Battery Rust, always serious?
 

Is rust in the battery tray area always serious? Can that area be rusted without causing major damage to the structural integrity of the 914? Thanks!

Of the four 914's I've been intimate with (gee, talk about being attached to a car) 1 had a good battery area, one had damage where the acid pooled (actually rain water and acid) in the batt tray then ate holes (larger ones) in the fender well and the tray itself. It also got INTO the suspension console and left small holes out the bottom. I didn't notice the extend of the damge because some PO did me a big favor and fixed the holes using fiberglass over the rust. On to contestant #3. In this fine piece of work the acid went down the batt tray and flowed down the engine shelf where it finally settled into the passenger longitudinal. It also flowed down into the susp console to the point that right now I can pass a long screwdriver through the susp console. I'm not driving the car until I fix it. #4 is not for the faint of heart, yes it is true a 914 died while under my care, I'm sorry but it was too far gone. When I pryed the deck lid up (the body sagged to the point that none of the doors or lids would open) I saw the fuel pump zip tied to a brake line because the entire engine shelf was gone.

Ive been there.One of my 14's was eaten through into the longitudinal. The problem is that acid is present in there.Every time it gets damp it goes to work on what ever is left.It is necessary to neuteralize the acid.To do that one needs access to the interior of the sill. SO..yes it is serious
and expensive. I sold the first and bought another W/O the optional tin worm.

I've had good luck killing the acid with a strong mix of baking soda and water. Scrub it in with a tooth brush. Any rust left over in another story.

Some claim all 914s are repairable. I do not agree. Unless there is an emotional attachment start with the strongest, straightest specimen possible. I've parted out several that were beyong restoration from upside down wrecks with only minimal value to an abandoned (not me) project where the PO was trying to make one of two by welding a front half to a rear half. Both were telephone pole collisions. "Found in a field" bottom rust is nothing compared to what goes on out of sight in the longitudinal. The situation is exacerbated if the rear window is the source of moisture because once there is access for the acid vapors the rear floor pan separates from the firewall behind the seat. On one occasion I observed the trail of damage to the driver side longitudinal. Some say that could be from parking on a salted street. I have repaired and stiffened two chasis. The cost is at least $1000 to get it done right. I've had estimates of "2 to 6 grand". Poke around with an ice pick.Good luck.