Ex BUILD-OFF CHALLENGE: Brett's 914, Got engine installed and working on wiring! Options

[brettrarnold]

Background
This car was the first car that Brett drove when he was 13 and was given to us in 2014. It had been sitting idle back in Indiana under a family friend's carport for the past 15 years before Brett went back to Indiana and towed it out to Colorado with his father in July 2014. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

When we got it, we didn't have a garage to work on it and it sat idle being stored outside for another year until we could afford a house with a garage. Colorado is pretty expensive so after we got a house with a garage, we then needed to save up more money to work on it.

Also I must mention in my ignorance, there were 3 distinct phases of thinking for getting this car fixed which I now find funny and are listed below

Phase 1: I will tow this car out to Colorado and get it the engine running for maybe $2,000 and have a working car.
Phase 2: Holy shit after researching this is impossible and will have to pay somebody to fix it for $15-20k.
Phase 3: I have enough local support and 914world resources and can fix this myself for around $10-15k.

Build-Off Challenge
So Amy and I are going to be tackling different aspects of this car so the posts will be coming from both of us. I will handling the rust/engine work and Amy will be on Interior and Exterior. Also she may help with some of the posting so we will start each post with name.

Brett
Step 1 (Complete) was to remove the engine and assess the frame rust situation. Never having removed an engine from a car, this was an extremely daunting task. The steps listed in Pelican Parts tutorial - 914 Engine Removal Made Easy is by far the most difficult thing I have done to a vehicle thus far. Hell I don't even know the difference between a camshaft and a carburetor much less a CV joint or a clutch cable. But after staring at it for about 2 weeks, I decided to just start unhooking shit and labeling. Made a ton of progress and finally got the engine about 95% unhooked. Had a friend come over to help me out and we actually got it out. WOOHOO!!!

Step 2 (Complete) is to strip out all the interior. I ordered chassis braces and other misc items from Tangerine racing and am still in the process of identifying all the rust areas that need repair.

[rnellums]

Just wait till they start posting pictures of that rust! This car is going to be a labour of love, but Brett and Amy have the drive!

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this one!

[brettrarnold]

Just wait till they start posting pictures of that rust! This car is going to be a labour of love, but Brett and Amy have the drive!

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this one!

Ya the rust ohh that rust. I feel that it really is a double edge sword. Without 914 rust there wouldn't be soo many good 914 welders..... Also I feel it creates a sense of camaraderie between us 914 owners. Everyone whose owned one has atleast one thing in common..... fixing the RUST....

Probably a more optimistic way of looking at than most have but my 2 cents. Looking forward to learning how to weld!

I've joined the 914 Colorado yahoo group and as I get further along I will be reaching out to everyone and anyone here local for help with rust. On the plus side, Amy works for Breckenridge beer and the fridge is almost always full of the stuff. Hope welders like breck beer is my saving grace.

Will post photos of the rust tonight and any comments or tips is much much MUCH appreciated!

As for the pup, ya she just sits outside and is constantly wishing for a cat or bunny to chase. Right now she's wearing a cone from an accident chasing a bunny across the street. Funny photo forthcoming.

The car looks solid at the moment but after talking with Ross (rnellums) I realize I am going to have to cut the body to get to the frame rust. That is really disheartening to me as I enjoy the current paint scheme. It happens.

Great comments and thanks for posting everyone. Feedback is going to be important for us.

-Brett