'73 2.0, a yellow storage unit find Options

[arne]

Well, as I posted at the end of my intro thread ( http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...=303932&hl= ), I bought my 914 over the weekend. We've all heard of barn and garage finds, this car was found in a large storage unit.

Details - '73 2.0, 4732924138, yellow. Appears to me to be Saturn or Chrome yellow, but I never looked at the paint plate to say for sure. Will confirm that and correct later. Confirmed, L13M, Saturn or Chrome Yellow. Odometer shows just over 72k miles, seller claims that is correct, but I haven't gone through the paper trail to verify. The car does look like that could be accurate. I am the fourth owner.

Rust seems limited to the battery tray, passenger floor and right sail panel (where water obviously got trapped behind the vinyl). The hell hole looks solid at this point. None of the rust appears to be holes yet. Definitely some work to do there.

The car was said to run when it was parked in the unit, other people not involved in the sale confirmed that it drove in under its own power. Been sitting for 6 years or so. After it got in, the seller began very rudimentary prep for restoring it, but life got in the way. So about all that was done was to pull all the lenses off.

I'm waiting for a flatbed to gather it up now, should have it in my garage later today. Here are a couple of pictures to show the beginning.

[PlantMan]

Good Luck!
Looks like a good place to start from.....
Much better looking than my car!

[billh1963]

Congratulations! Looks like an Appearance Group car.

A '73 2.0 is the" Holy Grail" of the /4's these days

[arne]

It's home, and the exploration is beginning.

[jrblackbox]

Nice plate!

[EdwardBlume]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

Nice base. Good luck with your explorations!

[arne]

A few initial finds. The rear euro lenses and front US lenses are all Hella, not repro. I think they will clean up nicely. The spare tire is the original Continental TT714 on the matching Fuchs, has never hit the ground, no scuffs even in the lug seats. In the rear trunk were a few miscellaneous parts, including a brand new set of 4 original wheel center caps, still in the Porsche boxes.

[pete000]

Nice rescue !

[steuspeed]

+1 on the plate. I just got the Pacific Wonderland.

[Cairo94507]

That sure seems like a terrific buy. The plate alone makes it work twice what you paid. Keep the pics coming. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Larmo63]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

Great score, lucky YOU!!!!!!

[arne]

+1 on the plate. I just got the Pacific Wonderland.

If - as the seller claimed to me - the plate has been kept current and is still reserved for this car, it is a great addition. I do have the Pacific Wonderland plates on my 911.

If the '73 914' plates have expired and someone else has claimed it, I do have a pair of period blue plates I've been hoarding for a potential future use, same ones I had on my 240Z, pictured here. They would also look good on a 914. But I'd rather keep the ones that came with the car, if I can.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/arnes.stuff.paunix.org-20799-1485886647.2.jpg)

[arne]

Due to other prior commitments, I haven't begun in earnest yet, and probably won't until next Monday. But I have found a few more interesting tidbits:

• Rear shocks appear to be Konis. Obviously can't tell about the fronts yet.
• At least two of the brake calipers are toast, one on each end. No surprise there, I budgeted for a complete overhaul as I always do on projects like this. But it turns out the hoses are already braided stainless, which will save me a little cash and the time and effort to install new hoses, especially the rears.
• Took a good look at the radio the previous owner had in the trunk, it's much cooler than I counted on, a mid-70s vintage Blaupunkt. Will look quite good in the dash.

[ConeDodger]

Nice! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif)

[arne]

Yay! Transferred the title today, DMV confirmed that the custom plates are still valid for this car, registration has not lapsed. Great news!

[arne]

Spent some time with the car today. Charged a battery and began going through bits. After some prep (oil in cylinders, pull fuel pump relay, ect.), it spins freely, has oil pressure, and also has spark (after replacing the badly corroded points).

Then started checking over the fuel delivery. Total cr@p. The nylon/HDPE lines seem quite brittle and inflexible to me, the hoses appear to be 44 years old, the hose clamps are nasty worm gear type, and the fuel pump in stock location is leaking. Looks like I will need it all. Will probably upgrade pump to a later 2 port style and relocate to the front, since I'm going to have to pull the tank anyway. Trying to make sense of Tangerine's order page now, figuring out what kit I need.

[N_Jay]

. . . .The spare tire is the original Continental TT714 on the matching Fuchs, has never hit the ground, no scuffs even in the lug seats. . . .

"Original German Air"!

[Mikey914]

Looks like you are on the right path. Fuel lines should all be replaced, and might as well relocate while you are there. You will probably need to replace much of the rubber, but soaking in glycerin can help some of it if it's not too far gone.
Enjoy the find!!

[arne]

The replacement parts for the fuel delivery are now ordered. New Bosch 2 port pump, and the full package from Chris at Tangerine. Work on the engine is on hold until that stuff all arrives. I will drain the tank in the next few days, but that will be all on that front until the stuff arrives.

Side note - I sent Chris a PM asking if I could call him to ask a question or two, instead he called me within 3 minutes! Great pre-sale support!

Other work continues. I've been reassembling all the bits that the prior owner took apart while the car was in storage, primarily lights at this point. I now have all rear lights other than the back-up lights, and all front except high beams and fogs. The high beams are a bit odd, the bulbs are good as they would flash briefly sometimes when I pulled the stalk, but now they don't even do that. More digging....

[arne]

Fixed high beams, fog lights and horn today.

The high beam problem was interesting, the ratcheting relay was working, but not sending current to the high beams. I took it apart, cleaned the contacts and re-tensioned the copper arm, now it works as it should again.