1973 2.0L Rustoration, Restoration turned OT garage build Options

[Superhawk996]

I purchased my first 914 back in 1987 (1973 1.7L) and had that car for nearly a decade and I personally put over 100,000 miles on it before it ultimately fell victim to a negligent driver that drove into the back end of it at about 40 mph while the vehicle was stopped at a red light. That rear end crash totaled the vehicle but what is amazing is how well it crumpled (early crush zones!) due to the kink in the frame where the halfshafts are. Everyone walked away unharmed.

I replaced it with a 1991 Miata. Great car in its own right but I've always missed my 914.

Purchased this "replacement" in May 2018 as a known poster child for a complete right side longitudinal rustoration.

This vehicle had been put into storage inside a pole barn around 2004 as far as I can tell.

Vehicle initially purchased in non-running condition:
Engine couldn't be started.
Transmission shift linkage was disconnected
Half shafts and CV's were in pieces, and the wheel stubs were not installed therefore the vehicle couldn't even be rolled without risking having the rear wheel separate from within the bearing.
Fiberglass laid into the floorpan . . . that can't be a good sign.

Vehicle looks great . . . until I got under it.

I spent the better part of the summer putting the items above back together and trying to confirm that it would:
1) Run under its own power
2) Drive though the neighborhood and shift though all gears.



Looks pretty nice eh?

Here is what is lurking underneath once the rockers came off.



and when I started cutting back the rust. Oh my . . . .

[Superhawk996]

Time to post a little progress for March.

Here is the problem:



Everything starts with the simple task like getting ready to fit up the inner longitudinal. But then you have to deal with the fact that the metal it's supposed to mate to has been consumed by the tin worm. Then you have to stop the original task and then focus on this new one before you can do the main task. That is the way rustoration goes.

I took 3 vacation days from work that butted up to a weekend and went to town.

So with my newly prepped donor parts it's off to the races. Let the cutting begin. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif)

First victim - getting rid of the rear steering rack mount on the passenger side. Like the rear suspension console, it came to me "pre-stripped" by the previous owner. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) That didn't really matter though because the sheetmetal was shot.

Tunnel was also removed. Like all the other metal, it is shot at that transition between to the floorpan. I got tired of getting a kink in my back attempting to work around it & scratching my back on it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) Good riddance. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/piratenanner.gif)

A donor tunnel has been sourced - we'll deal with that later (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)



This car must have flexed and been as loose as the dickens given that the upper body sheetmetal is separated from the lower by rust though on the lower 1" all the way around. I often wonder how people don't notice chassis flex. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Garbage metal on the back side of the rear rack mount; absolutely no structure left here (IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)



The donor metal I obtained was then fitted in on the passenger side floor



Then moved on to reworking the passenger side wheel wheel



(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)



With that metal in place moved on to fixing the "frame" extension that comes in to the passenger compartment from under the fuel tank



View from the Frunk



Spent some time fitting in the lower cowl and then returning my upper cowl access flap to its home. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)



Although I'm making progress, I'm a well behind where I hoped to be by April. I think I'm about two months behind at this point. I would really like to keep this project contained to 1 winter season for the sheetmetal work but it's getting dicey. Not sure what I was thinking. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)


Gratuitous Parts Porn:



Got my proportioning valve back from restoration by PMB. Beautiful.

@Eric_Shea