914 engine problems - please be gentle, I am new!

Ben Nichols 1979 · Post by **Ben Nichols 1979** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 11:45 am

Hi All

Unfortunately my father passed away a month ago very unexpectedly. He owned a 914 which has passed to my brother and I. The problem is that none of us knew it is a 1.7 that has been messed about with and made in to a 2.0l but it hasn't gone well at all! The bottom end had a rebuild before pop bought it but it was blowing a lot of white smoke shortly after he bought it.

It seems the pistons are the wrong size (94mm instead of 96mm) and the head is cracked. We have been quoted circa £2k in parts alone to get it right.

I am thinking about options really:

1. Swallow the bill and pay £2,000 - £2,500 to get it sorted but still have an engine with questionable provenance
2. Find a reconditioned engine and put that in
3. Import one from the states (a 2.0L) and slot it straight in and sell the current engine for parts. I am worried if the gearbox will work with a 2.0L

We are on a tight budget and really want to get the car to as pop wanted it (2.0L) but need to keep an eye on costs.

Can anyone help/point me in the right direction?

I know pop bought it privately from up North somewhere and it had DDK stickers in the rear window. Its black but cant remember the year etc as not been too involved up until now and my brother has been dealing with it.

He was an avid watcher on DDK but don't think he participated (his name was Bill Nichols from Norfolk) if anyone knows the car or can help I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks

Post by **Bootsy** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 11:48 am

Hi Ben, sorry to hear of your news. Welcome to DDK

There will be many along soon with advice regarding your 914

Are you also Norfolk based?

Ben Nichols 1979 · Post by **Ben Nichols 1979** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 11:55 am

Thanks Bootsy

I am based in Southampton but the car is with Canada Garage Motorsports in North Walsham at the moment. Any thoughts on them (you can PM if you'd prefer).

Funnily enough I also inherited a Heuer from him as well. Its a 1979 ref 13-1

Ben

Bruce M · Post by **Bruce M** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 12:10 pm

Our condolences Ben.

It is an important first step to understand what parts have been used to build the engine and what condition they are in.

The 1.7 engine has a 66mm Stroke crankshaft, matching rods and small bore Pistons. A set of large bore (96mm) pistons can be bought to increase the capacity to over 1.9l. That reuses the existing cranks and rods. The factory 2.0l engine uses a longer stroke crankshaft (71mm), different rods / Pistons (the Pistons are shorter between the rod pin and "top" to keep the overall length similar). The standard 2.0 Pistons are 94mm but a common upgrade is 96mm (not the same part that is used with the short stroke crank) which gives you 2056cc.
The original 1.7l cylinder heads are not too rare but need machines to accept the wider 94/96mm bore cylinders. The factory 2.0 heads are very rare and expensive to replace with larger valves and relocated spark plug bores. The 1.7 heads actually flow air pretty well and can be used on an upgraded (2.0ish) capacity engine.

Mr Pharmacist · Post by **Mr Pharmacist** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 1:30 pm

Sorry to hear of your news Ben.

The gearbox will work on a 1.7 or 2.0 engine.

As a temporary fix it might be worth looking for a used motor on eBay for a few hundred quid and then look to sort out the other engine over time as and when budget allows?

shandyhaggis · Post by **shandyhaggis** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 5:00 pm

Hi Ben

sorry to hear your news I can only echo the chaps with my condolences. I agree with both Bruce and Stuart. Best if you know whats in the engine first before making plans but Stuarts right in that a second hand engine might be a good idea to get you running. Also is the engine fitted with the original FI system? If so then changing the engine capacity might cause problems, I know the 1.7 and 2.0 have different systems and its a bit of a nightmare to make the standard system work with with any engine variation (not from experience only anecdotally).

Angus from VW Camper co might be able to help. Perhaps not to fix the engine outright as it does cost a lot of money to rebuild but I know hes on regular trips to the us and may be able to provide a running solution to get you going.

If your running on carbs then you should have more scope to change spec. The guys might disagree but you could opt for a vw bus engine or parts to reduce cost.

thanks

Andrew

jackstowers · Post by **jackstowers** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:08 pm

Hi Ben,
I bought brand new VW heads from VW Heritage following a string of disasters with a variety of spruced up 40 year old originals. The valves are about 1mm smaller diameter and there was no noticeable difference in performance (about 2-3bhp loss on the rolling road) and a massive increase in peace of mind. Mine too has the larger pistons and barrels giving 1911cc and 115bhp with dellorto carbs. Frowned upon by the purists (including me initially) but a broader base of mechanics happy to set up for you.
If you can operate spanners and a trolley jack and have the space start reading up on www.914world.com on engine removal and give it a go. I'm no mechanic but can now get my engine out in less than 2 hours in a single garage on my own.
There's also our resident 914 mechanic Kevin who I'm sure will be happy to help with advice and even doing the work dependent on location etc. also try your local Aircooled vw specialists as most will have some experience of the type4 engine.
Good luck and enjoy the journey
David

Ben Nichols 1979 · Post by **Ben Nichols 1979** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 8:09 pm

Hi chaps. Thanks for all your help. I will ask the mechanic to have a look at the advice posted here, he may have missed something.

I'm sure I'll be back with some daft question! I was thinking if this engine would work, just bolt in and Bobs your fathers brother:
http://www.autoatlanta.com/service/engi ... engine=1.7

Darren C · Post by **Darren C** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 9:26 pm

Hi Ben,
Sorry to hear your woes.
As for the Auto Atlanta engine, I'm still coming around on smelling salts after clicking on the link

Don't forget shipping will be in the hundreds and VAT at 20% on the whole lot, you're far better fixing what you have or making good from secondhand parts. There's some on ebay at the mo

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-914-E ... 4639447dfe

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PORSCHE-914-E ... 4639444a9f

I cant say how good they are but certainly a starting place to rob bits from all three (yours included) and make one good engine for far less money.

Good luck in your quest.

jonat127 · Post by **jonat127** » Tue Apr 28, 2015 10:57 pm

There's no need to go to the US to get a rebuilt engine. The Engine Shop in Kent, near Dartford, do them.
http://www.theengineshop.info/acatalog/ ... 031XV.html
You could take him your engine and get him to build it thus keeping the Porsche specific heads etc, provided they are in useable condition.
Worth a phone call and a chat anyway.

camperco · Post by **camperco** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:12 pm

Hi Ben welcome to DDK. Give me a call I will be happy to advise. We have lots of experience, new & used spares and advise for the VW and "Porsche" version of these engines.

Angus Watt 07785 975612

MdR · Post by **MdR** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 1:44 pm

Hi Ben
I use Alan @ GAC (Aylesbury-ish) for my engine work.
http://www.vwracing.net/cms/index.php?page=contact-us-2

Ben Nichols 1979 · Post by **Ben Nichols 1979** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:12 pm

Hi Guys. Thanks very much for all your advice.

I have spoken to the garage today and he tells me that one of the heads is very good and the other is cracked. Long story short it needs 2 new heads and a rebuild with pistons and new Collins flap and diaphragm. If appears that the flap that was stuck closed caused all the damage and lead to cylinder no4 getting extremely hot.

I've told him to get on with it as he has already done the bottom end so past the point of no return I think.

At least at the end we will have a completely rebuilt engine with new tin and it al cleaned and detailed. Should look good.

Let the 'journey' commence and be a but smoother!

One other thing pop wanted was some Fuchs alloys (914-6 style). I have some off his old 911. I guess they'll be too big.

How can i tell if they are genuine? Are there special markings on the inside or anything?

Thanks

Ben

shandyhaggis · Post by **shandyhaggis** » Wed Apr 29, 2015 8:23 pm

Hi Ben

main thing with 911 wheels is they should have 5 holes to fit a 5 stud pattern on the hub assembly. The 914 wheels as standard are 4 stud.

Some of the guys here have converted the hubs etc to 911 spec and fit fuchs but it could be a costly conversion.

Thanks

Andrew

Mr Pharmacist · Post by **Mr Pharmacist** » Thu Apr 30, 2015 7:54 am

The other option would be to have to hubs drilled and tapped for 5 studs for the fuchs

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