First Post on the 912 side...

[Todd Steele]

Well now I have gone and done it......

For the last three years my sister from N. CA has been telling me about a 69 912 at her friends house and kept urging we to look at it. While I was out there last week I figured I look at it point out the rust, and gracefully bow out.

We arrive and pull off the tarp: 69 912- Irish Green/Tan interior….

The paints faded and scratched from someone attempting to buff it out with a grinder. The interior’s fair, 2” tear in the drivers seat, carpets dirty but no holes. Seats have no springs left and collapse to the floor, and she sold the fog lamps.

O.K. now for the more important inspection…rip up the carpet and peel back the sound deadener…what no rust….pull up back seat carpet, no rust (I’m thinking @#$% I might have to buy this car), climb underneath look at the front pan…NO RUST..oh come on. Open the trunk pull the carpet, open the smugglers box, still no rust…pull the tire out, finally my way out, rust….and it wiped of with a rag, only surface rust. Body inspection yielded only battery box had corrosion.

So now the clincher with 160,000 the engine compartment has to be thrashed. I pop the hood, all black shiny and powder coated. I asked her “was this recently rebuilt” her reply, “ yes four years ago, it has 43,000 miles the rebuild and the transmission has 30,000” O.K. now I can’t walk away. I look at the service records for the last ten year….in the shop every 3000 for major and minor service. I about died when I saw the bill for the rebuild…balanced and all parts replaced to the tune of $6,800 and $1,900 on the trans, plus only 600 miles on a new set of tires. Now I’m hooked….

Now the ultimate question….how much, she says “I want to be fair so how does $2,500 sound”, I think “holy $%^# it sounds low to me”. I wanted a night to do some research on prices and came back and paid $3,300 which we were both happy with. The story doesn’t end there, I pay her and she says “I almost forgot, I’ve got some stuff that goes with the car in the basement” she pulls out a new car cover, a bra, a new Yakima bike rake and a $500 CD player and speakers.

My eleven year old and I start it up drive it away….after a little more pre-inspection we are off to Colorado. First day San Fran to Evanston Wyo , 14 hours at 4,100 rpm (75-80mph) and 26 mpg, it didn’t miss beat (started hard from the altitude change) next day Evanston to Denver in 8 hours with same result.

OK I am not always this wordy but it was just a surprising experience…….

I am home and the questions begin:

Front seats: I would like to rebuild or replace the spring sets vs changing seats, any pointers or experience?

The idle is difficult to set…wants to die and bogs at start…all power is above 2,000 rpm when the main jets kick in (solex). I have not been able to read the numbers on the disty, it is a vacuum advance with the hose is disconnected and plugged. Should it be hooked up??? I’m assuming only a timing light would tell. From reading the posts it sound like a replacment might be in order the only aftermarket I have found is the 009 that seems to be garbage in sources for the 050 or 03? (forgot the number).

Thanks, Todd

[avsarinana]

That's the beginning,that's how it all starts,you'll see$

Life is good,welcome to the 912 world.(yee hah)

Art

[Todd Steele]

Thanks for the welcome. As for the $$$ I am already creating the list of future projects and replacement parts, it adds up fast. I can never let a car that is solid and can be enjoyed just rot under a tarp...a sad addiction family has accepted.