Area51Werks starts another Autotopsy Resurrection of a Factory 6, Welding is Done! Fixtures are removed Onto the cleanup and paint work. Options

[rick 918-S]

I wanted to start another build thread for the 914-6 I purchased from Ethan. When we were able to put together a deal I could hardly wait to come out and collect it.

Last year our Titan was totaled. So Sandy and I took our little truck with trailer and headed out. We drove straight through to Vegas. We met up with John Peterson and stayed in the 914 room. Sandy was calling it our room. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

Half way to Vegas the brakes started grinding. There was no way we were going to make So Cal and all the hills with dead brakes. So while Sandy was at her meeting in Vegas JP and I rebuilt the front brakes on the mighty Ranger. Thanks again for all your help and hospitality John!

Our first stop on the way to pick up the 6 was at Ron's shop. Ron set me up with a 2.7S and goodies. Thanks to his generosity I have most everything to put the car back in running condition when the chassis work in done. And congratulations to Grandpa Ron and the new baby girl they just welcomed into the world.

When we arrived at Ethan's we were pleasantly surprised by the weather. Beautiful Sunny California makes it hard to leave and come back to the cold and snow. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) Yes, we were greeted by a nice light dusting of snow when we arrived home. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Anyway, it was great to spend the day with friends, eat brisket and tell stories.

Kent, Rod and Wayne came to help with the fun.

I received a project from Rod while I was there. More on that in another thread.

Rod was a wealth of knowledge about the history of this car. I really need to spend some time on the phone with him now that I am back and talk more about the cars origin and past.

Kent lead the way and got us back on the road heading out of So Cal to points east. It was a great day in the 914World. Thanks all!

Now on to the car. I have it home now. My son Aric and I spent some time doing forensics on the chassis. We dropped the suspension and started removing some of the bolt on stuff that will have to be cleared in order to repair the chassis.

I plan a full on documented chassis rebuild showing the process involved in determining how and where to pull, what to remove and the importance of proper technic when splitting panels welding things back together. To some this may be basic but I get a lot of questions about chassis repairs and felt it would be a good place to start a discussion.

For now, here's the car:



My favorite place to stop for a photo of my 914's. I have taken a photo here with every 914 I have.

[rick 918-S]

Anyone of you that really know me know I am extremely driven. I haven't talked about this before but I had some set backs. Going to Mayo for a surgical consult. May or may not be a candidate. Either way I'm doing what I do everyday. Just some days it's a lot. Had my legs collapse a few times. Makes inspecting roofs scary. Anywho that's enough of that Waaa waaa BS. Not going to let it defeat me. Not going to happen. Don't even comment on it cuss I'm not going to respond.

My friend Chappy gave me an early front clip several years ago before I even had this 6. When I got the car I spent a butt load of time trimming it in preparation for the repair. I had it ready to transfer.

Along came Juergen's 6 in need of a serious front end repair to an otherwise near rust free car. Only reason it needs the work is because some rookie completely spanked the repair. I purchased a 74 shell and planned on using it for Juergen's car. The cost to ship it is way out of control. I bid it up to $ 1100.00 with no takers.
I ended up donating the early front I had trimmed for my 6 in order to get this moving. I am still collecting parts for his repair. But I'm close now. As soon as I can get the parts I need from Glenn. Mark and I can work out the details with regard to his fixtures.

Brings me to my 6. I now plan to use the 74 parts car. I am working out a deal with Garold to pick up a car for Mark from 914 rubber in Michigan and bring it to Glenn's place West of Chicago. I have to collect some parts from Glenn for Juergen's car. So I will have my son pick up Mark's car from Glenn and eventually haul it west to Billings Montana where Mark or who ever he has come my way can swap cars. Crazy car relay but both of us have been unable to get shippers to move the cars at a price that makes sense.

So this will be awhile before my 6 gets reassembled. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)