What have I gotten myself into, New old 914 Options

[Rick H.]

Evening everyone,

I'm new to Porsche but have always liked the look of the 914. Drove one a few times just enough to realize the shift pattern was not what I was used to. I've been looking around for a project car and found several MG and Triumph models but they were all either rust buckets, a project someone started but dropped or stupid expensive. Besides, who wants to deal with British electrical systems from the 60's? Not me. Fortunately I have decent mechanical skills and once built a 350 4 bolt Chevy in my kitchen. I was single and what else was I going to do with a kitchen? Worked out well. Last week on Facebook for sale I found a 914, looked at the photos, lost my mind and bought it. It's a mess. Stored inside or at least under a roof for 20 something years. The guy that bought the property found it and a lot of other stuff in one of the barns and finally decided to get rid of it. He pulled it out and it rained immediately. The paint is dead and the interior is awful but I found no signs of rust, just some surface corrosion. It's a '74, not sure which engine but not a 6 cylinder. Looks like most of that is there, all the dash instruments are there. No sign of rodent infestation damage. Tires are toast of course but I should be able to get it on a trailer to get it home. All four wheels turn, no lock ups. Headlights and bumpers are missing but I suspect they are in a storage building with a lot of other stuff. I'll need a flashlight and a shotgun to root around in there but the rattle snakes haven't started moving yet. The seller thinks everything is here, just not all in the same place. I'll post a few photos of my latest nightmare, I mean project, when I get it home. Should be next week. I've found quite a few videos on YouTube that have been worth watching and there's a place in Atlanta that does a lot of work with the 914. I also found this place thank goodness. I'll need to learn who the parts sources are for these cars and a whole lot more. For now I'll settle for learning what to look for and what questions to ask. First question: is there a decent shop manual for the 914? Back in the pre internet days someone produced a series of very basic shop manuals for nearly any kind of car but I don't know what's out there now. I've done resto work on a 68 Mustang and a 79 Z-28 and what I learned from those is how to figure things out and how many things the previous owner did wrong. Anyway it's nice to be here and I hope to get underway on this car soon.

Rick H

[Rick H.]

I got into it again for an hour or so this morning trying to get the battery box out. Definitely some kind of plastic replacement and definitely a hurry up job. It has a screw going though one side that won't come loose and I kid you not, an L bracket that I would normally use to put up a wall shelf if I were in a hurry is holding it in place. I think it will take a hack saw to get that out of there and I have no idea how the person who did this managed to get nuts onto the bolts inside some of the sheet metal but I have to wonder if a trip the the doctors office afterward was involved. More damage to the hell hole than first seen but no surprise. I need to get the side skirts off for more inspection. By the way, where are the jack points on this car? I'm going to have to put it up on stands long enough to get tires replaced just so I can move it and don't want to punch a hole in the bottom. I noticed battery cables in place and there is oil in the engine. I wonder if it will turn over.

Rick H.

[SirAndy]

I wonder if it will turn over.

I wouldn't try that on an engine that has sat for so long without at least taking the heads off to get a feel for what the inside of that engine looks like.

You try to "turn it over" the way it is there's a good chance you'll ruin the crank, bearings, cylinders and pistons.
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