'73 restoration update (tar mats and a parts car), plus a question about group buys Options

[cn2800]

As I've lurked for the last few weeks, I see a number of items coming up in group buys that I'll need if I want to complete this resto correctly. I put my name in for the strut wrench, but have held off on the others. What I'm wondering is how often do these sorts of buys come around? If I don't act now, will it be three years before I can get a correct compliance tag, or will another come up in six months?

Now, since I promised I wouldn't spend any money on this restoration until I knew what I was in for, I've spent the last two weeks doing free things. I got the car down to just the body shell:



And completed what I hope is the WORST job about restoring a 914 - removing the tar mats and trim adhesive from the interior:







Had the opportunity to pick up the parts car this afternoon:



She's pretty rough, and was originally Marathon Blue Metallic:





One nice surprise was finding these in the trunk:



It's a '74, and I think a 1.7. The intake setup is a kind of goofy custom job, but the heat exchangers look relatively new. Will 1.7 heat exchangers work on a 2.0?

My goal is to have this project complete by 22 Aug of next year, so I'd like to thank you all in advance for the upcoming help and advice.

[EdwardBlume]

Look at all that garage space....... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

[BeatNavy]

Look at all that garage space....... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/w00t.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Seriously. I'm jealous.

Group buys? I haven't been around too much longer than you but it is my impression that few, if any of them, are critical to where you are right now in the restore process. If you find you end up needing something, just put a WTB on the classified and you'll probably have little trouble getting it (unless it's an original interior light lens or something). There are tons of people here willing to help find things.

Nice job on the tarboards and adhesive. Yes, that job SUCKS.