2. Is there anyway to fix [the push rod tubes] short of taking the valve covers off, taking off the rockers, taking out of the push rods.. then the push rod tubes? If not, do valve adjustments need to be redone after removing the rockers?
Not really any other way to fix the leaks--RTV will leak again--and you should at least check the adjustment after you R&R the rocker arm assemblies. Remember, the torque on the retaining nuts is 10 lb-ft! Which means you have to torque them at TDC, otherwise the valve springs put too much tension on the rocker shafts.
3. ... an 8" Bazooka Tube right in front of the passenger seat. Has anyone tried this? Any idea how much leg room it cuts out?
MikeZ did. It didn't seem to cut down on the legroom appreciably, since it tucked right under where thhe passenger's legs went. He said the sound was pretty good--as I remember, it was no match for the Malmzzx-mobile or Jeff Shyu's cars, but competent. (Malmzzx and Jeff both built up custom enclosures and such.)
4. Does anyone have any experience with mail ordering tires?
Tire rack.
http://www.tirerack.com I've always had great service from them, very good prices, and the tires if shipped from Reno will show up in two days or so. Finding a good local shop to install them for a reasonable amount of $$ may be a challenge. You can sometimes use the TR ads (or a printout from the website--which nobody
I know would alter before they printed it, right??) to get the locals to come down on their prices too.
I used to get the tires mounted & balanced at Costco; it was officially against their policy but the guys there didn't care. I've also gotten the locals to match TR's prices a few times. And one other local place used to offer (still does??) a lower-priced mount & balance for "racers".
5. Is there any type of air filter replacement for a '72 1.7? I have no problems with the filtering capability of the oil bath.. it's just huge and constantly in the way.
The 73 1.7 had a paper-element filter. That's about it. You can fake something with a K&N or similar filter...
6. I'm thinking about building my own center console, but I need one of those bent heater levers. I searched all over the Pelican Parts site but cannot for the life of me find it.. is there a link, or does PP no longer offer it?
I don't remember. You can find them used (there was one at the Don & Glenn swap meet this past Sunday in San Bernardino) or you can make one. Heck, if you're making your own center console then just make one that doesn't require the lever too be bent!!
7. I have the old style window cranks.. and they really suck... is there any type of replacement that I can use that works a little bit better but essentially screws on to the current crank base?
The later 914 cranks do. Some Rabbit ones do. The Rabbit ones might work a little better, but the other 914 ones will probably be more of the same. New cranks of any kind might work better, though--sometimes simply having new parts makes a huge difference.
--DD