel-braid lines I bought and I'll see what extras fittings I have in my box.

This is a picture off Glenn's site. I heard he came by to visit a couple of weeks ago.

T.C.

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John,

Have you thought about the engine yet? I know nothing about IMSA- was the car raced as a 4 or 6 cyl?

Keep up the great work and keep the photos coming!

KP

T.C. Glenn came by and took a bunch of pictures and had a lot of helpful advice
about how to restore the car. What a knowledgeable guy!

Kevin - The car was originally raced with a 4 cylinder. That lasted part of one
season. Not sure if they blew up the 4 or just wanted more power. Later they
ran with a twin plug 2.5 liter 6. This allowed them to stay in the GTU class,
which was for under 2.5 liters. If someone wanted to donate a high performance
4 (like a big Raby) I could see using that. Most likely, I will use a 2.7 or
smaller 6, how hopped up depends on budget. I have a ton of receipts for the
parts used to build the car which I am trying to organize into a chronological
story of how they built the car, then what broke and was replaced when, etc.
I am going to post a summary of this when I get it all done.

John

About 4 years ago I bought a 2.4L "T" engine that last ran 10 years ago. It turned over OK . My son installed it in a 914 with center mount and all the dry sump plumbing. We took the MFI off and installed 40MM webers. If I remember correctly it got 160HP at the rear wheels. A 2.4 T is rated at 140 flywheel. So we took it apart, Polished Rods, dovetailed bearing bosses and a lightened flywheel. Then the surprise. The pistons were 87.5 MM Mahle pistons. This was a 2.5L IMSA engine. Two of the aluminum cylinders had chunks out of them from boring out the stock cylinders where the stock 2.4L head gasket goes. Too thin. Our solution was to have custom "nickies" made. I have all the reciepts for a total rebuild including CE case refinishing and ballancing. Are you interested in a period correct 2.5L engine? You would have to speak to my son who rebuilt the motor to get the full scope of work. Al

Al,

I would be very interested in an IMSA motor. Is that your son Blake I need
to talk to about it? Funds are pretty tight at the moment so it kind of depends
on how much you all have into it.

John

I was thinking these would be cool on your car.

Damn, what are those off, a Boeing 747?

And John, I can't find the receipt on how much braided line I bought. I know I just saw that receipt a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I threw it away?

T.C.

They were actually sold for 911's. 3 1/2 spacing.

Those are some beefy looking calipers. Can you tell us anything more about
them? Were they made for racing 911s or street?

I have Eric looking our for some s-calipers for me right now. If you have
seen his 908 brake caliper thread, you will remember his concept for adding the
quick brake pad change retainer to be more like the 908 calipers. This lets you
change brake pads without any tools. I would really like a set of real 908 calipers,
but for 3x the price of the rebuilt s calipers that may be a while, not to mention
trying to find a set for sale.

The 908 calipers had room for thicker pads for endurance racing. I would hate
to machine a pair of real s calipers to make them look like 908s. If enough people
were interested, it might be worth making a new casting of the 908s.

What do you all think?

John

BTW ralph m and company has the mold for the front bumper.

Do you mean front caliper or bumper? I don't know Ralph.

John

Front bumper - Ralph Meaney

Doesn't Bernie Buschen have some 908 calipers available for sale??? If you are really serious about going that direction. I wouldn't imagine they are even reasonably priced, things like that are ULTRA rare.

Although now is probably not the time to contact him as there was a pretty serious fire at his shop over the weekend that injured his son pretty badly.

Perhaps someone from the northwest can chime in on this one???

Peter

http://www.roadglue.com/forum/showthread.php?t=521

!!!!

It would be really cool if you reproduced the old paint scheme when you repaint. (Yes, very cool, but again them's not my $$$ being spent)

Good luck!

Konrad