My '74 914 Project Begins! Options

[designerguy90]

Hello all!

So my 914 refresh begins! As my car sits, it’s a ’74 1.8, which is somewhat cosmetically challenged (I know the pictures look good, and the car looks pretty good in person, but I am my father’s son and am anal about how my car looks, nothing short of perfection satisfies me).

My current project list includes(and none of these are in “order”):
-Brad Mayeur long kit
-new rocker covers
-dynamat for the firewall
-scuffing, sanding, fixing dents and repainting panels
-hunting for and fixing rust
-replacing battery tray (and fixing the trunk hinge while the engine is dropped, as well as rust hunting and fixing in the engine bay)
-replacing vinyl on sail panels
-refinish wheels
-clean and refinish wheel wells where necessary
-repaint/clean engine tin
-removing wart markers
-miscellaneous problems/projects that pop up along the way
-roll bar and harness bar (I want to autoX)

Currently, I’m planning on doing something fun with the car and giving it a subtle Gulf Oil theme. I have Gulf logos that are going on my front fenders in between where the door and front wheel arch is. I am also toying with either color matching the Fuchs centers Olympic blue, or painting the centers orange, as well as the bumpers, rocker covers and valances. Any thoughts on the paint, or other suggestions as I tear into the car? I am going to do this in quick bursts, so that I can have a car to drive, in between goals in repairing it. Eventually, the goal for the car is a 6 conversion, so I am going to be taking upgrades for that into account as I move forward as well.

-Alex

[designerguy90]

Thank you for the info veekry9, I have done some bodywork, modelmaking and other things with harmful and semi-harmful chemicals, I always try to be as safe as possible!

Kelty, I like the suggestion for the gulf scheme, I will see how that looks. However I will be keeping the vinyl, I don't know what it is about it, but I love it!


Here are a few pics of progress again. I squared the hole next to the bumper mount and wire wheeled it, but forgot to take a pic (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) Will have to do that later.

Took the rocker covers off, was fearing the worst, or at least a bit of rot, but nothing to my sight or in reach of my awl poking for rust. The splotchy matter what appears to be a rubber sealant, I stabbed through and hit solid metal every time, so I think its pretty good. Though there is a patch on the right side long about 3" long and 1" wide that I have to remove and weld correctly.

I will be using Eastwoods Internal frame coating in the longs (as well as some of Eastwoods other fine products on the car), just as a precautionary measure. I know a bit of very small particulate rust has come out of the drain holes, so I want to nip that in the bud now.

I ground/hammered/pryed out the rust on both sail panels and wire wheeled them. The right side hole has solid metal behind, Im thinking because of how it is, I can just pop in a few beads into the spot, fill it, and grind it flush. The right side however, I am going to cut out and patch with a small piece. Suggestions on sheetmetal gauge?

Also, are there any precautions or procedures I should do to the car before welding on her? I know disconnect the battery, but should I do anything else?

Thanks for the support and help thus far guys!