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Posted by: ne14914 Mar 16 2003, 03:51 PM

I was talking with a friend of mine who was telling me that the pistons in my 1.7 are the same as the pistons in a type IV VW. Is this so?

Posted by: ChrisReale Mar 16 2003, 03:53 PM

Not sure, but there compression differences in some of them. The European pistons are flat topped, or have a smaller dish than the US spec ones, which have a bigger concave dish.

Posted by: Dave Cawdrey Mar 16 2003, 04:40 PM

look closely and yul see VW stamped all over yer car.

You own a VW

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 16 2003, 05:14 PM

Yup....we all own VW's .......(so do 356 and 912 owners!) ...but they are "wolf's in cheap clothing".....vw block and pistons i think are interchangeable....differnt compression ratios w/ euro 's

my .02

Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 16 2003, 05:40 PM

Yes the 914 does have a lot of VW parts but it also has a lot of 914 only VW parts, 914 only parts, as well as 911 parts.

I don't know about the 1.7 pistons but 2 liter bus pistons are not the same as the 914 US pistons, the bus has a way bigger dish but the cylinders are the same. The 2 liter cranks are suppost to be better than a bus crank. The T4 case casting is the same, but the dipstick is different and the spot for the bus oil fill and fuel pump is not machined.

I could go on and on like this, some parts are the same but a lot of the 914 parts have small differences. The vw parts often can work in a pinch.

Posted by: Alfred Mar 16 2003, 06:21 PM

The November 1969 issue of Road & Track writes "Dr Porsche pointed out that the design of the 914 was entirely Porsche KG's and that his firm also does much consulting engineering for VW and others". So, it is more accurately a Porsche with some VW parts.

I wish it was completely VW though, since that way it would be worth much more.

From http://www.nadaguides.com :

1973 Volkswagen KARMANN GHIA
2 Door Coupe - High Retail $9,950

1973 Volkswagen 181 THING
Convertible - High Retail $8,500

1973 Volkswagen BEETLE
Super 2 Door Sedan - High Retail $7,575

1973 Porsche 914
2 Door Targa 2.0 - High Retail $5,000


High Retail Value:
"This vehicle would be in excellent condition overall. It could be a completely restored or an extremely well maintained original vehicle showing very minimal wear. The exterior paint, trim, and mechanics are not in need of reconditioning. The interior would be in excellent condition. Note: This value does not represent a "100 Point" or "# 1" vehicle * ".

Alfred

Posted by: Bleyseng Mar 16 2003, 06:32 PM

The 1.7L engine is the same in the 411/412 and 914. The domed high compression pistons are the same, 90mm. 80hp with the Djet FI. The latter engine became more 914 and less VW spec although they were built on VW's engine line.
Geoff

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 16 2003, 07:56 PM

those "high retail" estimates seem way high!
73 2.0 actually sells for that.....
there is no way that a beetle will sell for more than a 914 2.0
VW made millions of beetles, parts can be found anywhere! unless it is a freakin early oval or a split window! w/ an all original 1200cc powerplant and like 0007 miles on it! and most beetles out there are complete customs or resto-customs. there is no way a vw sells for more than a 914.

Posted by: Dave Cawdrey Mar 16 2003, 08:08 PM

My bug is "worth" more to me than the teen... Prolly bout 15K into it :gilloutine:

Posted by: Bleyseng Mar 16 2003, 08:11 PM

Yeah, but the teener is waay more fun to drive than a bug, plus they are chick magnets!
Drive a bug and women think you are some sort of poor student, drive a Porsche 914 and hey, this guy is a stud!
Geoff

Posted by: anthony Mar 16 2003, 08:27 PM

That's cuz they don't know better!

Posted by: Mark Henry Mar 16 2003, 10:26 PM

Alfred is from Canada (right?) then he may not be too far of with the prices. The Bug sells for way more than a teen here. Rust claimed most of the bugs around here and there are a huge demand for them. Everyone from ol’ guys that owned a new one in the ‘50’s, to the dude who had one in college and to the kid who just thinks they’re cool wants one.

Without the big Porsche reflector on the back of my teen 95% of the people that see it don’t even know WTF it is. Lets face it, everyone from 5 to 90yrs knows what a bug is.

BTW I just sold a ‘just OK’ ‘67 bug for $7000, last year I bought my really nice, rust (almost, lol) free, 914 for $4500. Canadian.
Hell last year I sold a ‘61 VW Kombi (bus) that was complete but needed restoration to a guy from L.A. for $5900.USD. He shipped it straight to Japan.

I’m not trying to piss anyone off, I love my 914 and to me it’s worth 4 times what I paid for it, but it’s just reality around here.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Mar 16 2003, 10:46 PM

I think there were some 1.7L Bus engines that ran lower compression than the standard 411 and 914 1.7 engines. But the latter two were almost completely interchangeable.

--DD

Posted by: Bleyseng Mar 17 2003, 09:28 AM

Yeah Dave, you are right. The bus 1.7l ran dished pistons at least the one I had and rebuilt.

Geoff

Posted by: Mike D. Mar 17 2003, 06:00 PM

Someone above said that the 2.0 vw bus is different. This is true I had a set of 94mm bus pistons and they had a deeper dish. I think busses also had smaller valves on the 2.0. I believe the idea is low compression, low flow puts the torque where you need it to push a bus full of junk up an icy German hill.

About the prices, I live in So.Cal. and every six weeks at the Pomona Swap I see lots of Bugs, Busses, Ghias, Things, Transporters, etc., etc... And almost all of them are priced higher than the 914's out there for sale.

Cry'n ass shame if you ask me...but you didn't...

-Mike D.

Posted by: Aaron Cox Mar 17 2003, 06:06 PM

well.... reality is sinking in.....bummer about the vw vs porsche thing...oh well, dont plan on selling mine
only thing to do- buy a 911 jk...you can put the poison darts down!!!!!!!!

Posted by: ne14914 Mar 17 2003, 06:51 PM

Damn Guys,

This is getting depressing - Now im sorry i asked

Ill take my 914 over a bug anyday . Im a 914 newbie, just 2 weeks old. So forgive me if i ask what some of you may think are stupid questions .

Craig

Posted by: Bleyseng Mar 17 2003, 07:20 PM

Sorry if we have some stupid answers too!
We just like havin fun so take no offense to us.....'cept for Brad, watch out for him.


Geoff