Restoring my first 914

[jackstowers]

Just out of interest Kev, have you any source/lead on these gaskets?
I've found a couple of listings in the US, but shipping is far more than the gasket price.

I'm sure I got mine from Roger Bray

[914 KEV]

Just out of interest Kev, have you any source/lead on these gaskets?
I've found a couple of listings in the US, but shipping is far more than the gasket price.

I'm sure I got mine from Roger Bray

I cleared Roger Bray out of them some months back!

Now looking for more as I'm always replacing them on 914s I work on. Was thinking about placing an order with a U.S. supplier as I have a couple of jobs lined up that require them.

[914 KEV]

Thanks for the info on the splines Kev. I’ll let you know how many they turn up with. Looking in the Porsche PET it lists the 914/4 & /6 as having the same driveshaft part number so not sure if that’s an error on my copy or I’m reading it wrong?

Darren you are not reading it incorrectly, but you are using the current PDF parts listing from Porsche and not an old one which were available as a book in the eariy days or on mircfiche.
The current 914 part listing is not 100% correct to all the differences between the various models as listed on the old parts listings.
Many numbers have been superseded to using an alternative part number on the current list; which will fit, but were never used on all models on the production line. And some parts which were available separately are no longer listed.

Yes Darren, please let me know the number of spines as now I’m at home and dug out an old listing these might be correct for the 914-4 having 33 spines and the 914-6 ones have been superseded with the 914-4 version!
Better that way round as top quality LÖBRO 33 spines 94 x 20 CV joints are still used on many VWs and can easily be modified to fit the 914 by drilling two opposite holes to 10mm with a depth of 10mm for the locators on the mating side to the gearbox joint flange and then use a lathe to cut the groove for the gasket or fit them without cutting the groove and without the need to use the gasket, just a bit of sealant.

[Darren C]

Thanks for the thoughts on the gaskets, I’ll wait to see what turns up at Porsche Centre. I did choose the gasket from an image. The 914 have the bolt clearance semicircle cut outs on the inside diameter of the gasket, the 911 seems to have the cut outs on the outside diameter (from what I can see on-line) Not sure on the sizes of what I’ve ordered on the 912 part number at this stage.

Today I picked up the Steering Wheel. I’m still not happy with it, but I don’t think I’ll get any further with them now. In all fairness I have got this done in exchange for a favour so no money exchanged hands. The stitching is much better now but for some reason they put two joins (top & bottom) in the leather rather than the one I wanted?
In the scheme of things its better than having a UV sun perished crumbling steering wheel, but I know the two join thing will bug me in my OCD kinda way!





This evening I continued cleaning the O/S rear trailing arm. Like the N/S there was a heavy coating of underseal, sand and old CV joint grease, plus the blue overspray from the painters. (Take a look a few pages back in the thread and you'll see how much blue paint & lacquer was on the end of the trailing arms!)
After another painstaking 3 hours I’d scraped most of it off. You can see a lot of it on the newspaper below. There was of course a fair amount up my nose, in my ears and down the back of my T-shirt from lying under the car.



I was pleased to find the Philidas nut on this side was a lovely bright gold zinc plate under all the crud.



Again there’s some tiny chips and tiny rust spots but nothing to shout about. I’ll touch it all in at the weekend when I’ll have sunlight rather than torchlight. They’re really quite good condition and don’t warrant a full repaint.

I also took a picture of a localised underseal repair in the N/S rear arch, to help explain what I described a few posts ago. The chipped, flaked and missing underseal has been locally touched in and the texture replicated. By the weekend it’ll have had a whole week to dry properly so that I can black it out along with the whole of the inner arches to return it to the same appearance as the car had when it was new (but a bit tidier and not splattered everywhere).

[Darren C]

Today I carried on cleaning the rear trailing arms. I removed the last bits of underseal from the arms and the last bit of grease from right up inside the recess where the CV joint goes. I degreased everything with cellulose thinners and lightly sanded the area’s where a few small spots of rust had started.
Having done this on both arms I concentrated on the O/S one this evening and used a scissor jack under the rear 4 point jacking plate and took the weight so that I could relocate the axle stand I’d got under the trailing arm. This allowed me to clean up the last bit that was obscured by the axle stand.
With everything cleaned off, degreased and a wipe with a tack rag I repainted the area’s of the O/S trailing arm that had been damaged or rusted. I used an oil & fuel resistant paint and a ¼” modellers brush with very soft bristles so that I could blend in the paint and not create brush marks in it.
Before I knew it, it was 8:30pm and with failing LED light, and mosquitoes making a meal of my legs I called it a day.

[rhd racer]

you could always get rid of the top seam on the steering wheel with a bit of yellow tape to see how much oppo you are applying Darren! though I suspect that is not the look you are going for!

I know,you are disappointed with the wheel but I think it looks rather nice. the rest is coming along brilliantly - can't wait to see the car in person

cheers
wayne

[914 KEV]

Darren has asked me to post an apologue on his behalf, as Darren is unable to post an update tonight, due to circumstances beyond his control!
If all goes well, Darren is hoping to update you all tomorrow!

[Bewildebeest]

Darren is unable to post an update tonight

Darren !! - how am I supposed to go to bed if you haven't posted the daily update ??

[nrc914]

Me too - what's going on?!

[rhd racer]

Do they MOT on a Sunday????!!!

[Darren C]

Ok.

I’m back!

Apologies for missing a whole weekend.

I was otherwise engaged in A&E and then the Stroke Ward, following another Minor Stroke (TIA) on Friday afternoon. Loosing my sight, balance and left side is an interesting experience whilst driving at 40mph on a dual carriageway.
Bloody inconvenient I can tell you.
As for MOT’s on a Sunday, I’ve had a full 48 hr weekend IVA test and some. Mind you I’ve been overdue a “check up from the neck up” for some time now.
The main thing is that I’m back (for now) and able to carry on with the most important thing……finishing this 914.

On Friday morning before work I’d cleaned up the CV bolts and painted all the heads satin black and laid them out to dry before leaving for work. At lunchtime I’d picked up the new driveshafts from Porsche and the gaskets that I took a chance on. Sure enough the gaskets were too large a diameter, so it looks like I’ll revert to Plan B and cut some out myself. Interestingly the CV boots & cover flange fitted to the new dive shafts has 6 holes not 4 (which bugs my OCD) but has the dowels fitted. Looks like Porsche use a generic boot and flange these days. (Kev, I’ll count the splines later today for you)
I have to be back at the Hospital this afternoon for another brain scan so hopefully I’ll be home at a reasonable hour to get something productive done today!

P.S…I don’t need any sympathy; sh*t happens in this life, you just have to get on and make the most of the time you’re given.

[Bewildebeest]

Darren, humblest apologies for inappropriate levity.

Best wishes for a full recovery - you strike me as someone who will just carry on whatever.

Cheers

Andrew

[911hillclimber]

Good luck with all the 'body' stuff; it is a bitch getting older...(I know)

I cant imagine the grief cutting those gaskets by hand, why not get a selection from type911 and when one fits, order more?!

[rhd racer]

Crikey Darren, I was expecting a full reveal of a finished car, not anything quite like that.

sincere best wishes and hope you suffer no residual problems,

Cheers
Wayne

[jackstowers]

The suggestion of taking things easy and resting is I'm sure going to fall on deaf ears so just get on and finish the bloody car!
Welcome back