New Member! 74 914 widebody (needing resto), the pics you requested! Options

[turdo]

Hello everyone! my name is Aaron and im from central Kansas. i recently traded an Audi of mine for a few other cars that an older gentleman had sitting around his property. among those are a 80 Datsun 280ZX, 80 450SL, 92 Subaru SVX, an 80 el-camino, and a poor beloved 74 914 with widebody fenders that had been sitting in the weeds for nearly a decade (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) ... it just amazes me that someone can purchase these cars only to have it sit in the weather. i have decided to take this little jem on as a project car, and sell the rest.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1102.photobucket.com-15376-1358358413.1.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i1102.photobucket.com-15376-1358358414.2.jpg)

the interior is (use to be) burgundy, a color i dont think ive seen in a 914. after a brief look-over the car, it seems fairly rustless for being outside so long, however the floor board near the peddles has a couple holes in it, the interior needs nearly 100% replacing (gauges, lower dash, steering wheel seem fine) the engine is siezed but the clutch still engages and disengages the gearbox. no telling how bad the fuel tank or suspension bushings are just yet. i have yet to pick up the cars.

so here are a couple of questions:

1. my biggest concern is the floorboard - is there a replacement piece i can buy, or just go at it with sheetmetal? id like to keep it looking as original as possible (i think an engman kit would be nice aswell)
2. how can you tell the difference between a 1.7, 1.8 or 2.0?
3. is it worth the work?? (my vote is hell yes)

thanks for reading guys, thoughts, comments and concerns are welcome

[Chris H.]

Welcome Aaron! Great find. You can get floor pans at:

Restoration Design

You will probably need more stuff, and they have pretty much every panel available outside of NOS.

If the engine is stock it will be a 1.8 or 2.0 for the year 1974... if it still has fuel injection post a pic of it from the top and we can tell you which one it is...

As far as it being "worth the work", the amount of rust is usually the deciding factor. Post pics of the underside and engine bay. Are those flares fiberglass or metal?

FYI lots of people (like me) are transplanting SVX engines into 914s. You can offer it for sale here if you don't want it. Does the SVX run BTW?

Those rims are awesome. Never seen 5 lug "fans" before . The exhaust appears to be a Bursch Sport. VERY loud but cool.

Bottom line is we need more pics...lots more...