What the World needs now is... a progress thread, An update after 2 years? Unpossible! Yet, true. Options

[VaccaRabite]

So, when I started this restoration in October of 2005, I started a progress thread on the Subaru Board (NASIOC) that I active on. I have been meaning to create a thread here, but I never got around to it. I figured the kids over in ricer land would find it more amusing to see a classic resto in action then the folks here that have lived it.

But, I now post more here then I post in NASIOC OT, and feel more involved in the community then I did when I started. So, for the sake of ease, I am going to port over my posts from NASIOC, and posts from today on will be unique here.

As I get ready to paint (JUNE 9th - 13th are PAINT DAYS!) this thread will get more active. :-)

Zach

PS, it kinda fun for me to do this. Looking over the old posts brings back memories of the ride...

[VaccaRabite]

914 Update 10-12-05

Well, so far, the car is still in pieces (haha - of course it is...). The interior is out except for the shifter, pedal cluster, and the dash. I am trying to figure out the dash, and going through the tedious process of marking were all the wires connect. Each wire gets a red tag of electical tape, with a sharpie number written on it, and the associated bit on the back of the dash also gets a red tag with the number. In theory, next year when I am putting everything back together, the numbers will match up and everything will work. Arn't theories grand?

I have also taken out several bit of the car that I never intend to put back in - for the cause of weight savings. Like the "factory" A/C fittings, vents, and dash panel. Using a heat gun and a three-way paint scraper I removed all that nasty "rust preventing" and sound proofing tar from the cabin floor pans (about 10 pounds worth, not to be returned!). It never did much rust proofing, but rather trapped water under it and ruuusted the floor pans. I knew to expect this, and the floor pans look better then expected. Lots of surface rust, but I have not been able to poke through the worst of it with a screw driver and a hammer. I think I dodged a bullet on needing to replace the floor pans!

As soon as I get the dash out, and the shifter and pedal cluster out, the interior tub will be hit with a wire wheel on an angle grinder. This will strip the remaining tar bits, pull out the seam sealer, and clear the rust off the metal. This will be the final test to see exactly how deep it is, but I am hopefull.

I only work on the car a couple hours every other night or so - other wise my household duties won't get done and Erin will get (understandably) pissy. Keeping the natives happy is one of my primary goals with the restoration.

Its kind of perverted, but I kinda hope to find that replacing a floor panel to be needed. Why? Because it gives me the excuse I need to justify buying a MIG welder and learning to weld. I am really trying to be finacially tight on what I buy to do the restoration. So far, so good. But buying a $400 welder "on spec" might open the flood gates in a way I don't want them opened.

I have taken pics, but I did not bring them to work to resize and upload, I'll try and get that done. For the time being just picture a 914, on jackstands without doors, rockers, a hood or an interior.

:-)

Zach