Let me preface this by saying I had a buddy that was really into P-cars, eventually he got a new 911 C2, but that is neither here nor there. While he was drooling over 911's I was more attracted to 914's. They are on my list.
A co-worker was mentioning that a local transmission shop has one that the owner (a porsche guy) is trying to sell for $800, possibly less. Needs an engine, don't know if the tranny is there or not. I know rust is an issue with these, where? What is a price range on these w/o an engine (possibly transmission). What am I looking at for an engine/transmission?. I am easily in the cash position to jump on it. Sight unseen I want it, but need some info.
Skobie
New Reader
4/29/10 12:25 a.m.
In reply to bigbrainonbrad:
Rust is found under the battry tray, behind the rockers, and in the front corners of the front trunk and the rear corners of the rear trunk. If I recall correctly, they all had vinyl covered b pillars, and rust was so common under there that the lack of vinyl is a clue of a previous rust repair.
I read once that when shopping for a 914, bring s large friend. Take the top out and bot get in. If the doors are difficult ti close, this car may have structural issues.
That being said, for $800, how much work/$$ is this particular 914 worth to you?
Maybe you could check eBay or CL for a engine or donor car.
You could check Pelican Parts for patch panels to get an idea on where to look for rust.
Good luck and don't forget to post pics if you get it.
Poke around here, it may help wrap your head around pricing, the good, the bad, the ugly and the ones to walk away from.
http://www.914world.com/index.php
Anything can be fixed, the question is do you want to? My first 914 needed a floor pan, that was a lot of work. Reflect seriously on your time, talent and money available, but that applies to any car. Most any part of a 914 can be had NOS or from another enthusiast, that helps. If everything was there and solid, I would pay $800 for a clean shell, you're going to spend that in beer and bondo chasing rust on a bad one.
Dan
My first [rusty] one:
I have an extra Kennedy swap kit for a GM 60* v-6 I could be talked out of for about half the price of the car. Still keep you in Challenge pricing with 160hp....
definitely check the battery tray and rocker panels. in the last few months I have learned more than I care to know about these cars.
If you get one, they are a very different looking car with flares....buy flares!
6 swaps are pretty easy, so find a 3.0 out of an SC, and have real fun!
Skobie wrote:
If I recall correctly, they all had vinyl covered b pillars, and rust was so common under there that the lack of vinyl is a clue of a previous rust repair.
No.
They didn't all have the vinyl B pillars. I think it was part of a trim package on the early small engined cars, but I believe that all the 2.0 cars had them.
My yellow 1973 2.0 didn't have vinyl sails, my current 1974 2.0 does. I don't think rust in that area jeopardizes structural integrity like rust in the battery tray or at the bottom outside edges of the firewall (behind you).
no, sail panel rust is a pain, but it will not affect the stiffness of the car much. The engine shelf, firewall, and sills, will, however.
All rust repair panels are still being made, and can be found several places. (ahem)
The problem with the rust at the battery box area is that the battery acid dripped onto the right rear suspension. If that is damaged, the repairs can be expensive...assuming they can even be made.
Not all 914s had the vinyl covering on the sail panels from new. The first year or two, the "el cheapo" model had a body colored roof sail and body colored bumpers. While still on the roof, the Targa bar supposedly can be completely removed and it will not drastically affect the structural integrity of the car. The was a company in Ca. that once offered (perhaps still offers?) a kit for converting the 914 into a sort of speedster, with the requisite convertible top.
The stock engine is a VW type 4 engine, most of which are being converted to carbs. I had a 914 with the 1.8 (i think), the fuel injection is tricky, but even trickier is keeping exhaust exchangers working on this engine with the fuel injection. A backfire through the exhaust will kill the exchangers.
I always thought a WRX engine would be the perfect engine to transplant into one of these little buggers 
