1975 Laguna Blue - 1.8, Collection of work on my 1975 914 1.8 Options

[TRP]

Hello 914 World!

I just picked up my first 914 on Friday, August 8th, 2025. I have wanted a 914 for many years, came close to buying some needy projects in the past, but always seemed to pass for one reason or another. After a ton of looking around I finally found a good candidate for my next project.






The car was being auctioned off on Bring A Trailer but it did not meet reserve. The car was located about 45 minutes from my house so I ended up working out a deal a few days after the auction expired.

Here is how the car looked back in 2019 when it first sold on BAT:


Kind of interesting to see how it changed over the years.

Thanks for tuning in,
Ted

[TRP]

The drive home from Monterey was pretty uneventful, nice little car! Second gear and I need to come to some sort of agreement, it likes to hide from me. Here is a shot of the car at home in the garage.

The very first thing I did was remove that fiberglass spoiler off the deck lid.



I have an appointment with my paint and body guy next week to have him weld up the screw holes and paint the trunk lid.

Lots of little plans for this car, I have already ordered a bunch of parts and fixins.

It looks like Im going to have to reduce the file size of my images as Im already out of space for this thread. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[wonkipop]

sweet looking little car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

good move losing the spoiler. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


i checked out the engine bay photos when it was on BAT for L jet research.
noticed that its had its evap cannister and hoses removed.
not big deal.
but looks like the tube where the hose connected to air cleaner box has been left open?
its above the air filter element. means unfiltered air can be pulled in.
only small opening.......but. i'd cap it if its not already sealed.




if you got time, there is a bit of data be useful for L jet research.
there is a three digit number painted on in white paint usually where i have indicated on photo. on LHS engine tin. hidden by the fan heater hose from view.
the engine tin looks all original and unrestored on your car so its probably still there.
if it is what is the number?
and if you know, was the car an original california car (sold first in cal) or is it a 49 state car.

enjoy the 914. fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)


ps - is that a boat tail alfa in the garage next to the 914? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[TRP]

Thanks for the info/reply. I will cap that portion ASAP. I do not know if the car is/was always a California car. I have paperwork showing it was in Canada, Oregon, and California in the past. It has 81k original miles and has remarkably little rust in all of the problem areas. I cleaned behind the side skirts / longitudinals today, removed about 4 lbs of dirt and crud. The longs look great.



Here are a few photos of the white painted numbers you were asking about:
Drivers side


Passenger:


What do the numbers mean?

[wonkipop]

918 should mean this.
75 1.8 L Jet. 49 states.
Engine Famiy 15.
No oil temp sensor/sump plate.
No EGR.

IO means in order. or more strictly german Inordnung.
or in USA manufacturer language OK.

sounds/looks like an original car with original engine to me.
if so - its a non californian market car originally.

thanks for the info?

here is a link to thread with final table of all those markings for all the years.
all the various aircooled VW engines of that time had these coded markings.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...6668&st=140

[TRP]

That's cool! Great to know that info, much appreciated.

Along with cleaning out the sideskirts/longitudinals, I also cleaned/degreased the motor and trans, both were kind of gross.

Before:


After:


I hope some of the parts I ordered start to arrive soon or Im going to run out of stuff to do on this one.

Oh, the car next to the 914 is not as fancy as a boat tail Alfa, it's just an old Chevrolet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

[Geezer914]

Nice find, original rust free CA car. Enjoy the ride!

[wonkipop]

Oh, the car next to the 914 is not as fancy as a boat tail Alfa, it's just an old Chevrolet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)

even better. i think i can work out what it is now. cool. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[TRP]

I noticed some odd damage to the these two lines/cables while I was cleaning the underside/motor/trans, it looks like the cable insulation has completed melted off in a few places.

Before cleaning:


After cleaning the motor:



@woknipop: If you check out the background of these two photos there is an obscure clue to help determine what's under the cover. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[pfreiburger]

Congratulations! Looks like you found a very nice example, with the 5-lug conversion done to boot. I have always been a fan of Laguna blue - looks great!

[wonkipop]

I noticed some odd damage to the these two lines/cables while I was cleaning the underside/motor/trans, it looks like the cable insulation has completed melted off in a few places.

Before cleaning:


After cleaning the motor:



@woknipop: If you check out the background of these two photos there is an obscure clue to help determine what's under the cover. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

vette convertible? approx 66?

[TRP]

Thank you all for the kind words / warm welcome.

Wonkipop: Bingo! 1966 Corvette, Mosport green/green interior.

Last night after work I removed the Alpine CD player from the dash and installed a RetroSound Bluetooth enabled head unit. I prefer the simple look of the RS over the Alpine.

I think I have a fuel leak somewhere in the tunnel. I keep smelling a fuel when I'm driving. It is not coming from the motor or the fuel cap. The smell doesn't appear to be coming from the trunk. I will have to run that down.

Which Tangerine SS kit do I need for a 75?

Thanks again for the kind words!

[mepstein]

Chris at tangerine is very knowledgeable and responsive. I would ring him on the phone.
Nice car!

[StarBear]

Welcome to the insanity!
Great car find!

[wonkipop]

Thank you all for the kind words / warm welcome.

Wonkipop: Bingo! 1966 Corvette, Mosport green/green interior.

Last night after work I removed the Alpine CD player from the dash and installed a RetroSound Bluetooth enabled head unit. I prefer the simple look of the RS over the Alpine.

I think I have a fuel leak somewhere in the tunnel. I keep smelling a fuel when I'm driving. It is not coming from the motor or the fuel cap. The smell doesn't appear to be coming from the trunk. I will have to run that down.

Which Tangerine SS kit do I need for a 75?

Thanks again for the kind words!

fuel smell.
from tunnel - ok. this could be the villain.
i noticed the charcoal can evap system is missing from the engine bay.
in the 75s it hung off the side of the battery tray.

here is a pic.


and here is a link to vacuum hoses, engine bay hose diagrams for a 1.8
scroll down the page towards bottom.
these are for the 74 1.8 but the 75 is very similar. it shows how the evap canister is hooked up by hoses to various ports on the aircleaner and fan housing.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...57407&st=40

the fuel vapor line from the tank to the canister runs through the central tunnel in the 74 onwards cars. it could be that in removing the evap system that line has been cut off at either end or cut off somewhere in the tunnel. the vapor line is a very small diameter plastic hose.

------

the other thing it could be is a split fuel line. in the 75s the fuel pump is at the front of the car in a recess behind the front firewall. it then runs at pressure (35 lbs in a L jet) through the cabin in the tunnel. as does the return line. they were plastic.

check those fuel lines. could even be the connection hoses ffom tank to pump.

but i think you would be seeing visible fuel drips if any of those were failing.
and it would be more than just a smell. it would be a serious flow.
but check them any way. all of them. all the way to the injectors. 914s love to burn.

but my bet would be someone has entirely removed the evap system inclusive of the vapor line. and the vapor line connects to the tank near the filler cap. if its missing you get vapor escaping at the tank filler i the front trunk. and the smell.

[wonkipop]

@TRP

i fluked 66. went for double numbers. good as anything in a guess.

a much more impressive car than a boat tailed alfa.
what dustin should have been driving as he blasted over the golden gate?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[TRP]

Thank you for the reply regarding the evap system. I looked at this area the other day when you first mentioned it and I did locate the very small clear hose in the engine compartment. I was wondering what it was for! I will look up by the tank and see if the other end is still connected up there. I can find a canister for like 50 bucks on e-bay, but nobody seems to have the bracket.

I imagine Rich has one in his pile of parts in Redwood City, but seeing as he's asking $150.00 for the canister, the bracket it won't be cheap. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) There is a shop in Ontario CA, I wonder if he might have that bracket?

I tried to call Chris today a Tangerine, I was sent to voicemail. :/ I think I need the 5 piece, 8MM kit.

Thanks for all the help, much appreciated.

[wonkipop]

Thank you for the reply regarding the evap system. I looked at this area the other day when you first mentioned it and I did locate the very small clear hose in the engine compartment. I was wondering what it was for! I will look up by the tank and see if the other end is still connected up there. I can find a canister for like 50 bucks on e-bay, but nobody seems to have the bracket.

I imagine Rich has one in his pile of parts in Redwood City, but seeing as he's asking $150.00 for the canister, the bracket it won't be cheap. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) There is a shop in Ontario CA, I wonder if he might have that bracket?

I tried to call Chris today a Tangerine, I was sent to voicemail. :/ I think I need the 5 piece, 8MM kit.

Thanks for all the help, much appreciated.

yes - front mounted pumps near fuel tank use the 8mm diam supply line version.
its under pressure all the way to engine through tunnel so has smaller diam.

earlier cars retaining in line fuel pump located under engine use the 9.5mm as its a more or less gravity feed from tank to fuel pump through cabin. needs larger diam supply in that instance.

you could make your own can bracket from a strip of steel sheet.
not too hard to do.
it clamped on using the battery clamp bolt.
the bracket is one of those obscure hard to find parts as most of them probably got thrown away. you might find one in a junk yard if you are lucky.

[TRP]

Thank you for the info on the canister bracket, I'll add it to the list of projects. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Okay, so I've looked at maybe 20 914s in person and none of them have had a grommet in these two holes, is there a grommet that goes in these holes? What should be there? It feels like there should be something to cap off that big open hole. I looked at 914rubber.com and couldn't find anything specific.





Thanks
Ted