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

[FourBlades]

Hello 914 World Members!

I am starting on restoring a $500 914 that was left in a field for several years with no windshield. The car belonged to the POs older brother and thus has sentimental value. The sold it to me on the condition that I not part it out. I was looking for a project so this was fine with me. This is my first restoration project so I figured I would learn a lot (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

The car is a mixture of really good sections, appears to have suffered no major accidents, is straight, never been repainted--but it has totally rusted out floors and hell hole. All the suspension mounting points are not rusted. The door gaps are all even and good. If I can replace the floors, I think it will be a good straight car. Many small parts were stolen while it was "stored" and the wiring loom is a complete loss.

Thanks for any comments...John

[FourBlades]

I got a rear half of a tunnel plus cross member from a 914 world member. I started de-spotting it from the chunk they sent me and cleaning it up. Here is where it goes on the rear floor pan. I had to research just what is supposed to be inside a 914 tunnel because mine was mostly rust and mummified lizards.



Moved on to fixing the front of the passenger area. It used to look like this:



I got tired of how nasty the whole interior was so I spent a few hours with a wire wheel, brake cleaner, and metal ready. Then I primed it all. I highly recommend you do this because it will stop your car from rusting any more and it looks so much more like you are getting somewhere.

I got a pedal area cut out of a wreck from another 914 world member and welded it into position. Then I test fit the front part of the floor pan!!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)



The floor pan fit perfectly around the hammer formed front fender parts I made a while back, which I consider a minor miracle. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

I am going to cut out the tunnel and fix it in the comfort of my garage then weld it back in. I plan to use stainless tubing for all those tubes and weld them to supports more frequently than Porsche did, so they don't break off.

Fixing the tunnel out of the car means I can put the floor pans on soon, which will make this seem much more like a car. Now its time for some (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)