Olympic Blue / Silver metallic 1972 US Import 1.7L

[evo914]

It looks amazing! Did you buy your rotisserie as I think it might be worth me investing in one!

[glovebox]

Excellent

[LMR]

I did a comparison between building and buying a rotisserie, and settled with buying one as the cost difference was tiny. It was a brilliant purchase. I think I would have lost patience a long time ago without it.

[defianty]

Looking fantastic. I've spent the last couple of days removing my suspension for plating etc. Can't wait until I'm reassembling. A long way from that though right now.

[LMR]

Stephen

Putting freshly painted and plated parts back on is a joy! I am watching your thread, you are making great progress.

[LMR]

So, a couple of weeks without an update. Life can get in the way sometimes.....

The car gods have not been on my side. After a thoroughly enjoyable weekend at the Goodwood members meeting and getting to see Darren C, and his lovely 914 amongst his other cars, my cruise home was rudely interrupted by loss of drive in my motorhome. I knew on the way down to Goodwood something was up, but the failure came without warning. On the upside I had made the event. On the downside, the recovery service was beyond a joke. I have had poor service in the past, but that night topped it all.

So, with the motorhome dropped at a garage for repair, and my BMW V8 25 miles away at the farm where I store the motorhome, I pressed my 964 into daily use. That went well until last Saturday morning when I lost drive in that. Thankfully I had just left home, and was with a friend who had a tow rope. So I got towed to my workshop, and was about to scrabble around on the floor to see what the issue was, but the good chaps at Zuffenhaus (Thanks Three Two!!) let me put my car on a ramp. The repair was thankfully easy - driveshaft bolts had worked loose. I have had that happen on racing cars in the past, but never on a road car. It is only a couple of years since I replaced the bolts and torqued them up. I have put thread lock and spring washers on now.

[LMR]

So, with the little dramas out of the way, back to all matters 914. Canarydelia popped over last Saturday and used a bit of space at the workshop to fit some new shock absorbers. I will let him fill you in on the improvement it made to his car, but he was delighted with is hard work.



Yesterday was spent at the NEC restoration show. Today, now I have the fan working, I have stripped the housing.



Superficially, there is nothing wrong with this - nothing is seized, but the condition of the metal parts inside are pretty poor



And the rubber seals have perished as well. As you have probably guessed by now, I have cleaned the parts up, and they will be sent of to the platers.

[Darren C]

Sometimes the Classic car gods can have a laugh at your expense. Last Sunday after Goodwood, I spent an hour at the roadside with the Scimitar GTE
Anyways, "sh*t happens" as they say.

I had a similar issue with the flaps in my 914 fan housing, some (but not as much) corrosion. The big issue was that the flap seals had all perished and crumbled too.
I use the rubber from an old Car inner tube to cut some new circular seals out of and refit between the metal plates (as they are no longer available)
Perfect thickness and low cost repair

[LMR]

Thanks Darren. Chief has done his in neoprene - I might give that a go.

[Green Ernie]

Hi Phil, I just bought a set of pre drilled CV bolts and stainless steel wire for the 914 from 914 Rubber. I've heard of a few old VW's that have had the same problem so wiring the bolts together maybe an idea.

Cheers

Matt

[Bruce M]

Aren't Schnorr safety washers the correct option with CV bolts?

[Canarydelia]

Just catching up on your thread LMR...and to my surprise, a pic of me, looking surprised as usual ("amazing, I haven't broken anything" kind of surprise). I had a great time under the experienced and watchful eye of LMR and was delighted to have a go at putting new shiny stuff on my car with his help.

I've driven the car about 100 miles since we put on new Bilsteins all round and new springs at the rear. The difference in both comfort and performance is astounding. The car "feels happier" cornering 10mph faster than I would previously go with the old KYB shocks. I am truly amazed at the difference. The fact too that the ride is more compliant makes the whole experience more comfortable too.

My wife detests going on any sort journey in the car but this year agreed to go to the 914 International with me. Part of the deal was that I sort the suspension and make the seats comfier. I have also had the seat pads reupholstered. On Sunday my wife had a "test ride" for an hour or so. She noted how much better it was, so even on that score, job done.

What I really, really want now is a workshop like LMRs. Probably more chance of becoming a Spice Girl than that happening in the near future though...

[LMR]

Matt - I have seen those. I have never seen the need in the past, but I am now considering them

Bruce - yes - I couldn't find my schnorr washers, I will sort them when I am next working on the car. I am not a fan of spring washers, but they were to hand.

Bren - I really liked how your car drove before the changes, it must be fantastic now!!



Early morning trip to the platers today, I love a bit of progress.

[LMR]

There has been a momentous occasion this weekend. It is not any great progress, in fact the good weather has been a distraction. No, the occasion is the first time the temperature in the potting shed has got into double digits!



I rebuilt the blower unit, but then found it didn't work, so stripped it again.

My Dynamat arrived. This is a work in progress, but took quick snap as I left tonight.

[chief]

As always our Phil, great progress!
You won't be able to hear a thing