Cuda911

I agree, SKl. Now, if I can only convince you to send me your wonderful chromed bumpers! I will probably chrome mine at some point, but this car and project is already sucking my discretionary funds dry.

Cars & Coffee in Carlsbad tomorrow will be the "Grand Unveiling" of my 914!

So, as I mentioned in a previous post, my wheels showed up. Still waiting for the lug bolts to show up. One of the wheels was painted yellow from that limited version. So, today I stripped it down and repainted it to match the other 4. Primered it and put on the first coat. Will sand with 600 and 800 and 2000 tomorrow and do the final paint tomorrow.

I also put in a new set of targa roof holders in the trunk, lubed all hinges, latches, etc., and did a major detailing of the interior. Even polished the flanges on the shock mounts under the hood!

Pix below:
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skl

You're definitely on the slippery slope...

Gotta say I like the silver, but of course I'm not biased or anything.

Assume previous owners did a good job on the front end damage repair.

As for bumpers, I had a place in California called Bumper Shop do the rechroming on the front bumper on my '73- they also filled in the holes for the bumper ****. Happy with their work.

Cuda911

And a very slippery slope it is! I made an appointment today to get the center back pad recovered a place that specializes in Porsche restoration.

I want to get a new windshield too, since the original is pitted with age. Makes a glare at night that I don't care for.

Yep, top notch work. It was done a European Auto Body... a place that specializes in Porsche, Ferrari, Lambo, and other high end repair.

Cuda911

Update 7/3/2014:

Got the car back from the shop. As I had suspected, it was a bad alternator, so that was replaced. Also, they were able to find and install and re-key a door lock, so now I can lock the car!!!

In addition, had shifter bushings replaced. Much less "slop" in the stick now.

Then, I headed over to TC's Garage in Vista, CA and picked up the following parts:

- New wiper arms and blades (the old ones were a bit too faded for my liking)
- New antenna - it is the Hirschmann one that was installed by most dealers.
- New PORSCHE letters for engine cover lid
-New rubber covers for clutch and brake pedals (the old ones were fine, but why settle for fine when I can have perfect?

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I installed all of the above today except the PORSCHE letters. What a dope I am... at first I thought I would have to pull apart the dash to get at the antenna wiring, until after 5 minutes of staring at it, I opened the hood and realized that it was right in front of me. DUH! I also cleaned up all of the contacts... I could "sort of" get about 3 radio stations before... now I get about 50!

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skl

I gave up trying to listen to a radio station in a 914 a LONG time ago... wasn't going to butcher the interior in order to get bigger speakers or amp etc.
I leave the XM-Sirius to the newer stuff!

cairo94507

The only way I would have a radio in a 914 is if it were a period correct radio that had been gutted and had new internals put in that gave you the added benefits of the new technology invisibly. Additionally, speaks would have to fit into the stock two speaker frames. No other speakers would be installed in the car. I want the interior to remain stock in appearance.

Amber Gramps

Your goal here is to make us 911 guys admit your 914 is nicer than half the 911s out there, isn't it?

Cuda911

My radio is the original dealer-installed one. Works like new... which is to say... works like crap. I'm happy with it though, plays just fine... I'm really not an audiophile at all. I will eventually replace the speakers... as you say.. with something that will fit in the original boxes.

Today I was at the wheel shop getting my Mahle's installed. Another guy was there at the same time in a bright red Cayman R. No one even looked at his car. I had at least 10 people come up and ask me about the 914. One lady came up to me and asked if it was a 911. When I left the shop, several people were filming the car on their cell phones! Funny stuff!!!

So, here's today's update: I had the Mahle wheels put on. Only one of my center caps would go on... I didn't want to bash them too hard and dent them. I used a piece of PVC pipe over them, but it wasn't quit large enough diameter to fit all the way down to the edges of the caps. Need to get a bigger-diameter piece to use as an installation tool.

The wheel on the left is the one that was mismatched from the other four (it was painted yellow from the Limited Edition 914)... after I stripped it and repainted it. Matches very well, I think!
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niche

looking sharp!

User 040621

that's a very cool 914.....thanks for sharing the back-story and progress.

Cuda911

7/9/2014: Today's project: The "PORSCHE" letters on the engine compartment lid were a bit faded and flaking with age, so replaced those today:
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P356GT

Looks really nice and good luck having found such a nice and clean 914.

I sometimes miss my old 914, it sure is diffrent to drive and nice to be so competative towards the other Porsches.

Very often some of the 911 owners would look down on you and my 914 but when they were left behind on the track and just saw my rear end..... They became very much more friendlier :-)

skl

When I was thinking about a 914 way back, there was some talk in the PCA to not let the 914 in as it was really just a VW... I even wrote a letter to Pano stating I could spend less on an old rust bucket 356 than a new 914.
Made it all the sweeter when I could routinely beat 911's in autocrosses back in the early '70's, and that was when my car was basically "stock."
Times change...

Cuda911

Hey Stu, I had heard that also... can't remember what site I saw it posted on... that initially 914s weren't allowed in PCA. I spoke with a PCA officer about that a month or so ago, and he assured me that this is an unfounded rumor. But, perhaps they did at some point consider a ban?

Today I went over to the beach to photo my new wheels. Here's something bizarre... look what was parked in the EXACT spot that I was going to take my photos!!!! :
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skl

Nice-Minilites and the rarely seen rear fog light...