Contracted 914 fever— is this the car to cure it?, What do you think of this ‘73 914 2.0 on Bat— pass or play? Options

[trylon]

Fun to have a new car to discover!

It starts up sweetly but it always feels like I want to pull out the choke — but there is none!

Fell on Ian Karr’s (what a great name for someone with his passion) video about the auxiliary air valve (or some such name) that provides more air on startup and then closes down as the engine heats up. Though this seems to be the exact opposite of what a choke does (seems like it will lean up the mixture instead of enrich it— but what do I know about fuel injection), something I noticed seems to point to this as a possible suspect in the rough idle just after start-up:


The output hose is clearly crimped; air is always cut back from leaving this valve. Pulled it off the valve and tried to uncrimp it with no success. Will try new hose— can someone point me to what is needed? I always seem to lose at the trial and error method of car part purchasing.

Thanks all for your help!

[era vulgaris]

I don’t recall ever feeling brakes like these. As I am driving the car, don’t have to think about them at all—work great. I only notice something odd at stopping the car completely— yes, I can stop it but have to get my leg into it where, say, in my Ghia a bit of foot pressure will do. The 914 pedal does not have much travel, just needs more pressure. I am new to a classic car with disc brakes— they are ‘self-adjusting’ right?

I've never driven a 4-wheel drum Ghia, and it's been a while since I drove a Ghia and 914 back to back, but I do recall the Ghia having a softer pedal feel. Although both the 914's I owned had the 19mm MC installed from a 911 so they both would've had the harder pedal feel.
I don't know what your car driving experience background is, but performance brakes can often have a stiffer feel that requires more effort. Did you know Formula 1 brakes have so much stopping power they can exert 5G's of forward momentum on your body as the car stops? However, they require so much effort to push the pedal that ordinary people who don't weight train their legs, wouldn't be able to use them. Fun bit of trivia!

Yes, all disc brakes, powered or not, are self-adjusting.

Fell on Ian Karr’s (what a great name for someone with his passion) video about the auxiliary air valve (or some such name) that provides more air on startup and then closes down as the engine heats up. Though this seems to be the exact opposite of what a choke does (seems like it will lean up the mixture instead of enrich it— but what do I know about fuel injection), something I noticed seems to point to this as a possible suspect in the rough idle just after start-up:

The AAR produces a controlled vacuum leak. When you have a vacuum leak with Djet (which the 1.7 and 2.0 cars had) it will raise the idle. On a cold engine, this replicates the action of a choke, but there is a different set of factors happening.
So, btw, if you're ever suddenly idling at 2 or 3k rpm, it's because you have a vacuum leak. I recall coming off the highway once with the 72 1.7 I used to own, and found the car idling at 3k rpm! A little rubber elbow connector on one of the vacuum hoses had cracked and caused a vacuum leak.
On Ljet, on the other hand, which only the 1.8 cars had, a vacuum leak lowers the idle and will cause the car to stall.

It's not uncommon for the AAR to get stuck. You can pull the AAR from the car and bench test it with a 12V supply to see if the valve opens or not. If it doesn't, you can soak it overnight fully submerged in WD40 or PB blaster. I had to do that with the AAR on my 1.7 and it opened it right up.

[Porschef]

Brakes:
Haven’t tried the lock up test yet. And the car is garage-bound until I register it in a couple of weeks. Will attempt…

I don’t recall ever feeling brakes like these. As I am driving the car, don’t have to think about them at all—work great. I only notice something odd at stopping the car completely— yes, I can stop it but have to get my leg into it where, say, in my Ghia a bit of foot pressure will do. The 914 pedal does not have much travel, just needs more pressure. I am new to a classic car with disc brakes— they are ‘self-adjusting’ right?

The fronts are, however the rears are not, and need to have the clearance set via two Allen head screws held by the locknut. If you pull off a rear wheel you’ll see the outboard adjustment screw; that’s the easy one. The inboard gets adjusted via a tube in the trailing arm, who’s cap may or may not want to be removed. A little tricky, but not difficult to do.

Another bit of 914 quirkiness... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[trylon]

Thanks for the information.

The car is now road legal!



Took it to Lime Rock on it’s maiden voyage.
This automobile is just so nice right out of the box. It is quite an experience driving this on the same roads that I drive the Karmann Ghia on. The handling and acceleration are night and day— I await the difficult parts of the road but find that they have passed by without notice! I could easily have no other car than the 914 if only they didn’t salt the roads around here.

Found these in the glove compartment:



The brakes seem fine to me now, I just think I had to get used to them. The right front one is a bit squeaky though.

Seems there is a Porsche shop in my town!
https://thethirdgarage.com/

Someone who works there stopped and said “what a clean 914!”. He asked to take a photo of it and told me about the shop (seems to be somewhat new in town). He said they could help me with anything but body work. I pointed out the kinked hose and the cold start problem. He suggested a hose clamp as it is on loose and he didn’t think the kink was enough to cause a problem.

The more I thought about it, the more I thought he got it wrong. I mean, if I had a constant vacuum leak, that might be the fix, but the car runs great, just a bit rough on cold start. I did an experiment— I pulled the hose off the valve so that it was open to the air and started the car. Yep, NOW I have a vacuum leak — and no rough cold start idle. So clearly the valve is stuck and needs to be soaked. It seems so daunting to try to get it out of that tight space though.


All said and done, this is really one sweet car!

[Cairo94507]

@trylon - That is a beautiful car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[emerygt350]

What a great find! I just saw an old ghia yesterday and had to stop to give it a close look. The glove box find is very nice. I didn't know I had mine for a couple days because it had all become part of the bottom of the glove box. Finding those were such a treat.

[Porschef]

Looks great! Perfect place for your first drive (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Gint]

[Huh, surprised the photo came in as landscape mode, it’s portrait mode on my end.]

If you click the link to view the full size picture, it will be right side up. The image resizer flips thumbnails sideways for some reason in some circumstances (picture source, etc...).

Beautiful 914! Cool to see a BAT 914 buyer on the forum posting after the purchase. Have fun! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[trylon]

I am smitten.

It officially downgraded my local “Rollercoaster Road” to kiddie ride.

[Porschef]

I am smitten.

It officially downgraded my local “Rollercoaster Road” to kiddie ride.

Haha, that’s what you get for buying a street legal go cart… (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[wonkipop]

I am smitten.

It officially downgraded my local “Rollercoaster Road” to kiddie ride.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
yeah, sounds like a VW. drives like a lotus. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[trylon]

Pieced together my best guess of a bit of the car’s history from bits of paper found in the glove compartment.

————
Owned by JT (Ontario, OR)

Sold at some point to WN (Eagle, ID) for $800 obo who subsequently did or had done the following sometime before selling it:

1. R and R fuel tank clean and re-seal.
2. Move fuel pump to the front.
3. Replace all fuel lines from the tank to the injectors including two new stainless lines from underneath to the engine bay.
4. Major service and replaced all vacuum lines and plug wires.
5. All four injectors were rebuilt.
6. Installed a Pertronix breakerless ignition.
7. Installed a new throttle switch.
8. Welded in a new jack support on the passenger side.
9. Welded in a new rear trunk hinge support.
10. Rebuilt both front calipers.
11. Installed a new master cylinder.
12. Replaced all four brake lines.
13. Installed a complete clutch package with flywheel seal. Flywheel was resurfaced.
14. New clutch cable and throttle cable.
15. Installed a new carpet kit from "914 Rubber" in Oregon.
16. Transmission oil change and replaced shift bushings.

Sold 9/14/18 to TK (Eagle, ID) for $18,500 with mileage of 102383 who had a pre-purchase inspection done as well as an oil and filter change. The fuel sender was replaced.

Consigned for sale to Southwest Vintage Motorcars, Phoenix, AZ who had a pre-selling inspection done.

1. repaired rear trunk latch
2. repaired windshield wipers
3. installed missing vacuum line
4. installed new tie rod ends
5. installed new battery and clamp
6. performed front end alignment
7. installed new seat adjuster handle

Sold 8/15/23 to MA (New Milford, CT) with bid of $25,000 on BAT https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-porsche-914-113/
————

[930cabman]

Great story and great history of the car. Enjoy in good health

[emerygt350]

You should snap a pic of the vacuum lines. I have zero faith in anyone hooking those up right outside of a few people on this forum.

[trylon]

Great story and great history of the car. Enjoy in good health

Thanks CM!
I realized I forgot to include the info on the official docs… will update and extend the story back to the original buyer!

[trylon]

You should snap a pic of the vacuum lines. I have zero faith in anyone hooking those up right outside of a few people on this forum.

Ha! Well, I believe the last owner ~is~ a member of this forum, so maybe we’re ok on this.

[emerygt350]

Maybe.... that aar hose doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.

[trylon]

Maybe.... that aar hose doesn't give me the warm fuzzies.

Ok, will get some pics up for perusal.
Thanks for the interest!

[trylon]

Dream car.
Dream house.

[930cabman]

Life is good