Starting a 1973 restoration, Restoring a left for dead $500 914... Options

['Cause]

I could of missed it but, I didn't see a transmission ground strap?

[sean_v8_914]

rock on John!!! vroom

[FourBlades]

Thanks guys for the positive comments. I do have a ground strap on the tranny
but something is wrong electrically. I tried the smoke test yesterday with a 5 amp
fuse in line and nothing melted! Lights and flashers are working! Put the battery
in directly and no fuel pump and no starter, though. I will have to track
those down.

I spent most of the day yesterday torquing the front and rear suspension to
specs. I did an eyeball alignment but will need to wait until it is on the ground
to set the ride height and do a tape measure front end alignment. Once it is
running it will go to a Porsche specialist here for a real alignment.

Still left to do is mounting the remote oil filter console. That will be fun with
the engine in the car because the fittings are on the front of the motor. I guess
I have to cut off part of the engine mount to make room to get the oil line
in, I am thinking air saw? Bleed the brakes and add fluids and in theory, the car
would be drivable after that!!!

Here is the easiest way to get a title for your car if it was lost.

http://www.mainelytitles.com/

This process requires the police to come out and verify the VIN and sign some
forms for you. They also check with National Crime Information Center (NCIC),
so if your car is stolen then you will find out right then.

You need to have a notarized bill of sale from the PO, so when you buy a car with
no title, make sure you get a bill of sale and have it notarized. There are forms
on line for a bill of sale for different states.

You need to have proof of insurance. Mainely Titles charges about $350 depending
on the age of the car. I think most 914s would be the same. Cars from the 90s
and up can cost $1000 to title.

Maine has very liberal laws when it comes to retitling cars. I think this is a money
maker for the state. They do some pretty thorough checking and then bam, you
get a Maine license plate and registration in the mail. No title yet because Maine
(and some other states) do not issue titles on older cars.

Then you take the Maine registration and plate to the FL DMV and they tell you that
you need a Police inspection of the VIN (Deja Vu all over again). I live about 5
minutes from the local shop so they come over again and sign the paperwork.
Back to the DMV, where for $160 dollars they will transfer your out of state plates
and issue you a Florida title. For about $35 they will give you an antique plate,
so I went for that. Altogether the process takes six months and is a pain but
then you have a clean title in hand as they say. With some other fees this cost
more than the $500 I paid for the car originally, but it was so worth it.

I don't recommend buying cars without titles mostly because they could
be stolen and then you are out your money and have some explaining to do to
the police. I believed the DAMOFOPO who sold me my car when he said he had
the title and just had to find it. Later he said, no the salvage yard I bought it from
has the title. No the guy who owned the yard died and his widow has the title.
No, I am moving out of state and working on a secret, undercover government
program that I can't tell you about. No shit, he acually told me that just before
dissappearing for good. I figured, OK, without a title I can still spend a few
hundred, maybe a thousand getting this car running and then AX and DE it so I
come out a winner anyway. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/av-943.gif)

John

[FourBlades]

I am surprised my saga of how to get a title did not get any responses. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)
You all are way too polite to not point out what a dumb ass I was to buy such a
rusty piece of sh*t not even a parts car that also did not even have a title. I wish
I could say it was all part of the plan from the start. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)

I have been busy trying to finish up a lot of little stuff and have not taken the
time to post much. First off, the car made it back to its own wheels almost
two years to the day from going on jack stands (this was back in December).



I think it looks pretty good.



I forgot about the engine cover when I originally painted the car, and now that the
engine is in it seemed like a good idea. The little side grills next to the engine
cover were the first parts I "restored" so it was cool putting them back on.



John

[FourBlades]

First engine start today!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdbObtVw6YU

It took me weeks of fiddling around to get it to run for several reasons.

First off, when you refurb your gas tank using one of those kits, rinse the tank out
with gas a few times after the rubber coating has dried! I followed the directions
to the letter but they did not mention this last step. As a result, there was a lot
of debris in the tank that quickly clogged the fuel filter in front of my pump.

I had to pull my tank, rinse it, and then run a lot of good fuel through to clean
everything out. Some of the debris was small enough to go through two filters
and that shit does not burn.

Second, the idea of recirculating fuel from your carbs back to your tank is a bad
one. I installed two clear fuel filters, one in front of each carb so I could see if
I was getting fuel. While I had the recirculating setup installed, the air never
cleared out of the filters and I suspect fuel pressure was nil. I removed the
recirculating lines and the filters immediately filled up and the car started.

I also had some trouble timing the engine right until Mark gave me some
pointers. Also lots of good help from Jake Raby and Blake Meredith.

We took the car around my block three times to celebrate. The transmission
I rebuilt under Dr. Evil's watchful eye worked great. I used reverse, first,
second and third with no problems, no grinding, no wondering what gear you
are in. Freaking day of miracles. I went out and bought 50 lotto tickets right
after that.

Lots of sissy little details left to finish like rearview mirrors, head lights that
work, carpet, and not having wiring hanging in your lap as you drive.

John (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[McMark]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif)

Awesome! Drive it out to the WCR. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/happy11.gif)

[watsonrx13]

Looks great John, congratulations... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

-- Rob

[SirAndy]

Second, the idea of recirculating fuel from your carbs back to your tank is a bad
one. I installed two clear fuel filters, one in front of each carb so I could see if
I was getting fuel. While I had the recirculating setup installed, the air never
cleared out of the filters and I suspect fuel pressure was nil. I removed the
recirculating lines and the filters immediately filled up and the car started.

No, the idea is sound. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

However, you need a fuel pressure regulator after the carbs to keep the pressure to the carbs steady. Otherwise, the pressure just bleeds off through the return line.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/bye1.gif) Andy

[URY914]

Great job, John.

[Gint]

Looks fantastic! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[wayne1234]

Looks good, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) you have done alot of work to your baby, I have knida been loosly keeping track of how many hours I have spent with my other girl,I sometimes will add into my post this took x amount of hours,,, how many hours you figure you have into it so far???

[Kirmizi]

Well Done! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)
Mike

[Eric_Shea]

Great job John.

[jcambo7]

Congrats man. This build is amazing and was great to follow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drunk.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

[FourBlades]

Thanks everyone for the comments.

This has taken about 120 weeks at an average of 5 hours per week. Some weeks
I did nothing and other weeks I did a lot, so I think this is probably pretty close.
That makes about 600 hours so far.

John

[MDG]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Great, John!

[bcheney]

John,

I was thinking about your progress on the car just the other day. It really looks great. Congrats! Your patience, enthusiasm and skill have paid off. Can't wait to see it in person. I'll give you a call the next time we are in Indialantic.

Brian

[FourBlades]

Hey Brian,

Next time you are over we can actually drive a 914 instead of just admiring
them sitting on jack stands.

John

[oz371]

Awesome work, Awesome thread!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[FourBlades]

Starting the balancing and tuning process for my carbs. I noticed that CB
performance sells a kit to relocate the throttle spring on the left side carb so that
both carbs have the spring on the front (of the car) side. This is supposed to even
out tension on the cross bar.

Is anyone using this or is this a recommended thing?

John

http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=551