Strudelwagon Build Thread (74' -2.0), From Beige to Green Options

[Strudelwagon]

I've been a member here for a couple of years. I've asked alot of questions, got alot of answers and learned more about these cars than I thought would be possible. The 914World community rocks and I figured I would post my journey so other nubies could get some encouragement as I have the past few years.

It all started with a magazine wy wife brought me while I was in the hospital with my second broken hip (ya, Ouch).I'm not Old I just fall off bikes sometimes. I saw this artical on a 914 restoration and figured I would rekindle my love of 2 seater sports cars.

So the hunt was on in British Columbia for a project 914. I already knew I wanted a 73-74 2.0 but finding one was not easy. I looked, but everything I saw was in the final stages of oxidation. I literally could put my hand through most of the outer panels. At the $1000-2000 price range it was hopeless, at the $3000 range where cars with much welding required and no running engines or running 1.7s.

Then I was surfing this site and I saw what was advertised as a 73' 2.0 for $3500USD but in BC about an hour away. Turns out it was a car I had called on but the guy wanted $6000CDN for it. It was a little out of my $$ range. I emailed him and because the US doller was killing us at the time he said it would be $4000CDN.

I ripped up to Squamish and fell in love....and it also was running (bonus)

[Strudelwagon]

The story on the car is that it was from Washington and the PO had bought it with the intension of making it his next project. He already had one but had the bug bad. He ran into a little storage problem so, we made a deal and I drove up to pick it up.



Had it on the trailer before checking the VIN against the title and Houston, we have a problem! the VIN's on the car didn't match the title. Freaking great!

[Strudelwagon]

Here's me...Happy but concerned




The real VIN on all locations on the car is 4742916991, the VIN on the title was 4742916691. Yup, 1 digit off and he managed to get it across the boarder and claimes he didn't know ( I belive him and blame the border gaurd that didn't come out of the building to inspect the VIN)

[speed metal army]

Ha!My buddy IS that guy at the border...If its sumas..More pics strudel!

[Strudelwagon]

The details on the car are: 74' 2.0 Tan interior but sporting a 98 colour code and with some investigation was found to be Porsche 516 Sahara Beige. Frankly a Blaaa colour that the 74' Carerra's used.




The body was amazingly solid in all the spots I had been warned about. It was obvious that it had been in an MVA and rear ended someone. the front bulkhead was toast and the light boxes where bent. It was missing a hood and the seal channel by the windshield was damaged by the hinges in the accident.



The issue with the VIN was just beginning!

[Strudelwagon]

I started with ICBC (local Government monopoly insurance ) and they would not register the car until I had a correct title in hand. I was getting worried that I had just bought a $4000 parts car. The PO agreed to help out with the cost of fixing the problem but the task of fixing it was mine.
Note: If this hadn't been such a solid car I would have walked but after looking at 15+/- cars , this one wasn't getting away.

I began with the DOL in Olympia, WA. the center of the Title world for Washington state. They told me the the title I had was no longer valid (no Kidding). My car is 6991 and the title was 6691 so whenever the real 6691 got sold both our titles would change. Long story short, they wanted the car back in Washington for a VIN inspection. There's a whole lot more to this but I would just rather forget it happened. I did it and now she's mine!

The good part was I did alot of investigation and found 3 of the owners from the US. Google rocks! Three owners before , it was owned by an autocrosser who lived in Seattle that belonged to the lotus club. I got his email from a club news letter from the 80's. He was the one who crashed the car and it was when he bought the car from Gary (SixGT) that the VIN was transposed in the early 90's. (new information 11/6/12)

[Strudelwagon]

First order of business, New bulkhead and my first experience with drilling out spot welds and what seemed like hundreds



The tricky part was making sure the hood would line up when everything was welded together. I spent hours looking for pictures of bulkhead/hood alignment.
When It was done, it was close to perfect.

[Strudelwagon]

In the middle of all this I moved from the lower Mainland to the Okanagan. So things got way laid for a few months. I finished all the rust repair, filled in all the extra holes that these cars get over the years and started looking for someone to do the bodywork.
Google to the rescue, turns out the VP of the local PCA is a bodyman/Painter and had owned a 914 (great guy). He came over had a look and suggested that I take it down to bare metal. He recommended that I sand it off with a variable speed polisher and 8" disc.
Let the sanding begin!

[Strudelwagon]

More Pictures:

[Strudelwagon]

and off she goes to the body shop! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif)

[Strudelwagon]

Last week at the body shop:

[Strudelwagon]

Just so the purist aren't too shocked...I can't live with the original colour. It's just not me! I've owned alot of cars but none are "Beige" She's going to be Viper/Emerald Green.

[Tom_T]

Sahara Beige 73 2L in the capable hands of "preservationist" Steve G/smg914:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=101921

Here's a few shots of the finished goal - if you're going to stick with the more unique/valuable 98 paint code in Sahara Beige, & his looks pretty good all cleaned up! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)





BTW - Steve's has the Brown interior, but you've got the #31 Beige interior with #501 Basketweave & #501 smooth Leatherette, and either #503 Dark Tan or #504 Loop Pile Carpet (assuming it's got the Appearance Group).
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/PaintFabrics.htm

Nice Find! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[Tom_T]

Sahara Beige 73 2L in the capable hands of "preservationist" Steve G/smg914:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=101921

Here's a few shots of the finished goal - if you have 2nd thoughts & decide you're going to stick with the more unique/valuable 98 paint code in Sahara Beige, & his looks pretty good all cleaned up! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/drooley.gif)





BTW - Steve's has the Brown interior, but you've got the #31 Beige interior with #501 Basketweave & #501 smooth Leatherette, and either #503 Dark Tan or #504 Loop Pile Carpet (assuming it's got the Appearance Group).
http://bowlsby.net/914/Classic/PaintFabrics.htm

Nice Find! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

[speed metal army]

How bout Lime green mettalic?L98B?
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i211.photobucket.com-12137-1306130752.1.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i211.photobucket.com-12137-1306130753.2.jpg)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/i211.photobucket.com-12137-1306130753.3.jpg)
It aint so bad!

Looks good Strudel!Cant wait to see the after pics.Im going to have to burn up to the OK to see it in person.Nice work. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[Strudelwagon]

Nice looking ride Speed. Lime metallic looks great on a 914. I still have along road before I can burn anywhere. Reassembly and then MVI (inspection) b/c she's from out of province.

[Strudelwagon]

Just in case you wondered if I was having fun.... here's me laying on the cold cement making sparks... that smell is burning flesh

[Strudelwagon]

The goal on this build is to have a Euro Spec (or as close as) 914. So, some of the things I need are sometimes hard to get. Like that 250kmh speedo I just missed on ebay...Dammit! Another member here got it.


I did score a VW/Porsche thingy for the rear at a smokin deal from a member
like this.


My quest to get that front signal look had me bending and cutting aluminum for a reasonable replica light pod mod.

Yes, that thumb was a victim of a body hammer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[trojanhorsepower]

Looks great! I can't wait to see your progress.

-Peter

[Strudelwagon]

It also came with this early TRIAD single outlet exhaust. Pretty sweey eh?

The sound is pretty bad ass!



I hit it with some BBQ flat black paint and it looks great (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)