New Member Hello and Question, '73 Front Hood Release Handle issue Options

[flat4tom]

Hello all,

Well, alot has changed since I last had a 914 - there was only one website, now there's two. I seemed to have missed out on that drama...anyway, this is my first post to this website. Funny story, I sold my 914 about 5 years ago to pay some bills off...bummer. About a month ago I got a really bad itch for a 914 again...

After looking for several weeks, and not really finding anything in my price range that was in a condition I would buy...my wife suggests, "why don't you contact the guy who bought yours and see if he still has it and would be interested in selling it back to you?". I thought OK I really loved that 914, I still have his email address so I shot off an email asking about it. To my surprise he replied! He did still have the car, it has not been driven in two years because he could not get the front hood open and it developed a fuel leak up front...and wait for it...


Yes, he would like to sell it, and would sell it cheap to get it out of his garage! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

One thing led to another, we made a deal, and I'm picking up my old 914 from him this weekend!! Even though it does not run, I'm excited to see it again. I know with some help from here, I can get her running again. He said that it was in the same basic condition it was in (really nice!) when he bought it from me but that he underestimated what it would take to maintain the car. He'd only driven it about 1K miles the whole time he had owned it.

So, here's my first problem. The front hood release handle. In speaking with him he told me that he had been fiddling with the front hood release handle lock - which I never was able to get to lock - well, he got it to lock, but then he could not get it to unlock!! Crap! He then told me that he proceeded to drill the lock out of the handle. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) He can not get the handle to pull out.

So, I need to replace this whole assembly. How do I get this handle apart and get the hood open? I know I can remove the front bumper to get the hood open that way, but I need to replace the handle he has drilled out. How does this assembly come apart so I can replace it??

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
Tom

[buhs914]

Thanks for the welcome and replies everyone.

Thanks Clay and Rick. I know what to do now to get the hood open. The car does have a fiberglass 916 front bumper, but I'm sure it's attached the same as the stock bumper. I've never had to take the bumper off when I originally owned it. No, it's not been bonded or blended into the body.

Hey Rick-S - Good to hear from you. I remember reading your build posts back when you were building your 'Alien' and trying to get it to the first WCC. 928 powered 914...What a cool car you have there!

Thanks Betty - yeah, I think it's pretty cool that I'm getting it back too - I'm having a hard time waiting until Sunday when I pick it up!

After I get the hood open, I'll post a question or two about gas tank removal and fuel line replacement....stay tuned!

Because (IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif) attached is a pic of my 914 when I owned it.

Regards,
Tom


(IMG:http://i393.photobucket.com/albums/pp18/computer_space/Porsche%20914/218569.jpg)

I like the look of that front bumper you got!! It looks like an overall sweet ride! hope you solve your issue!