How to inspect the underside and longs without a lift, now the Not another novice project thread Options

[seanpaulmc]

I've just purchased a '73 914 and owned it long enough to ship it to Orlando and take it to go get titled. With only having it for this short period my list of concerns is growing. I have no intentions of driving the car around until I can assess how rusty it is. I appreciate the support and responses to the questions about transportation and engine identification. This is a superb community.

What advice do you have for lifting the car to inspect underneath and such without having access to a lift? I have read some of the build threads on here and you guys have some amazing shops and do incredible work! ...one day. But, at this point I don't have that.

For now I'd like to lift the car, take the wheels off, and take the longitudinal covers off to get a good look at the structural areas of the car. However, I have concerns because this is a snowbelt car and I've read the stories about putting a floor jack through a rusted out car. Where should I lift with the floor jack (trust the jacking points?, other areas) and where should I put the jack stands so that I can poke around some and get pictures?

Merry Christmas!!!

[seanpaulmc]

Been a while for an update. With it raining like it does here in the summer not much I can do outside anymore today so time for that update.

Driver side jack point as-found.



Getting down into it.
Entire outside layer of the long which is inside the pyramid is in poor shape. However, the inner layer of the long here is in good shape on this side



Time to clear out this rental. Previous tenant left a ton of $h1t.



I'm amazed at how much nesting material got pulled out of here. There's a wall somewhere missing its insulation. Wonder if it's in my house?



I had to put in an order to Eastwood for another can of the internal frame coating. Once the nest was removed I treated the whole long and the cavity in the firewall again. Used up the can in the center tunnel.

Rebuilding the outer layer with 16 gage.



Got rolling and missed taking phots of the intermediate steps but much a repeat of the passenger side. Jack tube and pyramid in place. Not cutting to the fenders on either side to do this but does take a lot of time and I've left the suspension in place while doing all this. My wife says I always do things the hard way and I'm starting to believe her.





This is my first time doing anything like this and I'm pleased with the results on both sides. I've checked the alignment with the rocker covers on both sides and everything lines up nicely. Ugly welds did get dressed but again didn't take pictures.