need expert help

[gixer02]

My friend wants a 914-6 (71) he asked me some stuff and I want to relay the questions to the experts... He "said" I have no idea if sts true- that the front and rear bumpers are 200lbs each. He wants to change them with some lightweight replacement--then he asked if I knew where the gas tank is-- it made me think, the tank could be close to front or back and the heavy bumper protects it in which case modifying the bumper is probably a saftey problem. As I said it's a 71' 916, I heard before 73' is best and obviously the six's are faster-- how fast though, I don't know any power specs. The one he's looking at is $800 and doesn't run. He doesn't know why it doesn't run. I told him to save his $ and buy one in better shape. I own an 83 944- are parts on the 914-6's more or less expensive and one last thing- about how much do they weigh stock... I thought I remembered for some reason 1700lbs but I'm not sure... thanks alot

Pat

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Even the heavy 75-76 bumpers don't weigh 200 lbs each! The 74 bumpers, with the "bumper tits" that the 71 won't have, can't be more than 30 lbs each.

The fuel tank is directly in front of the cockpit. The whole front trunk is between the front of the car and the tank.

The car total weighs less than a metric ton (~2200 lbs), probably in the 2100 lbs region.

For $800, if the body is solid and there's much of the "interesting" stuff there, jump all over it. Even if there isn't that much of the "interesting" stuff (motor mount, oil tank, hand throttle, etc.) jump on it if the body is solid.

Parts for a 914-6 are either 914 parts or 911 parts. They are priced accordingly. Maintenance will be much cheaper in parts than on any 944, but may be more on labor. (Valve adjusts are a PITA...)

Sixes were only 70-72 in stock form, and only 70-71 were officially imported to the US. The Six is generally regarded as superior to any stock four-cylinder 914.

--DD

[gixer02]

I thought for sure the bumper was not 200lbs and that's why I stressed that this guy "said" that. I never thought of him as a reliable source... and I think the body is strong (I didn't see it) because they said it ran before it sat outside for a long time so from what they said it sounds like it should be in good shape(but he also said it had 200lb bumpers + he's the one that told me it weighs like 1700lbs total- I didn't think that seemed too truthful either. But my main problem with what the kid wants to do is that he has to borrow 400 dollars from someone just to pay the 800 and since that is the case I doubt he will ever get it running... But I have around $4000 I could spend- if the body is sturdy or I find one that is in good shape does 4 grand seem like a feasable amount of money to work with for a decent 914-6(to be a sunday driver)? thanks again
Pat

[campbellcj]

Pat,

Welcome to the board! Well, for starters, keep in mind that sometimes the "free" cars are the most expensive of them all in the long run.

A real 914/6 for $800 that is not rusted beyond belief would be an extremely rare find. Even with a blown engine and other problems.

I hate to say it, but it seems like a big mistake for somebody having trouble scraping together $800 to buy the project car to do so. These cars are not cheap to work on. Some 914/6's that are selling for 10 times that amount are what many guys would consider "basket cases" needing significant mechanical and/or body/paint/interior work. Most "finished" factory /6's you see for sale are in the $12K-22K range, to give you an idea. And nobody sells 'em for what they put into the project...more like half in many cases.

Now if it's complete and not totally trashed (rusted or bent tub), then with a $4K budget you probably could get it back on the road. It probably wouldn't be fast or pretty, but functional. It just really depends what the car needs, specifically, to be "whole again". You'd have to be handy at DIY work, possibly including welding and pretty serious mechanical stuff.

Could be fun, but be careful before you leap!

[Joe Bob]

When he replaces those heavy bumpers, send them to me.....

[SteveStromberg]

This was a Free car not really swaped a gearbox for it. I got a 74 2.0 rust bucket for $500 that supplied the Drivetrain,Windsheild, Interior, I put a new M-C, F-R rotors,and swapped the steel line from the donor car. the total cost to get it on the road including 5 New XZX's was under $2k. Steve

[Wayne 962]

Sounds like you need to do quite a bit more research to make sure that you end up with the car that's right for you. Read thru past posts on this BBS, and also check out our technical section on the 914:

http://www.pelicanparts.com/914/914world.htm

-Wayne

[Bleyseng]

Read the FAQ's written by Dave Darling on this site and it will answer lot of your questions about the cars. For $800 I can't believe it's a six unless it's a rust bucket. But who knows... Look under the battery tray for rust and in the rear trunk near the lights, and under the seats and the head light buckets... on and on. That takes lots of money to fix or time and skills most don't have. If it is a six it is worth more than $800 for parts. Let us know....
Geoff

[gixer02]

thanks for all the info guys... It is true I don't know much about the 914's at all but from how impressed I was by the 944 board I figured I'd get alot out of throwing the question up in the air... and all the advice + numbers you guys gave have confirmed that for him to buy the car would be a mistake... I will show him all the responses you gave and maybe(hopefully) change his mind. thanks again

Pat