BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Olympic Blue Resurrection, More Winter projects. Options

[Olympic 914]

2016 BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE Contender ... Olympic Blue Resurrection.


Purchased my 914 in 1979. It’s a 1973 base model 1.7 I’m the second owner. Original owner drove it for about 75K.
In ’80 I slid off the road and went into a hillside, taking out the driver’s side fender. While in for that repair I decided to have some minor rust issues taken care of and had the whole car repainted. Back then lacquer was the hot set-up and it looked fantastic. Later while sitting in traffic a big Lincoln didn’t quite stop and pushed in the rear panel. Another trip to the body shop.. Then another time while driving home from work in the rain I hydroplaned coming out from under a bridge and clipped a jersey barrier. Minor damage to the pass. side, but again back to the body shop. So this car has seen its share of incidents over the years.
I drove it for 10 years with only minor mechanical problems until the clutch went out 1989 and the engine had 137K on it. Then I was faced with low funds and engine that when removed will need rebuilding. So I put it in storage in a limestone mine in Bradys Bend PA. Figuring I would get it back out and get it running again one day.

Here are the earliest pictures I could find.

And the day I was taking it to the mines







It wasn't supposed to be here this long..




Fast forward to 2010 -- Coming home. First daylight in 20+ years...



I brought it home to a new 14 X20 SHED I had built just to work on the car. complete with 220V, phone and cable.




After its first bath it doesn't look too bad. But in spite of being buried over 1 mile inside a mountain AND being in a temperature and humidity controlled storage the rust worms were still at work. albeit a little slower.

Since that time I have had the extensive rust issues taken care of by Chris at Tangerine and also had the fenders flared for the 5 bolt Fuchs I will be running.
I have completed the engine rebuild myself going from 1.7 into a 2056 with heads by HAM and a Raby 9590 cam, I am keeping the D-jet FI.
I am now working on the body doing body work and paint. I AM NOT A BODY MAN. I really don’t even like body work but think I am capable.

This is the hardest part for me. I would rather build engines. Most of my experience has been with Harley engines though and there just like big lawnmowers anyway...

Along the way I am learning to weld, machine small parts and paint and acquiring many new tools.

My own self-imposed goal was to drive it to 2016 Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. Not sure if it will happen but without a goal it definitely WON’T happen.

I will post more pictures of the progress I have already made on the car.

This Build off Challenge will be just a little more incentive get out in the shed and work on the car.


Wouldn't it be great to get 30 Teeners back on the road?

Good luck to all participants and I welcome any interest and questions about how or why I did something

Tom

BTW did I mention I don't like body work..

[EdwardBlume]

Good back story Tom. I'm a big fan of Olympic Blue (Dad's car). Good luck with realizing your dreams!

[dangerranger01]

Cool story. I love Olympic Blue....it's my cars orginal color and what I want to respray it as.

Also, don't think i have any flared OB cars in my cars folder. Sounds like you have a good plan.

[Mueller]

Yep, cool story , I love the storage unit!

How many other cars down there?

[914forme]

I used to work in a Limestone mine, not for limestone mining, (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif) so I am very familiar with that dust. Very good story, can't wait to see this one come back to life, love the color.

[Olympic 914]

Yep, cool story , I love the storage unit!

How many other cars down there?

couldn't count them.

There is a couple hundred miles of roadways inside the mountain. usually someone takes you in. cause you don't want to get lost in there.

someone elses video. > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV_gTbs75Zk

And another, this shows more cars there.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH4YZm5U89k

every thing is in there boats, fire trucks, RVs, classic cars, you name it.

[Mueller]

Yep, cool story , I love the storage unit!

How many other cars down there?

couldn't count them.

There is a couple hundred miles of roadways inside the mountain. usually someone takes you in. cause you don't want to get lost in there.

someone elses video. > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IV_gTbs75Zk

every thing is in there boats, fire trucks, RVs, classic cars, you name it.

NO THANK YOU, I will stay outside!

[PlantMan]

Good story for sure. Good luck! Looking forward to the build.
Who would have thought....limestone mine.

[Olympic 914]

Next a couple pictures of the rust.

I knew it was bad when I started jacking up the car to remove the engine and the doughnut jackpoints just crushed and collapsed INTO the longs... every time I worked on it I had a dustpan full of rusty pieces to sweep up.

Caution pics not suitable for the squeamish.

Crushed jack points





Longs







More







You are now excused to (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif) for few minutes. I did..

If this was a west coast car it would have just been parted out..

Do you remember all the cool cars you used to have that you wish you never had sold? I had many. but I still had this one.... AND I had just got it out of the mines after 20 years of someday planning on getting it going again. What a dilemma. As the years passed I had decided it would be my retirement project. And when it was done the GF and I would drive off to many sunsets far away.

So in May '13 I retired and started on it in earnest.



Having NO welding experience, and really not believing anyone local would have the necessary skill to take this on and do a quality job I contacted Chris Foley at Tangerine.

I also sent Chris many of these same pictures and after much discussion he agreed to tackle the project.

So I borrowed a buddy's race car trailer and headed to Connecticut.



Stay tuned folks... more to come...

[madmax914]

Great story Tom, I look forward to following your build.

[JeffBowlsby]

Looks like your car may be one of the 73 1.7Ls without the appearance group. The rawest most basic 914 made.

[Andyrew]

Ouch

That rust is serious!!

[Olympic 914]

Looks like your car may be one of the 73 1.7Ls without the appearance group. The rawest most basic 914 made.

Yep, no extras on this one.

Its an early '73 Build date 9/72. #2387

No door bars, not sure about the roof yet. and as I found out yesterday, early rain tray. didn't know there was a difference.
mine got a little cracked up and warped in storage and a friend has an'74 parts car I thought I could use the rain tray from. no such luck.

I did manage to straighten my rain tray out with a heat gun, and repaired the cracked using epoxy. looks to be holding so far. Time will tell.

[Olympic 914]

This is the work that was completed by the guys at Tangerine Racing.

as usual things are worse once you start tearing into them than you thought.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[Olympic 914]

Couple more

[Olympic 914]

While Tangerine was working on the body I started to work on the engine..





Case all cleaned up



Crank built... 71mm crank

[dangerranger01]

Curious on what kind of long stiffening Tangerine did? Looks like some sort of outside (like 914ltd), and also something on the inside (like the Engam kits). They don't sell anything directly like that from what I can find on their site....

[mbseto]

Curious on what kind of long stiffening Tangerine did? Looks like some sort of outside (like 914ltd), and also something on the inside (like the Engam kits). They don't sell anything directly like that from what I can find on their site....

I'm curious on that too... From those rosette welds on the outer long, I'm guessing it's actually a stiffener welded to the existing outer on the ribs?

[Olympic 914]

Curious on what kind of long stiffening Tangerine did? Looks like some sort of outside (like 914ltd), and also something on the inside (like the Engam kits). They don't sell anything directly like that from what I can find on their site....

I believe they welded the outer pieces to what was left of my outer longs. after cutting away the bad parts.

and the passenger side inside long was pieced in.

My guess is these parts were made in house, Maybe Chris will chime in.

I know it is heavy duty stuff. it looks to be 1/8" at least on the outers.

Built a cart to move the car around and work on it. sandblasting in the driveway. Mostly the stuff I couldn't easily get at with a sanding wheel or disc.




Prepped the trunk for paint, Figure this is a good place to practice painting



And my first attempt at paint.

[ChrisFoley]

Those are the 914LTD long stiffening kit.