914 longitudinal repair kit?

[phallauer]

I just bought a 1973, 914 1.7.
Most of the car is very good condition. However, it sags due to structural rust. It seems worth repairing. Are there kits to repair / replace the longitudinals or do I just get some 10 ga sheet steel, my welder and get after it?
phallauer@cfaith.com

[Bleyseng]

Mittlemotor sells the whole "long kit" that will replace the long with the other suspension pieces already on it. $1000
Brad Mayer sell a reinforcing clamshell kit to fix rusted longs too. He is in the mid west. I hear it is a great kit that fixes the rust problem. It welds under the rocker panels.
If you just start cutting out rust you can throw the cars shape out of wack. Most people make a jig to hold the car in posision while cutting and welding.
Geoff

[lawboy]

I would highly recommend the Brad Mayeur kit-- it clamshells around the outside of the longitudinals and ties into the trailing arm outer mount. I am in the process of putting the kit on my 914 and have been quite impressed by the design and fit. Also, since it clamshells over the longs, there is much less of a problem with messing up the body alignment since the longs themselves are not being removed and replaced. Brad's email is veldiadv@midwest.net, and his phone is 309.694.1797 Cost is about $300 for both sides.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

We sell a similar reinforcement. I don't know if it is Brad's or not, but it is very similar.

http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/shopcart/9144/POR_9144_chasis_pg2.htm

--DD

[canadianeh]

I installed Brad's kit and it made a world of difference. I am in Canada and there is no such thing as a rust free 914 up here. Snow, salt, etc etc. Mine was in pretty sad shape, not sagging though I am surprised it was not. Longs were rotten (forearm size holes) on both sides. One side had rust on the floorpan and the other side had inner long rust as well. Not a pretty picture. After repairs it is a whole pile stiffer. I had never welded before but feel pretty confident my car will hold together for a long time now. Brad's kit is made from heavy duty steel plate (around 1/8 inch ?) as opposed to regular car body steel. 10 gage or whatever it is <1/16 inch thick

It ties the rear suspension into the long repair which is a nice bonus if the rear suspension is attached to questionable unibody structure.

[Conrad W Peden]

phallauer, sorry i didnt get back to you on the message. Wouldnt let me send reply.

My car was a free 73 2.0 complete, free as in i received it no charge. therefore i could justify spending 3k on bodywork and have a car that i know inside out.

If you can do the work yourself I suggest getting or making a rack to put the body on, and secure it when doing your work. After cutting my 73 apart it was all over the place. Mind the whole unibody was twisted before starting. PO had accident and one side of the windsheild frame was 1" higher than the other.

However dont secure it too well or else when you 'un-secure' it you'll have a pretzel. Take the doors off and put in braces to replace them......the list goes on and on

Just surf the 914 forum profiles and look at peoples websites. You'll find alot of pics of people who have cut up cars to fix them. They usually have commentary to go with it.

good luck
Conrad