Engine upgrade options Options

[patssle]

I might be interesting in taking out the engine of my car and swapping with something better sometime down the road in the future. Currently it's an old VW bus motor, no horsepower, some ok torque in 1st and 2nd, but nothing after that.

I did some searching, and came across a few threads - but are there any good previous threads or articles out there that touch on each engine option available to upgrade to in the 914? Cost, benefits, pros/cons, etc. I know there was a poll once asking which upgrade to do - but could not find it.

Thanks!

[Root_Werks]

Given the 914's age and numbers of decent cars left on the road, seems like if you have a good original 4-cyl 914, to simply leave it alone. Sure, build a 2056 or even a 2270, but leave the general configuration be as it was from the factory.

I use to be a really big six converter. Not so much anymore. Parts have far outwieghed the return on even the fun factor anymore.

I would rather have a clean, min rust 75' 1.8 FI over any configuration converted power plant "project" 914.

Clean 914's are so hard to find. Rust simply hides everywhere on these cars. Power plants stopped being the "value" of the 914 years ago. Value is all in the chassis now.

120hp in a 914 is a fun car.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[BigD9146gt]

120hp in a 914 is a fun car.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I loved my hotted up 2L/4. So much fun for around $3k...I built it though, which saves some coin.

[patssle]

120hp in a 914 is a fun car.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) I loved my hotted up 2L/4. So much fun for around $3k...I built it though, which saves some coin.

Is that from the stock 914 2.0?

Mine is a bus motor..I can't remember exactly but it has 60 or so horsepower. So getting too much HP out of it probably wouldn't work? I probably would have to find and buy a 2.0 if I were to go that route of 150 or so HP.

[BigD9146gt]

Is that from the stock 914 2.0?

Mine is a bus motor..I can't remember exactly but it has 60 or so horsepower. So getting too much HP out of it probably wouldn't work? I probably would have to find and buy a 2.0 if I were to go that route of 150 or so HP.

My motor went through two rebuilds when I had it. It was a stock '74 1.8 L-Jet to start. The motor was rebuilt with euro 2L P&C's, but the monkeys who tried to sort out the FI (purchased new injectors & fuel pump) charged me $2k and still couldn't get it to run right. I bought a set of Weber 40's and hoped that the smog law would change (I purchased the car in 2000, smog'd it and then it crapped out).

Drove it for 4 years like that, then the crank cracked in half (right between connecting rods, and it still ran!!! not very nicely though above 1200rpm. I purchased a counterweighted crank and an E cam (I think thats what it was called, it was hotter than stock), and put the motor back together. Ran great! Not sure if it was 120hp, but it was perfect for that car with 205's front/rear, bilstien HD all around, and 320i calipers in front and front calipers on the rear.