914 PORSCHE, 2.0L, Collectors Car

1976 Porsche 914 2.0

I bough this true one owner 914 three years ago and began a ground up “nut & bolt” restoration. The car was completely disassembled down to the mono-frame. Everything was photographed, bagged and then each individual piece was restored one by one! The body was in excellent condition to start and was media blasted to bar metal using “baking soda” to avoid warping the metal (Sand will warp the metal…). Some of the parts took months of looking to find the right pieces for the perfect fit. Every metal piece was media blasted individual then powder coated semi-gloss black to ensure a strong surface for added protection. Here are some of the particulars:

Mono-frame:

• Media blasted to bar metal to expose any hidden rust; nearly no rust was found but in the “Hell hole” which was professionally restored using new sheet metal from Auto Atlanta. Rust was minor but should always be cut away & replaced…
• Side marker lights were also removed and welded over.
• Jack holes were removed from the side and a Porsche Boxter “scissor jack” was added to the front trunk spare.
• A complete “Chassis stiffening kit” was professionally welded in to stiffen the frame.
• Nearly no “Bondo” was needed or used, only as sanding filler.
• Car was painted tri-coat pearl white on top of an epoxy primer ($12,000 paint job)
• All new lights, lenses and bulbs; including hard to find fog lights!

Breaks & wheels:

• All the brake lines were replaced with new stainless ones from PMB Performance.
• New rotors drilled to allow the 5 on 130 bolt pattern! From Auto Atlanta
• Restored calipers and new pads.
• New 911 mater cylinder w/ stainless braded break lines to the calipers.
• New break fluid reservoir.
• Wheels are from a 98 Porsche Boxter and were re-chromed.
• Tires are Michelin, same ones used on new Porsche cars today. They still have the “nubs” on them and are in new condition. Only 300 miles on them… New
• Professionally aligned with the proper shims!

Engine:

• 1976 cars came from the factory only with 2.0 motors, this 2.0 motor was completely redone by Justin, the owner of Blackline Racing! We wanted an engine that could run with the factory fuel injection as well as carburetors so we kept every thing stock but put in the 96mm pistons which make the motor a 2.2 rather than a 2.0. The cam was beautifully re-ground (cam is -1) Justin did an amazing job; once complete the motor was broken in on the DYNO
• Italian WEBER carburetors!
• All the original fuel injection parts & will be sold w the car! (Computer, injectors…)
• New engine wiring harness made by Jeff Bowlsby, including a new fuel injection harness. His wiring harnesses are a work of art!
• New SSI stainless steel heat exchangers!
• New Burch exhaust for an amazing sound.
• Car was run for about 300 miles with factory fuel injection then switched to dual-carburetors to see the difference. Car "came to life"

Gear box:

• Completely dissembled and restored.
• Car shifts excellent. All new bushings many of which are brass so they do not wear like the factory plastic ones!

Upholstery/interior:

· Floor, door panels and back pad were covered with Dyno-mate then professionally upholstered in a marine vinyl. Engine compartment sound pad upgraded!

· New carpet kit with an extra set of floor mats for “car shows”

· Center consol with new correct gauges

· Dash gauges were restored and new glass lenses installed.

· New Pioneer CD player and speakers. New antenna

· MOMO steering wheel

· Dash was covered to match the rare 916 Porsche.

Fuel system:

• Gas tank was media blasted; powder coated then treated inside with POR 15 to seal any oxidation.
• New 8mm stainless steel gas lines were run through the “tunnel” (Front of car to back) and all rubber lines were replaced with proper German type: fuel and vacuum lines.

Suspension:

• Front and rear factory sway bars powder coated and all new bushings.
• Rear trailing arms powder coated and new bushings pressed in.
• Front suspension was gone through, restored and powder coated.
• All new shocks, powder coated front shock towers/spindles.

Heating/cooling:

• All the heating/cooling controls were cleaned and resorted to working condition and a new front fan motor installed. Many people that restore these cars leave the heating systems out, it is quite complicated but worth doing right.

Bumpers & rubber:

• New Stainless chrome front and back bumpers, include top rubber pads.
• All new rubber installed, All! 914 Rubber, Pelican Parts, Auto Atlanta

This has been a work of love; as a kid the 914 was my first car (14 years old) and I never had the money to get it to run very good, any 914 owner knows what I mean. As an adult, I was looking for something challenging outside of work so I decided to make my childhood car the way I wished it had been. NO corners were cut; every piece of the car was fussed over until perfect. This is an excellent 914; meticulously restored, carshow quality, always stored indoors! I have most of the original records back to 1976 provided by the original Owner, showing that she was cared for from the beginning!

I have made a website to showcase the transformation: www.rdcutah.com/cgi-bin/photoalbum/slideshow/264747