Starting a 1971 IMSA 914 Restoration, A privateer run 914 with Sebring and Daytona history Options

[FourBlades]

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. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

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



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



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



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



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



Fiberglass flares and paintwork need a little bit of work.



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. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)



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

[FourBlades]

Thanks very much for all the comments. It helps me to decide what to do.
This car has a lot of value to me and I see myself as a caretaker. So it will
get used in appropriate events but not abused nor will it be locked away in my
motor racing heritage museum (i.e. my garage). Wouldn't it be cool if a couple
regular guys (like the original owners were) could build still build a car and
compete in the ALMS/IMSA with the big boys, which is what this car represents.
I think for a lot of closet racers, this is a common dream.

My plan is to make it look like it did when it ran Sebring, Daytona, etc. on the
outside but with the rust repaired, new components that would not have been
out of place in the late 70s, and safer than it was. So it will get the same exact
paint scheme, same type of fiberglass flares, I will repair the original front
bumper, repair the fiberglass roof, use the original fuse and switch panel,
use the custom made oil tank, use a GT style front oil cooler like they had,
use Gotti wheels like they did, keep the original roll cage, original tranny
cooler and pump, 2 fuel pumps, 2 ignition set ups, etc. No carbon fiber.

Whereever I can keep the original parts I will, and where I can't I will get similar
new or used parts. I do plan to make it safer so I will use braided fuel lines, etc.
but am looking for nickel plated fittings rather than blue and red aeroquip fittings,
which they had only a few of.

It is interesting how many companies are still in business that made parts
in the 1970s, like Koni, ATL, mocal, holley, bilstein, bosch, etc.

I could have kept it exactly as I got it, but it would only be a rusty paperweight
then, not a living, running car. I plan to bring the car back to life without over
doing it, or using stuff they never had, unless for safety.

I was also thinking we are only seeing what it looks like 30 years after they
quit racing it. Who knows when the front end crash happened that removed
so much of the original metal and caused a lot of rust to happen. It was run
in SCCA racing after the original builders sold it (they moved on to 911s).

Sorry for the long ramble, I am actually trying to keep this fun.

Today my buddy Sean (the Prawn) was over and we built a stand to get the
car off the ground so we could remove the suspension and repair the front
end damage.



You can see how little was left of the front of the car. A couple world members
are helping me out with parts cut from wrecked cars that I will post when they
get here.



Getting some serious help from Chris Foley, which is hugely appreciated.

John

[KELTY360]

Today my buddy Sean (the Prawn) was over and we built a stand to get the
car off the ground so we could remove the suspension and repair the front
end damage.




John

Here we go with the wood again....sheesh. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Great project and I like your perspective on the restoration but this time, build a metal rotisserie so it won't de-lam in the Florida humidity.

Sure are a lot of great build threads on TheWorld right now.