Any easy way to identify an installed engine? Options

[Slick914]

I'm leaving to look at a 914 that is for sale within the next couple hours. The owner doesn't know what engine is in the car, but does know that it was replaced. What can I look for to determine if it's a 2.0 or 1.7/1.8?

Seller says it is a short stroke, big bore engine but doesn't know anything else.

[r_towle]

Well,
Look for the serial number.
If the number is located just below and in front of the oil filler, its a 2.0 liter case.
It the number is located on the top of the case, its a 1.7 or 1.8 liter.

Heads at intake.
The 1.7/1.8 liter heads use four studs and the 2.0 liter used three studs, so look at how the intake is connected.

2.0 liter motors typically used Heat exchangers that were straight all the way to the back.
1.7/1.8 liter motors typically used heat exchangers that had a rise in the back about 2-3 inches and then level off again.
All heat echangers fit on all motors...so those could have been swapped out.

Now to make it even more confusing.
All motors will take all crankshafts and can also take big bore kits.
The 1.8 and 2.0 liter heads can be interchanged, the outer diameter of the jugs is the same. Thus the hole (register) in the heads is the same.

1.7 liter heads have a smaller register and while there was a big bore kit for these motors, its nla because the walls of the cylinders were so thin there was alot of warping issues.

Um...
2.0 liter spark plugs aim toward the outer fender.
1.7/1.8 spark plugs are more on top of the motor, and aim towards the front and back.

2.0 liter FI has a throttle body that aims towards the sky.
1.7 has a throttle body that aims towards the dirvers rear.
1.8 liter has a throttle body like the 1.7 but there is a large air vane measuring box attached to it (its L-jet)

That should be enough to confuse you.

Rich