Hello

[87911jon]

Hello. My first post to the 914 area! Just bought a '75 914. Orange, 1.8 L-jetronic, 128k, relatively rust free and has been sitting for a couple of years. This past Sunday I replaced the plugs, cap, wires and rotor and added some fresh gas. Started up but ran rough until it was totally warmed up. Did not drive her, no tags (not that it ever stopped me before!). Anyway, went to pick her up and drive her home (still no tags, followed closely by a friend) last night and found out she didn't want to go any faster than 20-30mph. Sputtered and coughed. I turned around and parked it at the PO's house. My question is this, how difficult is it to drain the gas, change the fuel filter and clean the injectors? I'd like to do it on the spot and drive her home on new tags rather than have her towed. Thanks.

[psu914]

check your plug wires, if you get 2 of them reversed you can still get it started and it will run a lot like you described. I reversed mine once and it acted just as you described.

matt

[Scooter311]

Hawdy an' welcome!
Howza the timing? I had similar troubles after installing electronic ignition - only after messing with the dizzy a little at a time did I get it poifict.
Check that first. Lying on your back contorting and scraping your body while getting covered in old gas in some other guy's driveway doesn't sound quite like a picnic in the park.
Ciao!
Jeff

[Bleyseng]

The fuel pump and filter are located in the front trunk behind a little access panel. So you don't have to lay on the ground to change them.

Geoff

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

True! But you do get to dump lots of gas into your front trunk....

None of those jobs are hard. Replacing the injectors is pretty easy, the're held in by one nut each. (Plus the electrical connector which has a wire retainer to keep it locked on.) Oh, and the hose clamp of course.

Cleaning the injectors is probably not that easy in the driveway. You can make a cleaning rig (someone on the 914club BBS did from tupperware and an engraving tool!) but the usual deal is to take the injectors to a specialty shop and have them do the job. Usually takes them a day or more to get around to it.

--DD

[87911jon]

Update. Had the 914 flatbedded last night. Starts right up but looses power under load. Found a vacuum line on the distributor disconnected, didn't make much difference, played with the timing and that did. So I'm relieved it's not a fuel related problem... but... the parking brake seems to be stuck on. Are they similar to the 911 parking brake? Saturday I'll properly set the timing, put in new points, condenser, oil change and fuel filter. Seems to be running great except under load. Can't wait to drive her!

[sammyg2]

The 914 parking brake is very different than the ones on a 911, or at least different than a 911SC.
Basically there's a lever on the caliper that squeezes the pistons onto the rotor.

Assuming that nothing is frozen mechanically, there are a couple of adjustments. First is obviously the cable, make sure it isn't in a bind or too tight, the other is called venting clearance. Oh, check the hand brake lever t make sure nothing is in a bind there.
Then recheck the cable. Also check the rotor run out to make sure they are not warped.

You really need to get a hayne's manual at least. 914s are relatively easy to work on but in many ways are unique from other cars.
There's a plug on the inside of the rear calipers that needs to be removed to access the venting adjusting screw. The plugs have a funny way of stripping. Actually it's not that funny if it happens to you. I believe the venting adjustment is supposed to be set at .008" or something like that, I always prefered to run them slightly tighter than that but not too tight.

If the car has sat for a while i would suspect a frozen piston or something else before going after venting clearance but you never know what the PO might have done.
The worst enemy of the 914 is the previous owner. These poor cars seem to get abused by mickey mouse mechanics more than most.

[BillySpaceman]

Welcome! =D
I would definately check the tech articles on this site. They will tell you how to handle many of the "bumps in the road" involved in owning these cars.
I would start but checking all you vacuum connections to make sure they are correct.
Also check you r spark plug wires to see that they are connected and connected correctly. I would personally recommend a complete tune up; points, plugs, wires the works. Your engine will thank you for the nice treatment as, to concur with sammy, most of the previous owns beat these cars to s**t.
A problem I am encountering with mine is the intake runner boots. You are lucky because, to my knowledge, they are still making these for the 1.8s. Mines a 1.7 and, although I have some tolerable intake runner boots on currently, I would really like to find some new ones. Anyway, check those too. You might just have a severe vacuum leak from there!
Anyhow, just my 5 and a half cents!

[JohnB]

Hey, welcome to insanity on 4 wheels!

You are fortunate to have several 914 owners in your area who love nothing better than to come over and poke fun at other people's mistakes. We've all made 'em.

Check out the boards and you'll see who's in your area. Hope to see you soon at one of our gatherings and holler if you need help!

[87911jon]

Spent Saturday working on the 914. Can't wait to drive her. Changed the oil, filter, points, condenser and set the timing. She's running great now. Started disassembling the rear brakes because the wheels are very hard to rotate when raised off the ground. I was hoping it was the parking brake sticking, but it's working fine. It might be time for new calipers! And thanks for everyones input.

[JohnB]

Sounds like a fun time, come to a tech inspection sometime (PCA has them pretty often) and you'll get all kinds of free advice and helping hands. Check the PCA Potomac or Chesapeake chapter web pages for more info.

[Will98D]

While you're bringing it up to spec you should take a good look at the fuel lines. You said it's been sitting a few years, so for not too much money and a bit of effort you can minimize the risk of a fuel fire. Don't forget the hoses up near the tank, too.