FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Each Outpost member may create a post in this thread to track maintenance of their vehicle, including PM, repairs, etc.
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FRUNKenstein
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:24 pm

Hmm, still waitin‘. According to the tech assigned to the job, he got the throttle cable done. According to the owner, he’s just been short on help. The 914 spring driving season is over (supposed to be 102 degrees here tomorrow), so I guess there’s no huge rush now. I did get a referral to an older gentleman who will make house calls to work on air cooled Porsches, so if it isn’t done in the next week, I may pull it out of the shop and bring it home to have it worked on.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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32wildbilly
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by 32wildbilly » Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:32 pm

I wonder if he is related to gnat's body shop guy?
FRUNKenstein wrote: Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:24 pm Hmm, still waitin‘. According to the tech assigned to the job, he got the throttle cable done. According to the owner, he’s just been short on help. The 914 spring driving season is over (supposed to be 102 degrees here tomorrow), so I guess there’s no huge rush now.
Never gonna make you cry...

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FRUNKenstein
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Thu Jun 17, 2021 10:36 am

32wildbilly wrote: Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:32 pm I wonder if he is related to gnat's body shop guy?
FRUNKenstein wrote: Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:24 pm Hmm, still waitin‘. According to the tech assigned to the job, he got the throttle cable done. According to the owner, he’s just been short on help. The 914 spring driving season is over (supposed to be 102 degrees here tomorrow), so I guess there’s no huge rush now.
No kiddin'. Normally, this mechanic is pretty good about getting stuff out quickly. He works on my daily drivers. I've let him do a few small jobs on the P-cars, but I have a regular P-car mechanic who is very good. Looks like I should have had the 914 towed over to the regular P-car mechanic.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

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FRUNKenstein
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Posts: 3938
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:02 pm
Location: Wheat field, dammit, wheat!
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:07 pm

Got the 914 back from the shop yesterday afternoon, and it drives very nicely. The new accelerator cable is much smoother, although they need to adjust it to take out some slack at the top of the pedal travel. The idle is smoother as well. It used to backfire quite a bit, but that’s all but gone now.

I cleaned it up and took it to Porsche Club breakfast and Cars & Coffee at the auto museum this morning. I forgot how much fun it is to drive since it’s been in the shop for over 2 months. But, having the oil changed, valves adjusted, carbs tuned and the new accelerator cable installed have made a noticeable difference.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

theprf
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by theprf » Sat Jul 03, 2021 5:40 pm

FRUNKenstein wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:07 pmBut, having the oil changed, valves adjusted, carbs tuned and the new accelerator cable installed have made a noticeable difference.
All those delightful, nostalgic repairs from the pre-efi era that we ignore when we adore these old cars. I confess that I don't miss having to adjust valves or tune carbs or replace condensers every few months.

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32wildbilly
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by 32wildbilly » Mon Jul 05, 2021 1:44 pm

Uh that gave me a flashback to my 1964 TR4. I hated those carburetors!
theprf wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 5:40 pm
FRUNKenstein wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:07 pmBut, having the oil changed, valves adjusted, carbs tuned and the new accelerator cable installed have made a noticeable difference.
All those delightful, nostalgic repairs from the pre-efi era that we ignore when we adore these old cars. I confess that I don't miss having to adjust valves or tune carbs or replace condensers every few months.
Never gonna make you cry...

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32wildbilly
Never gonna run around and desert you
Posts: 5758
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by 32wildbilly » Mon Jul 05, 2021 1:45 pm

Glad the work put a smile on your face.
FRUNKenstein wrote: Sat Jul 03, 2021 2:07 pm Got the 914 back from the shop yesterday afternoon, and it drives very nicely. The new accelerator cable is much smoother, although they need to adjust it to take out some slack at the top of the pedal travel. The idle is smoother as well. It used to backfire quite a bit, but that’s all but gone now.

I cleaned it up and took it to Porsche Club breakfast and Cars & Coffee at the auto museum this morning. I forgot how much fun it is to drive since it’s been in the shop for over 2 months. But, having the oil changed, valves adjusted, carbs tuned and the new accelerator cable installed have made a noticeable difference.
Never gonna make you cry...

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FRUNKenstein
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Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:02 pm
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Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Aug 24, 2021 12:59 pm

So, to update this maintenance log, right after I got it out of the shop for the oil change, valve adjustment and accelerator cable, a beautiful Bahia Red '73 2.0 with GT flares was offered to me at a price I couldn't refuse. Although I like the Laguna Blue color better, the '73 is truly a special car (an early '73, so actually sold as a "914S"). The Bride of FRUNKenstein approved the purchase with the caveat that I sell the Laguna Blue '75 2.0.

Today, I approved the final listing writeup and photos for the BringATrailer auction. So, since July 6th, I have focused on getting this car ready for the BringATrailer auction. On the July 10-11 weekend, I spent at least 15 hours cleaning, fixing minor issues, taking tons of photos and videos in order to submit it to BringATrailer. I pulled the rocker panel covers off both sides to photograph the condition of the longs (longitudinal supports).

It was accepted for auction on July 12th. On July 18th, I took it to The Great Car Show at the National WWI Museum and Memorial. It is amazing how the color just grabs the attention of passersby.

In addition to a thorough detailing, I put the car up on my lift and went rust hunting everywhere with some Loctite Rust Neutralizer liquid. However, there just really wasn't anything - maybe a little bit of light surface rust here or there and I hit those spots with the neutralizer. I had already hit the muffler and exhaust pipes leading into and out of it with some flat black high-temp rust neutralizer spray paint. The muffler and pipes were solid - they just had some surface rust.

I replaced the targa top storage clips in the trunk. I bought new handles for the seat adjusters, but didn't install them - they will be included in the auction. The seats adjust just fine as is, but thought the new owner would appreciate the new ones. The passenger side outer door handle didn't work when I bought it, so I replaced the cam actuator piece in it. It was missing the transmission shift linkage cover when I got it, so I bought and installed a new one of those.

It certainly isn't a perfect, concours level car, but it's a really nice driver - I'd call it a very high Condition 3 according to Hagerty's ratings. It was nice enough to win its class back in October in the local All German Car Show, which included our PCA region. And that was before it had the blue tartan plaid seats installed. It's clean and well-maintained. Someone will be getting a nice little 914. Although unlikely since I'm putting it on BaT, I'd love to see it stay in the Kansas City area.


IMG_1145.jpg
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

User avatar
FRUNKenstein
Curator Extraordinaire
Posts: 3938
Joined: Fri Jan 05, 2018 11:02 pm
Location: Wheat field, dammit, wheat!
Contact:

Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by FRUNKenstein » Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:13 am

Well, time for chapter 2 of my ownership of this car. The car sold on BaT last summer to a local buyer. He and his son and grandson came out to my house to look the car over and test drive it during the auction. He ended up being the high bidder, and I was very happy that the car was staying in KC. The buyer was an older gentleman, and as the son, the buyer and I were talking, the son said "Someday, I'll probably have to sell this car, so would you mind helping me when the time comes?" My response was "Sure, no problem, and heck, I really like this car, so I might just buy it back."

Yesterday, I got a call from the buyer. He said that he's only driven the car about 300 miles in the last year because it's just really difficult for him to drive it. A 914 is not an easy car to drive. The shift pattern is goofy, with first gear down and to the left, under reverse. And there are other things that make it hard for someone in his 80's to drive a 914. He called me to see if I was interested in buying it back.

After getting permission from the Bride of FRUNKenstein last night, I called him this morning to tell him that I'd be happy to buy the car back. At this point, I'm not sure what I'm going to do with two 914s. I really love both this car and the red car. I had some seller's regrets after selling the blue car, that maybe I kept the wrong one. But, now I've bonded with the red one. And, I hadn't envisioned the blue one being put up for sale so quickly - I thought it would be 4 or 5 years from now.

I'll probably offer the blue car to the local PCA members rather than putting it on BaT like last year. There's no huge hurry to sell as I can keep the car in The Underground. If it doesn't sell soon, then I might put the red car on BaT. We'll see. I'll be picking the blue car up sometime in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned.
www.kansascityautomuseum.com
Current:
2002 996TT X50, Guards Red
1987 928S4, Guards Red
1987 951, Guards Red
1973 914 2.0 Bahia Red

2006 955S, Lapis Blue
Other toys:
1988 BMW 325i Cabriolet, Alpin Weiss
1987 Bertone X1/9, Verde Chiaro
Gone but not forgotten: 1975 914 2.0, Laguna Blue; 1999 996 C4 Aerokit Black; 1990 964 C2 Guards Red; 2006 955S Arctic Silver

User avatar
32wildbilly
Never gonna run around and desert you
Posts: 5758
Joined: Sat Jan 06, 2018 2:46 pm
Location: Kneebraska

Re: FRUNKenstein’s ‘75 914 2.0

Post by 32wildbilly » Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:19 am

FRUNKenstein wrote: Tue Jun 07, 2022 11:13 am Yesterday, I got a call from the buyer. He said that he's only driven the car about 300 miles in the last year because it's just really difficult for him to drive it. A 914 is not an easy car to drive. The shift pattern is goofy, with first gear down and to the left, under reverse. And there are other things that make it hard for someone in his 80's to drive a 914. He called me to see if I was interested in buying it back.
That's sad that the old boy had to give the car up. However, good on him for realizing the situation.

Keep em both!!
Never gonna make you cry...

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