Ounce of Prevention, -regular up-keep for us newbies- Options

[Boldylocks]

This is a quote/cut and paste from a post from yesterday. I was asking a general question regarding ways to avoid serious problems (trying to be a responsible 914 engine owner) so that the Professors out there dont have to continue finding abused engines.
Perhaps I'm the only one with these questions.
For starters: (IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

What would cause an intake valve to bend/br[ea]k???

An 'starter' answer was provided from ArtechnikA -as follows -

"almost always it's getting up-close and too-personal with a piston crown. >smack:question:

[ArtechnikA]

these cars are too old and unsophisticated to be rocket science.

use good oil, change it often enough. do the regularly scheduled maintenance at the recommended service intervals - especially valve adjustments. if your car still uses points keep close watch on the ignition timing. get a good service manual.

stuff will wear out, stuff will break. use good quality replacement parts, good tools, and good safe procedures. almost everything you could possibly need in the way or replacement service parts is available in the user community - there is no reason to have to mickey-mouse anything (except possibly to limp home after some unexpected failure.)

in normal street service, these cars have no unplumbed mysteries - they're pretty well understood. if you have a specific question after you've done your own homework a little to make sure you're not asking a question that's answered on Page One of the manual, don't be afraid to ask.

a 914's magic is in its layout - not its engine, which is quite basic and ordinary. just do the normal, expected, recommended stuff and you'll be fine until something eventually breaks or wears out. when it does, find it & fix it. no magic.