Starting a 1973 restoration, Restoring a left for dead $500 914... Options

[McMark]

Yeah, the floats always seem to get f-d up during shipping. I suspect lots of bouncing with no fuel in the bowl to absorb the jolt.

Cool video! (I embedded it for you) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

[FourBlades]

Yeah, the floats always seem to get f-d up during shipping. I suspect lots of bouncing with no fuel in the bowl to absorb the jolt.

Cool video! (I embedded it for you) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)

Thanks for embedding the video.

I guess lesson learned is always clean and go through new carbs before putting
them on the car. Now I can actually try to balance their air flow.

John

[corsepervita]

I just went through all 18 pages of this thread. I have to say I am just impressed by the dedication to getting the car back on it's feet. Most people I've seen that go for "resto projects" like this end up ripping it apart, see the rust and would go "OMG. Nevermind... taking this to the scrap yard."

But to see it go through all of that work, get put back together and restored back to working condition and get the treatment it has, that is very impressive. Great job. I bet it's the best feeling in the world to look back on those pictures and now go drive it and know you did that all yourself. Good job.

PS: This thread makes me wish I had a welder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

[FourBlades]

I just went through all 18 pages of this thread. I have to say I am just impressed by the dedication to getting the car back on it's feet. Most people I've seen that go for "resto projects" like this end up ripping it apart, see the rust and would go "OMG. Nevermind... taking this to the scrap yard."

But to see it go through all of that work, get put back together and restored back to working condition and get the treatment it has, that is very impressive. Great job. I bet it's the best feeling in the world to look back on those pictures and now go drive it and know you did that all yourself. Good job.

PS: This thread makes me wish I had a welder. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/welder.gif)

Its funny you say that, I was just going over some unposted pictures of the car
when it was really bad. Each little bit that you do is satisfying and motivates
you to keep going. When I flipped the car on the rocker, I thought I was nearly
done. That was 2 years and 2 weeks ago.



Mmmm...



Geeeeez...



I wanted to learn to restore a car more than I just wanted a car to drive. I was
thinking of making this a hobby business when I can scale back from working full
time. I think I could do it all over in 12 months or less now. I will find out because
I am starting on the IMSA car full bore soon.

John

[corsepervita]

Yeah that's quite a piece of work you had on your hands. My 924 has gone through similar issues, though the rust is not nearly on the level you are experiencing. I've had to cut out a lot of things, grind down others. It's come a long way. Feels good to do your own work indeed. Hats off to you my friend, that's a lot of work.

[FourBlades]

Took the car to its first event, a BBQ at the local 356 restoration shop.

I took along a notebook of photos from the restoration. People really liked the
car and many said they had 914s years ago and regretted selling them. Several
people wanted to know when I was opening a 914 shop so I could fix their cars. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)



Still have a lot of little cosmetic thigs to finish up. Also working on getting the
ride height and alignment set up right. I already have visions of tarret enginerring
sway bars, camber plates, etc.

John

[EdwardBlume]

Looks fantastic... thanks for saving one!

[steveherman]

time for a trip over there in my 914.

[FourBlades]

I'd love to see your car Steve.

Maybe when it cools off a little more...

John

[carr914]

So what's up with my old IMSA car?

[FourBlades]

Had an oh sh*t! moment today. I had my car all warmed up and decided to take
a run over the causeway here that includes a half mile climb to the top of a tall
bridge. I was approaching triple digits in fourth gear with my 2270 pulling
really hard when suddenly there was a very loud metallic banging and cracking
sound!

I slowed down and was wondering what the hell had broken when I see my
top windshield molding flashing behind me before disappearing into the Indian
River. The damn thing parted company with the loudest freaking noise! I
thought my crankshaft must have broken. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

When I got home, there were no scratches or damage to the car anywhere. I
had my windshield replaced by Safelite a few days before due to a large crack
in the old one that was getting bigger all the time. The guy did a great and fast
job (for a reasonable $388 installed in my driveway) but a little adhesive got
around the clips keeping the trim on. Something to watch for if you replace your
windshield.

I guess I'll be going to the black, rubber molding after this...

John

[FourBlades]

Started playing with my Go Pro camera. This is a long and pretty boring video of
a drive around my neighborhood with my dog. I am really impressed with the
quality of the video and the small size of the camera. My engine is a lot louder
than it seems from watching the video. I used the open back for shooting this
so I thought the engine sound would be louder. Thanks a lot to Shoe for doing
these group buys.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPtWzQZyylw


I will make videos of more exciting roads when I get a chance.

John

[trojanhorsepower]

That's the closest that I have been to a ride in a 914!

Looks like fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[FourBlades]

I'm telling you, just driving around at sane speeds is fun in one of these cars.

You are so much more involved in steering, shifting, and the engine sound than in
super quiet modern cars.

More like riding a Harley than driving a Lexus.

John

[BarberDave]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)


You are a inspiration, us old guys don't have a thing to worry about who will be there to move this sport forward in the next years. It's in very good hands .

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/slap.gif) Dave

[Cairo94507]

I'm telling you, just driving around at sane speeds is fun in one of these cars.
You are so much more involved in steering, shifting, and the engine sound than in super quiet modern cars.
John

I could not agree more. Last weekend "Elmonte" came over in his white 914-6 with GT flairs and the top off. We went for a nice ride and he let me drive his baby. I was totally in love all over again and can't wait to get mine rolling down the road so I can enjoy the driving experience. Thank you again Elmonte (Chris).

[FourBlades]

This short video has better sound. It starts with the camera inside stuck on the
back window, then goes to outside on the engine cover, then on to the roll bar
with the top off.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c9eK5Mf9dA


John

[FourBlades]

The walking dead thread rides again. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

I really should try to keep this thread updated a little better.

Let's see, I went to an autocross for the first time and my carbs clogged up after 2 runs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif), took the car to a local PCA car show, Joe from Series9 installed Electromotive fuel injection from Clewett Engineering with ITBs (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif), Joe powdercoated my Florida corroded Fuchs and added an external oil cooler (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif), I got a Rennshift (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif), I figured out why my GTS seats don't slide, am taking the car to its first DE at Sebring in 3 weeks, and I finally bedded in my porterfield pads.

I was never happy with my braking even though I have newly restored A calipers on the front, V calipers on the rear, new master cylinder and brace, and porterfield s4 pads. I could never lock up my wheels no matter how hard I applied the brakes.

I pm-ed back and forth with Eric Shea a bunch of times going over possible problems and he figured I had never bedded the pads in sufficiently. I tried bedding them a long time ago but did not bother finding a road where I could really do it right.

So I took Eric's advice and went out to a deserted industrial area with a couple of mile long access roads. I did 5 hard stops from 60 to 10 mph with no lock up no matter how hard I pushed. On the 6th try I totally locked the fronts with hard pedal pressure. I did a few more stops trying to go just short of locking up, then drove around for 15 minutes to cool them off. Now I can lock the front wheels up even when cold no problem. I kept the standard pressure regulator and it seems to be working because my rear wheels never lock.

Hope this helps someone.

Thanks Eric!

John

[Cupomeat]

Wow, for some reason I had never read this thread, but wanted to say a few things;
1. Wow, what an incredible project and a fantastic job you have done! Congrats!!!
2. Loved the humor, like the leather bag with 28# shot, etc. VERY funny
3. Thank you for saving a 914

Fantastic!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[ChrisFoley]

I kept the standard pressure regulator and it seems to be working because my rear wheels never lock.

I've shimmed my regulator spring 1/4" and still can't lock up the rears.