New to the board. Big Problem?........ Options

[Dominic L]

First post here, but I've been lurking here for some time now! Anyway I'm the proud owner of a 1975 914 set up for autocross with a serious oil leak coming from the cylinder, (i think). Could i have a cracked cylinder? The oil (and also looks like exhaust pulses) is coming out between the 3rd and 4th cooling fin on the # 3 cylinder. Pics are attached of the cylinder (circle around the area where the oil is landing) and the underside of the tin. The oily area on the tin is from the same cylinder (#3). I planned on a rebuild (the car sat in a garage for three years) over the winter but i hoped to autocross it once or twice before the winter. Please help. I'm having withdrawl pains from lack of autocross!!

Thanks,
Dominic

[Katmanken]

Dominic,

Not good to retourque just the upper head nuts, These aircooled engines require a specific cross torquing sequence on ALL the head nuts on one side. Tightening the upper head nuts will unbalance the head/cylinder clamping force and at worst case, cause a head leak or oval a bearing in the engine. That is, the clamp force on the upper side is probably higher on the top than the bottom.

I am extremely anal in head torquing- a bunch of old VW autocross guys taught me. I use the cross pattern torquing sequence but unlike the manual, do both sides of the engine and do it in 5in/lb increments. That is, if I start on one head nut, I torque to 5 in/lb then I go to the opposing side of the engine and torque the exact opposing head nut on the other side to 5 in/lb. Then back to the first side and next nut.... and back to the second side ....and first side... and second side..

Takes me a while going back and forth but never had any problems later. The guys that taught me built a 176 hp (at the rear wheels) bug engine for autocross.

Ken