Where did everyone begin their restorations?

[JPigg34]

My dad and I got the car on Tuesday and begin doing little things to it that night. We first cleaned the interior up really good. We are going to wash and wax it as soon as the weather gets warmer. Today we put some used tires on the front and took all of the calipers off because they need to be rebuilt. The rotors also need to be cleaned up. Tomorrow we are doing an oil change. That will complete the first weekend of work.

So where did you guys start your restorations?


JP

[jamcleod]

i dropped the engine and trans and took the body to have some rust repaired. took the engine down to a short block, new rings, valve job. installed engine. driving car around. just can't seem to install carpet set and finish the interior . need a garage. winter sucks.

[kellzey]

JP!

Congratulations on your father/son project.

Restorations vary from complete stripping down to the bare chassis, dipping the body, and building the car back up to, fix as you go, refresh the engine, fix what's broken, replace a seal hear or there, etc.

Start off with small projects and learn about the car. Fix something small. Take it for a drive. Fix something else. Enjoy the car.

Soon, you will be hooked (if you already aren't).

Post your questions here. Search the want ads, ebay, and buy a lot of parts from Pelican!

Welcme to the 914 additction!!!!

[415pb]

I couldn't agree more with what Karl said. I started off small and started to get to know my 914. Next thing you know, I am doing a full rebuild on the engine. It was so satisfying to hear the engine start after it was all done. Congrats on your new project and enjoy.

[JPigg34]

I wish I could drive it. That is the next big thing for us is to check compression and see if we have to rebuild the engine. After that probably new carpet, paint, and fix the brakes and we should be in good shape.

JP

[Bleyseng]

CHANGE THE FUEL LINES AND HOSES. Use Porsche high pressure FI fuel line so the car doesn't catch fire due to a gas leak.

Change brake lines (probably 30 yrs old), new rotors (30 yrs old too thin) etc...

DO all the safety repairs now before you start driving the car all the time. Mechanical failures (no brakes) or leaky fuel lines can end all the fun.

Other stuff, clean the engine top and bottom so the engine runs coolers.
Change the tranny oil (30 yrs old)
Adjust the clutch
Check the master cylinder too.
Check the wheel bearings front and rear for slop/wear.

Geoff

[sixbanger]

I started on the RUST>

[Scooter311]

Sigh. When I bought mine, it was a relatively clean 1.7 with 58,000 miles, and the paint was a little cracked. All the chrome was nice, and it didn't need anything more than a tune-up, and all the usual 914 stuff (fuel lines, brakes, blah blah blah). All I wanted was to just have a decent daily driver, which it was - UNTIL I FOUND THIS WEBSITE!!!!!!!
Now, even after repainting, flares, 5 bolt suspension, wheels, tires, and now trying to build a 2056, (all of which wasn't needed of course), I still think there are things I need to do for some reason.

SOMEBODY STOP THE MADNESS


Welcome, come in, sit down, get comfy 'cause you'll be here a while.

Jeff

[murphys]

It all began with a brake job . . . then I decided to repack the wheel bearings and look around - BIg Mistake! Then I noticed that the front end bushings were shot (they weren't, but I had already hacked away) . . . and there was some rust. Once you have the front end all over the garage, you might as well check out the rear end, the engine and the interior - and there goes the nice drives in the Spring with the top off.

[Zeke]

I always start a car project by cleaning the interior completely with seats out. Then the trunk. Then the motor. You learn a lot about the car poking around cleaning everything. The receipts and matchbooks, etc. that you find reveal some interesting history.

Sometimes you get a car that just had some repairs done before you got it. If the repairs were done properly, you got a gift.

Then on to the vitals, like stated above (brakes and such).

[D7N7MASTER]

Our 914 purchase took about 9 months because we wanted a supposed "rust free" SoCal chassis to start with...
It needed brakes - badly. Worst I have ever seen. But it was a '73 F.I. 2.0 so... I had to have it. The interior was good. Not great - but good. And it ran - crappy, stuttered, no power, but it ran. Paint was from a spray can! And not many...
Tires were shot. Tranny leaked. All of the F.I. wiring and ignition wiring was so brittle that when I touched it the insulation would fall off onto my hand. Relay board was from a 356!!! Had been modified to work but had jumper wires that liked to break off and leave you stranded. Fuel lines were a joke. I like fires-but not in my car!!! Fixed all of that & more, seals, etc. Drove it for 4 years before the engine started to knock. It knocked at an idle only - for about a month. Then it knocked LOUD at ALL rpm's one day when I was driving home from work. But-she got me home!!! Time for a rebuild. But I couldn't be happier with my car. We paid $1750.- for the car and have a total of about $6000.- in parts receipts. I've done everything except the paint job & one trip to OTTO's Venice to straighten out the problem I was having with the F.I. But hey, who would have thunk that the relay board was from a 356? Bottom line? I couldn't have done what I have done for the $$$ I have invested without this BBS & of course, PP. Where to start? Right here. Also check out the 914 club. Another website where you will be amazed at how many people LOVE 914's. Words of wisdom? Fix everything that is safety related first, buy TWO sets of jackstands & then drive it every day. People that see me drivin' our teener must think I'm either HowdyDoody or stoned stupid 'cause I have a permanent smile. Absolutely the most fun you can have (legally) for the $$$

[auh]

I started by reattaching my sun visors and buying racing seat covers from pep boys for 30 bucks each. Lucky for my I only had to buy 2 cause its a two seater!

Change the fuses and clean the contacts. One week after having my car one of the fuses blew and everytime I hit the brake pedal or used a turn signal the tach would die and the oil light would go on. It was actually kinda cool with the turnsignal cause it would die and go back on and die and go back on and die and go back on.

Good times and luck with the new car

[tat2dphreak]

I agree with Karl! I started with Brakes, because that was the most dire fix needed... I then started doing body work, and realized I was over my head... so I got another body cheaper than I could get the body work done... I think all projects will have a slightly different starting point...

[norustscott]

When I bumped the back of a toyota avalon and the insurance company gave me a big fat $500 check...

[neal c.]

I agree with Bleysing: Safety items first.

I did the brakes before driving (drive home after purchase was scary enough).
Shocks and rear springs next.
Tranny rebuild, change bearings and synchro rings.
Welding clutch tube and trunk hinges.
Some cosmetic interior fixes and a bunch of annoying small stuff like window cranking mechanism, gauges, door handles, odometer,.....
Engine rebuild. Car sat on blocks for 6 months

Now I am dealing with the body damage and FI. One of the PO's apperanty selected FI items at random or whatever was available. EVERY single item is wrong for that year or not working

Neal

Dreaming about driving

[Zeke]

Originally posted by sixbanger
I started on the RUST>

Same here. Check the longs, heh he. The longs being the chassis parts just ahead of the rear wheel arches and below the doors and sail panels. That's the Achilles heal of the 914. Check from the underside with a sharp object like an awl. If the awl pokes thru, join the rust club.

[Acox914]

where did i begin my restoration?

on JACKSTANDS!!! LOL

[nyum96]

Brakes were completely restored by PO(FIRST THING)

Pulled the Gas tank, cleaned (POR 15), painted outside..

Relocated fuel pump, then replaced it with a new one...

Tightened CV joints

Relplaced all interior

Checked all electrical connections for loose wires or burned, bare wires...

Mechanical portion of the ingintion switch...

Replaced all the FI components....

Moved up to the Tranny for first gear replacement...

Rear wheel bearing

Passed my mechanics test by adjusting the valves...

Today, upgraded to MSD 6AL


Spent $8,000 somewhere with-in all that and then some.


BB


Can't forget .... complete, new clutch system, with flywheel.

[SGB]

It went like this:
Those Z rated tires I bought right after I got my 914 stuck GREAT, until...
!. "Custom body work" from off road excursion started it all.
2. Well, why not paint whole car?
3. "Whole car" means engine out....
4. say, I should fix these leaky push-rod tubes.
5. Seems like now is the time for a valve job.
6. Hmmm, these jugs just pull right off!
7. I really like the idea of quiter lifters, and no valve adjustments....
8. Lookathere, its a bus clutch!
9. While I primer, I'll get Grant to rebuild my 1st gear synchro.
10, I think its time for modern (it was 1990) gas shocks!
11. The bushings look like ABC gum. yuck!
12. Bump steer kit and short shift kit too....
13. Bonus at work for getting Masters- New seals and bumper tops!!!
14. Back from painter. Uh, bodyprep I did saved $ but shows too.
15. Well, my reassembled car looks good and runs well but the steering seems squirleir than ever and oh $hit why is this tire draging on the wheel well????
16. This guy Dale (way out in the country) built me a rear suspension attachment and aligned all 4 wheels for $50. He said "It might break off before you make to the highway." (It has lasted 15 years).
17. Drive 14 years. Several 500 milers, but mostly commuter- eventully needed new tires, brake pads, etc..
18. Discover Pelican Parts!!!!!!!!!! No more AA (to be fair, they never messed up my order once, but they were so s l o w.
19. PPBB fires me up to do it all again!
20. This time, all paint prep done at the shop.
21. Since then it has been tinkering stuff like H4 lights, wiring upgrades, shifter bushings, brake pads/ fluid, carb jets, etc. I may have to get another motor to be building since I've nothing much left to do....

I enjoy that car as much now as when I first got it, and now it is in better shape mechanically and cosmetically.

[Mr9146]

I started from the ground and worked my way up from there ...