Cracked suspension console

[tmk]

My 75 1.8 suspension consoled has broken and is just hanging on. Can it be fixed or is it not worth doing?


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TMK
73 914S 2.1L

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

If you're in Southern Cal, where low-rust 914s seem to be rather common and the 75s have significant smog hassles, then throw it away. If you're in the Midwest, where all 914s seem to have major holes in them, repair it.

Essentially, it depends on how easy it is to get a good 914 chassis in your area, and on how attached you are to that particular car.

--DD

[tmk]

I am in the south SF bay area. Other than the consoled the car is in fair shape. No smog problems as it is a non California car doesn't have and dose not need an EGR or CAT. So how hard is this to fix? And what needs to be done? If it is a lot of time and $ then I will part it out as it has a lot of good parts.

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TMK
73 914S 2.1L

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Well, a 75 still has to pass smog. That can be a hassle.

Fixing the suspension console involves mostly finding out why the thing broke in the first place. Usually, it's due to rust. If that's the case, you'll have to find all the rust and cut it out of the car. Then weld in fresh metal. And while you're doing that, you have to make sure everything is completely straight. That can be a bit of a challenge.

If it simply cracked due to bad welds on Karmann's part (or missing welds, as happened to Jon Lowe's track car), then you can get away with welding in considerably less material.

If you don't know how to weld, this is probably not a good way to learn. If you do, you'll probably have a decent idea of how to fix the broken parts.

I'm also in the south bay, and I'd probably junk the car. But it depends on how attached I was to it. I might not junk my blue car--then again, with the way that it's been going recently, I just might...

--DD

[tmk]

It broke due to the PO not taking care of the battery tray and allowing the battery to flop around and spill acid all over. It is barley moving around but I think that it is more than I am willing to do so I will part it out.

Anyone needing 75 1.8 parts let me know.


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TMK
73 914S 2.1L