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

[FourBlades]

Thanks guys.

Now that Joe has the engine running really well I need to do some serious cosmetic improvements. My first time paint job needs some redos, some color sanding, and some polishing.

I never get tired of just going for a 15 minute drive around town if that's all I have time for.

John

[FourBlades]

Do you think Porsches are getting bigger all the time?

The wheels on the Panamera are almost taller than the top of my 914 fenders.



This thing has more controls than the space shuttle.

I like the dynamic ride height feature. It just needs to hop.

This is a loaner car while my 911 is being worked on.

John

[cary]

I don't like the look of the welds sticking up but I would rather not weaken it with too much grinding.



John

Wholly crap ................ I haven't read this thread all the way thru before.

John your car makes my project look like a new car that might have got rained on a bit. LOL.

I have a tendency to over grind .....................
I keep seeing Jeff Hails re welded rear fender where the weld disappeared. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

I'm on page #8. Great work ..............
Then you make me feel bad about not shooting primer as I'm going.
As soon as we get up to 55 degrees I'll start shooting some primer to make it look like I'm making progress.

[FourBlades]

Cary,

You and your super in law are doing a killer job. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

I really enjoy reading your thread.

Its amazing what a little primer will do for making you feel like you are getting somewhere. I recommend it for that reason alone.

I think you really only need to metal finish welds on the outside panels. A lot of the other welds will get covered in seam sealer and not be visible. I did a lot of grinding before figuring that out. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

John

[FourBlades]

Got my car weighed by Joe Sharp at the Tropical Ramble last fall. Joe is just an
all around exemplary human being. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)



Car weighs in at 2028 pounds with 1010 and 1018 cross weights. Very happy
with the weight and the alignment done for me by Porsche of Melbourne.



Just wanted to add this to the ongoing story of the car.

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

Today I did one of the best upgrades ever for my car for the money. I spent 15
minutes and replaced my old rear targa seal with Mark's new and improved one with
the fuzzy seal. Gone are 95% of the mysterious squeaks and creaks while driving
the car. I was starting to think my rear shocks were sticking or something was
rubbing in my rear suspension when all along it was the freaking top. I have had
the rubber tubing on the rear latch posts for years and still got creaks like crazy.

Do yourself a favor and install one of these.

http://shop.914rubber.com/914-Rear-targa-s...le-914RTS-N.htm

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

John

[FourBlades]

Still had a few last creaks and squeaks coming from the rear of the car that were
very annoying. Getting the new fuzzy top eliminated most of them but not all.

Just to be sure, I tried taking the top off and driving, no change. My rocker panels
were a little loose so I tightened them up with a few more screws, no change. It
sounded like my engine cover was creaking so I drove around with it taped open
with a big piece of foam to cushion it, no change.

Finally, I took the rear wheels off and remembered I have grease zerks in the rear
trailing arms. Once I found my grease gun and got it working again I greased all
4 zerks like crazy. With the top back on, the engine cover closed, there are no more
annoying creaks and groans at all! I think this is a custom setup I got from PMB, not
sure the zerks or need for greasing is stock. It has probably been 4 years since I
last greased them.

It is so nice to drive around over bumps and around corners without any annoying
sounds to distract from the rumble of the engine. It may be my imagination but
I swear the handling is better, maybe some serious sticktion was happening in the
rear arms?

John

[FourBlades]

It was a nice cool day so I decided to tackle some new rust spots on my door that have been getting steadily worse.



Took off the door and took it apart. Got out the spot blaster.



Rusted through in several places.



Started cutting out the bad stuff.



Ready for some patches.



Welded and cleaned up with the blaster. A little spot blaster is so much faster and easier than wire wheeling. I think it gets into the tiny crevices better too.

The spot blaster is only good for small areas. You would go insane trying to strip even one whole door with it.



Sprayed some primer for now.



Back together and on the car. I will body work it and respray the whole door later. The door edge shape needs some work.



This took about 4 hours altogether. The rust came through from the inside of the door because I neglected to prime the inside of the door skin everywhere.

These spots are behind the door impact bars that are in later doors and I just never got enough paint back there. Sprayed a crap load in there this time so hopefully no repeats.

The patches I did to other parts of the door skin way back are still good on both sides. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

John

[FourBlades]

Wow, five years later and you can multiply those little rust holes by 10... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

I am working on fixing it all and have it primed and starting to block sand.

I got a new garage as well...this one has A/C. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

John