(I posted this on the Canuck forum but a few guys suggested I put it here so the first posts are catch-up.)
I bought my first 'Porsche' in 1985. a '73 914 2.0. put a crapload of miles on it and had a lot of fun with my girlfriend, then we got married in it. kids rode in it belted to the center pad ( I know, I know
) had it for twenty years and finally sold it to buy my first 911.
it went to a local pelican so I see it all the time. he's in mid-resto on it and despite my fairly broad hints he hasn't sold it back to me. so I lately I began looking for another one.
go ahead. try and find a fairly rust-free '73 or '74 2.0 914.......... I dare ya
was hoping to find something in BC to save import and inspection hassles but it wasn't looking good. then a buddy called to tell me about a 914 he saw outside a repair shop in Kelowna.
he had owned it in the late eighties then sold it to a dentist. it was then sold to a guy that drove it two summers, then parked it. this year he pulled it out and towed it to the shop to get it re-commissioned. it sat there for a couple of months while I bugged the shop owner to give my name to the owner. shop guy didn't want to lose a gravy job so that wasn't happening. I finally stopped by last friday to talk to him. score! the shop owner was away and the kid let me look over the car
while looking around I saw a box with a name and address. memorized it in the three seconds I had to see it. thanked the kid and left. back in my car I googled the name and address and called the guy. yup, he was the owner, and yup, he wants to sell it
went back on monday to have a better look, this time with the owner's blessing. very decent car. went over to the owner's house and made a deal. called the tow truck and away we go!
my daughter and I gave it a wash when it got to the shop and I'm feeling pretty good. tuesday I installed the fuel pump ( it was out to re-locate to the front ) and some new gas lines. Strudelwagon stopped by just in time for me to hit the key. it started
and puked out a pile of seeds, hamster kibble, and mouse crap. not bad for sitting since 1991. drove it home tuesday. running pretty rough. wednesday played with it, put it on the hoist and cleaned it some more. very rust free.
went over to Strudelwagon's house last night. he generously loaned me a couple of distributors, some injectors, and a few other bits to get started. I can see he's going to be a big help. he's completely restored a '74 2.0 and knows the injection system inside-out and sideways.
today I went to the FLAPS and picked up plugs, points, plug wires, coil, cap, rotor, and a Haynes manual, all in-stock ..... for $150!! can't do that with a 911
back at the shop I did a full tune-up and now it runs much better. compression is low-ish but very even. no smoke but a fairly decent oil leak.
gotta say I'm having a lot of fun. lots of memories and a funky ride. best of all my wife really likes it! guys, trust me, that's more than half the battle right there.
making a 'parts needed' list and looking for some tires. couldn't be much happier
