Finishing A 914-6 GT Conversion Project, Great Start, But The Devil Is In The Details! Options

[Lucky9146]

As I am trying to make the underneath look better, something I have tried a number of times to do is get a match for the bottom gray finish of the pan.

My 74 appears to have the original paint/coating/ finish on the bottom of the floor pan. It is a gray color with a very slight orange peel finish, almost smooth. And I truly do believe it is an original finish with a few scrapes here and there. It kind of reminds me of an old an old porcelain oven inside color/look. Wondering if anyone has seen it, come across it, knows anything about it? Have tried to look up with no success. It seems that most folks who repaint a car paint the bottom the body color or black.

Any ideas what the factory may have used on a 74? I have no real way for the paint match people to get a good shot at it with the car so low and no lift at the paint place of course.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

A couple more close ups
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

A baby step toward my 915 trans swap was getting my electric speedometer done.

Slowly and I mean slowly, I continue gathering the bits and pieces for this project. Sitting on the shelf for about a year, I now have an electric speedometer ready to go!

Received back over the weekend I had it done by John Bell who is on Pelican & Early S Registry as jbell959.
He performed excellent work and I felt quite fairly priced. I learned of him through a friend who had a lot of custom work done by John.
I recommend him for his work, price, communication + turn around time. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) Wish I had taken a before pic. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

John:
- Swapped needle with early silver button needle to match my current gauges.
- Replaced odometer gear
- Reset odometer to 0
- Repainted bezel
- Installed new acrylic lens
- Removed the word Electric for a cleaner look (his idea)
- Recalibrated and tested it



In talking to @Steve over the weekend, he pretty much confirmed that I will be back into my 915 trans to add the side cover with speed pick up feature.
I had elected not to buy that part, as I had heard there were other avenues like GPS or a pickup on the rear axel.
Someday.................. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

Posting Link from my 2021 Werks Reunion Monterey experience.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...=355634&hl=



Kicking myself for not posting more of the wonderful events I've had the opportunity to participate in with this car and the places my car has been.
Have wanted to resurrect this thread for some time now and share my experiences and the great people I've met along the way.
More to come....
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Cairo94507]

Hi Jim,

Damn, a 915 transaxle...that would be very nice indeed. I hope to see you at an event in the near future.
Cheers,
Michael (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Steve]

Hi Jim!! Nice to see you at UnStock. Car looks great!!

[Lucky9146]

Hi Jim,

Damn, a 915 transaxle...that would be very nice indeed. I hope to see you at an event in the near future.
Cheers,
Michael (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

Werks 2021 Monterey was I posted I think the last time we met up! Yes we must meet up again!
915 is still in the planning / holding stage (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Best
Jim
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

Hi Jim!! Nice to see you at UnStock. Car looks great!!

Thanks will post picture from Unstock soon.

I think the last time we met up was the Julian Cruse Oct 2020 and you let me drive your car!!. Good to see you as well!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

Unstock #3 Sunday at HRE Performance Wheels in Vista CA

I volunteered to help at the event and got there early, doing so afforded me the first parking place, an end spot, right in front of the PCA tent.

Great day! Saw lots of people I knew, amazing cars, great weather, you couldn't ask for a better event.

I would say this being the third Unstock and continuing to grow, that this venue with cars placed inside their manufacturing building was close to Luft 5 at the lumberyard.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)





@Eric9144 was there with his beast.
and got an inside spot!!

[Lucky9146]

Had a good surprise this past Saturday of a friend coming down to San Diego from Venice Beach with his just finished 3 year project '73 914-6 Tribute
Chalk Gray over black interior. He is not a World member.
Built 3.2 L with ITB's. 915 Trans
Fun time! His first visit to RSF
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/silver914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

My lovely wife made this service cover for me a while back, a copy of Garold's Mothers.
She has made a few since. PM if interested.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Justinp71]

Had a good surprise this past Saturday of a friend coming down to San Diego from Venice Beach with his just finished 3 year project '73 914-6 Tribute
Chalk Gray over black interior. He is not a World member.
Built 3.2 L with ITB's. 915 Trans
Fun time! His first visit to RSF
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/silver914.jpg)

Both cars look sweet! I'm really diggin the partial GT look on that Grey car. Any more pics somewhere? That 3.2L with ITB's if you set it up properly it can be a 300hp screamer... so fun.

[Lucky9146]

So, My Alternator light stays on briefly after start, like a minute, and the volt meter stays at 10.
Then with a slight rev., after a few seconds it is as though "something kicks in" and the light goes out and voltage goes up to 13 simultaneously. No other indications, seems to run fine.
I just started noticing this issue a week ago.
Running '79 SC motor with Doroghty DC40 Cams, and Weber 40's, Rich Johnson conversion wiring, stock dist and MSD ignition. I built the motor myself.

Thinking it might be the Voltage Reg or alternator. Anybody reading this with a 6 ever change an alternator in the car? Appreciate any insight.
Thanks
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

Yesterday at C&C 2 other 914's were present

[technicalninja]

All alternators have a thermal cut in speed of something like 1800 rpm.

Yours might be getting old/tired and now requires the bump to 1800.

Next time you start it rev it up a bit and see if the light goes out quickly.

If it does its "sort of normal" and not a good enough reason to change it.

[mb911]

I just had a big thread on this. Got some good ideas and some interesting comments as well but turned out to be a few small things but the major thing was corrosion on a few spots around the fuse panel

[Lucky9146]

Reporting back on my charging light stays on and low voltage at start.

Well, @technicalninja was correct. I started it today and as he suggested:

"Yours might be getting old/tired and now requires the bump to 1800.
Next time you start it rev it up a bit and see if the light goes out quickly.'

With a bit higher rev it went right out and volts read higher. Thank you!
I'll keep an eye on it.

@mb911
Thanks for your threads and chiming in, I found them.

Appreciate the prompt support and hope to be able to return the favor one day.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

Call me crazy, but I decided to enter my car in the local PCA San Diego Region, Zone 8 Concours, this coming weekend, Saturday Nov 9th. Don't get me wrong, I have had this car in "Judged" at the Werks Reunion Monterey a couple of times, but that is not a true Concours IMHO. The judges there do look for sure, but not that deep, and it seems it is really more about your story.
Saturday is is a true Concours, and although the car is nice in a lot of ways, I know all the flaws of course. I plan to share my experience here after the car show. I am doing this more to bring the car up a level and have some fun on the grass with the other folks showing their cars.

Taking this endeavor a step further, I am entered as "Full Concours", meaning they judge the undercarriage too! After the purchase in 2013, I finished the "build" in 2018, and after a fair amount of driving I have managed to keep the underside fairly tidy. My lift is my best friend in the garage and inspections have usually lead to some sort of cleaning over the years.

The engine underneath is ready!
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)



Edit:
I love 914 World and that this thread is all in tact.
After the post I went back to page 1 and on Aug 4, 2015 I can't believe that I said this: "I am going to try to do it right take my time and although it will never be concours it will be a nice car." Well, here we are. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Lucky9146]

New Continentals were installed earlier this year, improving ride performance a lot! I would say, Night and Day ride improvement. Extreme Contact Sport 02 are fairly sticky too. and these tires seem reasonably priced as well. Running 16' 7's with 205's on the front, and 8's with 225's on the rear. In addition, I think they are a great looking tire with a smooth side wall, easy to keep clean.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)





And in addition I decided it was time to replace all the lug nuts with new.

[Lucky9146]

There was something I had never addressed over all the years I've owned this car, and that is the back panel, behind the muffler/ heatshield. I forgot to take before pics, sorry. It is not the straightest, and that can't be fixed without major work, but it was yellow, and although you couldn't really see it easily, if you looked in from the rear tire, you could.

The owner, two owners proceeding me, is the one who had the car all done with a big 4 in it. He is also the one that had the steel flares and Imron paint done in 1995 that is still holding up quite well. Thankfully!
As the story goes he had finished the car ,or nearly finished it, and whether the bumper was on or not I don't know. Anyway he supposedly drove to a friends house and it was parked on an incline he got out and forgot to set the brake, and it rolled backwards into a tree. Hence, panel replaced with yellow panel, and not the greatest weld job I might add. I have chosen to ignore it until about month ago, when I got serious about this Concours.

Without removing anything, and only taping off the rear valance/ heat shield /muffler, I managed to brush paint that panel and edge, FINALLY. It's the details.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)

[Lucky9146]

I just realized this is post 1000 on this thread!

Back to the tires /wheels for a minute. One of the front wheels had some issues with finish on the anodize so I took it to Fuchs Restoration where Ed and the crew did an amazing job. The paint finish is really smooth. It just came out so great.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/white914.jpg)