Two seater, targa topped bus restoration (914)

I put new Reg on mine but your welcome to the original one .. wosp high torque starter as well

 

Ooo, ta S.
I’ll check out my charging circuit and get back to you if the regulator is duff. Cheers.

 

Ages since last post. I’ve been slowly chipping away at this project but have been going backwards really lately.
All that cranking trying to get it to start with a defective CHT sensor goosed the starter. I got it rebuilt at the excellent Jays in Tolworth only to re-goose it because the original goosed starter had banjaxed the flywheel ring gear.
Rather than goose the starter all over again I’ve forked out for a new flywheel. I believe the flywheel is unique to the 914 so it’s pretty amazing when one turns up only a couple of days after ordering.
@Chrisd has been here today to help drop the engine again and fiddle with me end float (thanks Chris!) so hopefully will have it all back together in a few days. Need to tackle a couple of oil leaks whilst it’s all on the floor too.

…and then it will be time to take out on the road. Surely.

 

Some proper progress to report. With the new flywheel on and engine back in I was running out of excuses to delay the first run out any longer. Insured, taxed; ready to go.

The first run on public roads since 1988 went surprisingly well. The FI settled down to an even tick over when warmed up and, well, it just just went! Never really got up to much more than about 30 but it pulled really well, steered like it should and was a hoot to drive. I even fitted in the cockpit well enough (at nearly 6’4” I was really worried about whether I could operate the pedals ok). The gearbox is a bit notchy, but they are all like that, the clutch is nice and light. The dogleg first gear is going to take some getting used to, mind.

It’s noisy - particularly when you’re used to your engine being safely at the other end of the vehicle, but it’s recognisably a Type 4 bag-of-spanners-in-a-washing-machine burble. And it sounds great when you work up through the gears - it really wants to go.

Overall really pleased with the first test flight - particularly as I haven’t really discovered anything that needs fixing. Need to find a quiet time to bed in the rings next.

 

Can’t believe you didn’t attempt the ‘old’ & the ‘new’ Porsche shot in the garage....

 

I thought about it but the owner was starring at me in a way that told me it was best not to! Don’t think he had much brand loyalty for the air-cooled forebears.

 

It crossed my mind that there are probably some owners of modern Porsches who would know very little about the little odd turns like 914s, 928s and the alike.

Congrats on the first run!! I imagine that despite being the baby brother engine, the Type 4 probably hustles a lightweight 914 along very nicely!

 

Indeed. I think a low compression, Californian spec 1.7 wouldn’t hustle anything. But this one, now 2056cc and with flat-top pistons upping the CR, ought to win the battle with a rice pudding. Early days, but first impression is that it pulls right across the rev range. I might take it up to 40mph tomorrow!

Yes, the filling station is opposite the Royal Oak; the other shots are outside chez nous!

 

Is there any support brackets for the heat exchangers of does all the weight just hang off the exhaust studs?

 

there is a bracket that comes off the gearbox that supports the backbox

 

great to see this on the road - looks fab

 

Matchbox


or Hotwheels?

 

We have a yellow hot wheels one with all that prepper gear over it. Not sure the hot wheels guys appreciated the layout of the 914 when putting the extra fuel tanks just above and behind the engine!

 

A few other titbits;
Going through the front and back of the fuse box was worth doing and oddly therapeutic - it’s certainly helped get the current draw down on a few circuits. Photo taken half way through… … in fact is was so therapeutic I went on to do the box on the bus too!

The car sits on ‘Riviera’ wheels. These were popular aftermarket add-ons in the States but I’d much rather have pucker Mahles or Fuchs, maybe one day. I really didn’t like them at first but they have grown on me a bit. First one has been tidied up, only three to go. I much prefer the flat finish from 2500 grit rather than the polished finish you often see stateside.

 

Couple more titbits…
This mega relay controls the interlock of seat belt done up/bum on seat/little warning light on dash/starter motor. It had been driving me nuts so finally got round to jumpering the yellow wires that go to the solenoid. I’ve left the rest as it is so I still get the warning light and strangled-rat buzzer if I try to start it without the seat belt done up - it would seem a shame to disconnect it all somehow.


And I’ve had the wife’s sewing machine out when she wasn’t looking. Top panel of arm rest was damaged so I’ve sewn in some fresh basket-weave.

 

Nicely done.
Did you just clean up the pins on the fusebox or are they new? One of mine snapped on the bug fuse box so I’m after a spare. Seems a shame to bin it.


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Yes, I just cleaned up the existing contacts. There must be someone with a breaking fuse box that could donate a spare set of contacts somewhere…

 

Will ask around. Autocorrect creating the fantastic new word Firebox there instead of Fusebox!


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Currently enjoying a trip in France with the van so a good time for a little update.

I think it’s fair to say the old ‘teener has reached the stage now of ‘rolling restoration’. I’ve been out in in half a dozen times and gained a bit more confidence each time (i.e. I’m less s**t - scared of grabbing reverse instead of first and generally breaking down on the dual-carriage where I’ve taken it all the way to 50mph).

It’s a bit of a bear when cold. As it warms up it improves, but still lumpy on light throttle although picks up beautifully under harder acceleration. I thought the throttle position sensor PCB might be the culprit so ordered a new one from the States. The new one is fitted and has helped, but some jumpiness remains. Need to properly measure the CO emissions now to set the idle richness adjustment on the ECU and work from that. Luckily I know someone who will lend me his meter.


The rear bumper once hosted a load more creepy critters - all cleaned up and re sprayed. The rubber cap was really deformed, but came up ok after fettling, filling and lots of coats of black Plastidip.