What have I gotten myself into? Options

[spencerhut]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

The good news is that road salt wasn’t used much in PNW during the time 914’s were most likely to be on the road. Hopefully it was a local car and not an east coaster.

Looks like trunk hinges have failed based on looks in photo?

As others have said, keep pictures coming and you’ll find the help you may need here.

The trunk hinges are okay. I just left everything unlatched since I was not sure I could get them back open once I closed them. :-)

[spencerhut]

Even if you could loosen the engine, it's doubtful the rings would ever seal against the cylinder walls or piston lands.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) horizontally opposed engines have a terrible propensity to collect condensation and corrosion on the bottoms of cylinders resulting in severe pitting and seizure as you’ve experienced.

Yeah, I put a camera in cylinder #1 and it did not look good, terrible in fact.
All the plugs were super hard to remove. Like, use a breaker bar hard. But they all came out cleanly.

I'm sure the motor teardown pictures will be interesting.

[Superhawk996]

Found your Flickr link. FWIW - we really love photos here on the site but understand it’s PITA to some extent.

You got your work cut out for you.

[spencerhut]

Found your Flickr link. FWIW - we really love photos here on the site but understand it’s PITA to some extent.

You got your work cut out for you.

I took a lot of those so I remember how to put it back together. Just don't want to flood the forum with a bunch of repetitive stuff.

[930cabman]

Looks like the "shed" was not too weatherproof.


(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sawzall-smiley.gif) you have your work cutout for you

[wonkipop]

looked at the flicker gallery.

looks like its lost its orig L jet EFI set up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
has a carb.
you can tell it was an L jet by the pcv valve oil filler cap.

vin being 12660 its third week of jan 74 build.
probably wednesday 17th jan 74.
there is a karmann tag plate on the hinge pillar of the drivers door.
has a number stamped in it. that number will tell you the build date.

there is probably some other info still intact on the car.
i notice in engine shot the tune up sticker on top of lhs upper tin is still there but very deteriorated.
on the same left hand side of engine bay might be some other info tells you what the engine originally was and whether a california car or a rest of USA.
there might still be a white label with red writing on it - emissison sticker.
have a look for it see what it says.
also often hidden behind the engine bay heater blower fan hose will be a three digit painted stamp number. if still visible will be one of four numbers. 604 605 606 or 607.
quite a bit of info goes with which one of those numbers it is if original engine.
probably is original engine. if you have an engine number i do have some research info which would indicate whether its in the range.

it looks like maybe thats a tan interior.
could be very faded brown. but seems like its tan.
if so nice. unusual.

[jaredmcginness]

Looks good to me!

Love the color combination... though, I'd go crazy and drop some yellow tartan in there.

There's lots to do. Pick a corner and start! I'd bite the bullet and cut into the passenger fender and start off with the hell hole. Tons and tons of info.
The thread in my signature goes over all this work DIY at home.

Nothin' to it but to do it!

[wonkipop]

remarkably its still got its original windscreen.
can see the white etch specs down in lower left hand side corner.
sadly also looks like the screen is cracked?
or is that a reflection.




had a repaint judging by the fresh air intake plastic grill under the external louvre slots.
black plastic if original.
front trunk looks like its also been shot inside.
but seems to be original color repaint going by engine bay?


that engine will be toast.
evidence water has gone down the open carb.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
be a corroded mess inside. sadly.
real pity rain was not kept out of the engine bay.
ah well. gives you a chance to build a dream engine.

be interesting to see the condition of the passenger side longitudinal.
know as soon as get the rocker off you will khow how bad it is.
the hell hole has opened but maybe not beyond repair.
but if water has gotten into carb is probably also been collecting and draining down into the long interior.
still as you say-------at this point in time a lot of them are like that.
it was probably like that when it was parked.

[ClayPerrine]

That carb is an indication that somewhere in this poor car's past, it met a mechanic that couldn't handle fuel injection. Unfortunately, even if that carb was repairable, it is probably the worst thing you can stick on a 914. When they run, they perform horribly, they are either way to rich or way to lean. I suggest you float test it. Throw in the lake. If it floats, use it on your car.

If you want original, we can help you find all the L-Jet parts. If you want more performance, you can buy a pair of weber downdrafts, or better yet, an aftermarket modern programmable EFI system.

You are also going to need a battery tray. It is missing. And I would suspect the hell hole is rusty too based on the missing battery tray. The grill on the right outside end of the engine lid let rain water run down on top of the battery. Then it got into the open vent holes, and that overfilled the battery, flushing acid down onto the battery tray. And below that is the "hell hole" and the right inner suspension console. Inspect both the hell hole and the suspension carefully for rust issues. Get an ice pick and poke the hell out of every piece of metal down there. If it goes through, then you have to replace it.

And just an fyi... the search engine on here is terrible. If you want to find something on 914World, use google.com Just put in "site:914world.com <find this>" and you will get better results than the default search engine. We know it is bad, but none of us have the time to fix it, and google is readily available.

[spencerhut]

looked at the flicker gallery.

looks like its lost its orig L jet EFI set up. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)
has a carb.
you can tell it was an L jet by the pcv valve oil filler cap.

vin being 12660 its third week of jan 74 build.
probably wednesday 17th jan 74.
there is a karmann tag plate on the hinge pillar of the drivers door.
has a number stamped in it. that number will tell you the build date.

there is probably some other info still intact on the car.
i notice in engine shot the tune up sticker on top of lhs upper tin is still there but very deteriorated.
on the same left hand side of engine bay might be some other info tells you what the engine originally was and whether a california car or a rest of USA.
there might still be a white label with red writing on it - emissison sticker.
have a look for it see what it says.
also often hidden behind the engine bay heater blower fan hose will be a three digit painted stamp number. if still visible will be one of four numbers. 604 605 606 or 607.
quite a bit of info goes with which one of those numbers it is if original engine.
probably is original engine. if you have an engine number i do have some research info which would indicate whether its in the range.

it looks like maybe thats a tan interior.
could be very faded brown. but seems like its tan.
if so nice. unusual.

I'll get pictures of all the number plates/stickers.
Yeas, the interior is tan, and the seats are actually in much better condition than one would suspect. They appear to be original. The carpet all needs to be replaced. The rear firewall cushion / panel is also in much better condition than I would expect. I'll try to get some pictures of those.

[spencerhut]

Looks good to me!

Love the color combination... though, I'd go crazy and drop some yellow tartan in there.

There's lots to do. Pick a corner and start! I'd bite the bullet and cut into the passenger fender and start off with the hell hole. Tons and tons of info.
The thread in my signature goes over all this work DIY at home.

Nothin' to it but to do it!

Yes, passenger fender and hell hole are the first two we need to tackle.

[spencerhut]

remarkably its still got its original windscreen.
can see the white etch specs down in lower left hand side corner.
sadly also looks like the screen is cracked?
or is that a reflection.




had a repaint judging by the fresh air intake plastic grill under the external louvre slots.
black plastic if original.
front trunk looks like its also been shot inside.
but seems to be original color repaint going by engine bay?


that engine will be toast.
evidence water has gone down the open carb.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
be a corroded mess inside. sadly.
real pity rain was not kept out of the engine bay.
ah well. gives you a chance to build a dream engine.

be interesting to see the condition of the passenger side longitudinal.
know as soon as get the rocker off you will khow how bad it is.
the hell hole has opened but maybe not beyond repair.
but if water has gotten into carb is probably also been collecting and draining down into the long interior.
still as you say-------at this point in time a lot of them are like that.
it was probably like that when it was parked.

Window does appear original and does have a crack.
Absolutely repainted in the original color.
Get to build my first flat motor.

[spencerhut]

That carb is an indication that somewhere in this poor car's past, it met a mechanic that couldn't handle fuel injection. Unfortunately, even if that carb was repairable, it is probably the worst thing you can stick on a 914. When they run, they perform horribly, they are either way to rich or way to lean. I suggest you float test it. Throw in the lake. If it floats, use it on your car.

If you want original, we can help you find all the L-Jet parts. If you want more performance, you can buy a pair of weber downdrafts, or better yet, an aftermarket modern programmable EFI system.

You are also going to need a battery tray. It is missing. And I would suspect the hell hole is rusty too based on the missing battery tray. The grill on the right outside end of the engine lid let rain water run down on top of the battery. Then it got into the open vent holes, and that overfilled the battery, flushing acid down onto the battery tray. And below that is the "hell hole" and the right inner suspension console. Inspect both the hell hole and the suspension carefully for rust issues. Get an ice pick and poke the hell out of every piece of metal down there. If it goes through, then you have to replace it.

And just an fyi... the search engine on here is terrible. If you want to find something on 914World, use google.com Just put in "site:914world.com <find this>" and you will get better results than the default search engine. We know it is bad, but none of us have the time to fix it, and google is readily available.

I'll do duel Webbers or some as yet to be determined modern fuel injection.

[friethmiller]

It's brace and rotisserie time!! Love it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[brant]

a lot of welding work ahead of you.

just an observation from decades of watching these projects and doing some of them myself.....

many people throw in the towel during the welding phase and the project gets sidelined over time... probably best to tackle the thousands of dollars of welding and replacement panels before worrying much about the simpler things like interior and motor.

[Superhawk996]

a lot of welding work ahead of you.

just an observation from decades of watching these projects and doing some of them myself.....

many people throw in the towel during the welding phase and the project gets sidelined over time... probably best to tackle the thousands of dollars of welding and replacement panels before worrying much about the simpler things like interior and motor.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Good advice.

Been there done that.

[spencerhut]

a lot of welding work ahead of you.

just an observation from decades of watching these projects and doing some of them myself.....

many people throw in the towel during the welding phase and the project gets sidelined over time... probably best to tackle the thousands of dollars of welding and replacement panels before worrying much about the simpler things like interior and motor.

Well the way I see it is if I don't have 914 body, then I don't have a 914. So everything is coming off/out and the body is getting fixed before anything else is even started on.
Time for a whole bunch of bags and plastic totes.

[Tdskip]

Welcome and you’ve got the rig it attitude and approach.

Keep us current on how it all goes.