Its the final countdown, progress thread Options

[type11969]

I've had this 71 for 3 years now and I've only driven it for 10 minutes before I bought it. I figure if I haven't made serious progress by the spring, she is getting stripped and scrapped. You'll see why. Its probably only a parts car, but I want to learn how to weld, and if I can get this thing back on the road, I think I will be well on my way. I'll start from the beginning:

The exterior, looks harmless enough:
(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914.jpg)

The interior, looks pretty good (wait, what was that saying about wrapping a piece of poo in a pretty package):

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914012.jpg)

Long looks okay at first glance:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914009.jpg)

Wait, umm, is this factory installed golf ball sized hunks of epoxy and bondo:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404015.jpg)

Yum:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404010.jpg)

Delicious:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404012.jpg)

Craptacular:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/914-2018.jpg)

Brace yourself (also have another brace running to the drivers side door jamb, couldn't find that pic):

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404001.jpg)

Couldn't find any pics of the lovely riveting and brazing job a PO did with re-attaching the portion of the fender below the sail, but I hacked that focker off:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/121304002.jpg)

Mmm, clean:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/121304013.jpg)

Also found after removing the interior that the passenger side was once used as a pool, the entire lower inner corner of the long and bulkhead was gone. PO crappily arc welded a new floorpan in, but didn't fix any of the other damage:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/Picture069.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/Picture070.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/Picture071.jpg)

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/111404002.jpg)

Quick break, then pics of the repairs so far . . .

[type11969]

Wow! Dr. 914 defers to me!! Such responsibility, I haven't even been to the 914 University yet, let alone achieve a PhD in 914ing! I think I'll name myself 914 Dictator for Life. Gosh, I'm not sure how I will handle the prestige . . . Guess I'll just have to keep on keeping on, don't start forwarding all your 914 related e-mails to me yet Dr., my head is still swimming from this honour.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Took Tuesday night off, restaurant week in Philly. Good food for cheap trumps working in the garage! Got a little done last night, pics didn't turn out so hot though. Cleaned up the area around the heater tube outlet, lots of seam sealer in that area, also finished up the cutout through the long for the heater tube:

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/pic003-4.jpg)

Made some brackets to replace the rusted out sections of the ones that secure the heater tubes in the long

(IMG:http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b188/type11969/914/pic002-2.jpg)

Probably gonna be the last update until next week though, life getting in the way again . . .


Seriously though, Dr. 914, I can do without the patronizing comments. I know you have a lot of experience with 914s, but that doesn't mean that the products you sell are the only or even the best way to fix a 914, depending on the situation. So telling me, or anyone, that using the products you carry will make the car stronger, more valuable, and last longer just comes off as cheap advertisement. Just like the unsolicited e-mail I received from AA touting your repair pieces shortly after I started this thread. I'll never pretend to know as much as you do about 914s, I know I'll have questions for you in the future and I'm sure I will be ordering from AA soon as well. But I do know a little bit about structures, I design 50+ ton seafaring power conversion buoys for a living, so having you tell me your replacement pieces are the best way to go is rather irritating.



-Chris