Early 1970 914 original barn find..., Going to see it Friday, owner finally wants to sell it... Options

[oakdalecurtis]

Ok Brain Trust! I am going with another 914 owner to Sonora, Ca this Friday to look at a 1970 barn find. This 2nd owner said the car has been in his barn for 20 years, that it ran when went in, and has been rolled about but never started over the years. VIN # is 4702902635, which I believe would make it the 2,635th 914 built in the first year of production, 1970. The odometer says a little over 60K miles. We will check the engine number, but have no reason to believe it is not all original. He says that other than the obvious cosmetic issues outside, there is no bondo that he could find (magnet checked) and no chassis rust (I know, we've all heard that before. We'll look Friday as best we can, hell hole, trunks, etc, but won't be able to remove the rockers).
Question: IF we can roll the car, AND the brakes are not seized, AND the engine rotates in gear, AND I bring a battery and fire extinguisher, would it be ok to hook up the battery, turn the ignition just to the "on" position and see if the gauges come to life? IF they do and that checks out positively, what about trying to start it? I know the fuel is probably crap, and the fuel lines COULD leak, but if it all seems good up to that point, what about a test start up?
I will try to find the engine number on the top of the engine. Besides lots of photos and checking the obvious areas for rust, what else might we want to know about?
It looks like it has the original standard VW steelie wheels and caps, correct for these early 914's.
Shouldn't it have a 1.7 label on the back along with the 914 label?
I will ask him for all records that he has also.
I convinced the owner to let the car go to someone who wants a project car. I told him I would be willing to post all photos and info that I get there on this site and see if any members here would like to BAT and get his project car. My GUESS at this point, with this info, is I would recommend a price around $3500.
Any further thoughts or comments before my Friday visit? Think I'm close on a price recommendation, with what we know so far?

[Superhawk996]

what about trying to start it? I know the fuel is probably crap, and the fuel lines COULD leak, but if it all seems good up to that point, what about a test start up?

Trying to start an engine that has been sitting for 20 years is a bad plan.

1) Horizontal boxer engines don't store well. Usually end up with corrosion and pitting on bottom of the cylinders.

2) At a bare minimum you want to pre-treat cylinders with oil and/or penetrating oil before a 1st start to avoid breaking rings. Oil in the crank is probably garbage and won't do any favors for bearings even if it tried to start. Clutch probably has a 50/50 chance of being stuck to the flywheel. Whole host of other "what if" or "could" scenarios very few of which are in your favor to have it just simply start.

3) Even if it does start the engine still probably run very rough and needs to be rebuilt due to #1 or simply that it got put in "storage" because it wasn't running right to start with.

4) You're just going to suck in bad fuel and/or rust from the tank making matters worse for injectors and/or carbs.

5) If it does sputter or even cough, the seller now thinks its worth $1000 more even though it still likely needs a complete engine rebuild.

It is what it is. May be a nice car for restoration but as it sits a poorly running engine means very little to actual value of the car.

[SirAndy]

Trying to start an engine that has been sitting for 20 years is a bad plan.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

About the worst thing you could possible do to that engine. In fact, don't even try to "turn it over".
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/icon8.gif)

don't put a battery in it. Barns have rodents, so until the electrical system can be checked for chewed wired and possible shorts

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

And also no on the battery. One short somewhere and your 50 years old wiring harness will go up in smoke. Why risk that?
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[oakdalecurtis]

And that's why I go to the Brain Trust! Ok, won't try to start it or even put a battery in to check electrical, bad plan. I don't think I'll even try to move the engine in gear, breaking rings isn't cool.
Does everyone agree with Front Yard Mechanic, that, based on what you see and know at this stage, it's only worth 2k? That seems a little low to me.....
Btw, I do not have the room or motivation to do a resto like this. I am only going to post it for sale online here for him if he decides to let it go. Anybody interested so far? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
ty

[SirAndy]

Does everyone agree with Front Yard Mechanic, that, based on what you see and know at this stage, it's only worth 2k?

That early rear bumper is 1k alone, if restored.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[mepstein]

Does everyone agree with Front Yard Mechanic, that, based on what you see and know at this stage, it's only worth 2k?

That early rear bumper is 1k alone, if restored.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

I did restore & re chrome an early rear bumper. Chrome cost $450 and shipping 2x was $150. Sold for 1k.
There is a lot of good stuff in an early car but a lot of time, work & space to part and sell.

[oakdalecurtis]

That early rear bumper is 1k alone, if restored.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

I did restore & re chrome an early rear bumper. Chrome cost $450 and shipping 2x was $150. Sold for 1k.
There is a lot of good stuff in an early car but a lot of time, work & space to part and sell.

I realize that there are a lot of unknowns, but we also do know a lot about this ride. I see here that just certain parts alone have a significant value. If the car is what we see, engine is salvageable, no significant structural rust, etc, would some of you like to chime in on what price that I might suggest to the owner to post it at in this forum? Help me out, take a reasonable stab.....