1973-914 2.0 compression issues., 914 2.0 rebuild suggestions Options

[9144me2enjoy]

I’ve a 73-914 With a the original 2.0L Fuel Injection engine. Has about 75k miles. Set for about 10 years, brought back to life about 6 months ago. Checked compression and got readings of 90-95 psi across all 4 cylinders. Engine seams to run pretty good with that compression. Doesn’t seam to smoke any while driving but some bluish smoke when you first start it up. Pulls good up to redline. I was hoping to get the compression up to a range of 135-150 psi. Without spending a lot of money, what would you recommend to improve the compression? Valve job, new rings? Who would you recommend to do the work in the area? Estimated cost, Located in Oregon. Thanks

[Mblizzard]

Ok just confirm the compression check was completed with the engine warm and throttle wide open.

Best place to start is with a leak down test. That will tell you where you are losing compression through the valve or past the rings.

Realistically if you are going to pay to have the engine pulled to do a valve job then I would count on putting in new rings as a minimum.

I do all my work myself so I cant help on the pricing.

[9144me2enjoy]

Ok just confirm the compression check was completed with the engine warm and throttle wide open.

Best place to start is with a leak down test. That will tell you where you are losing compression through the valve or past the rings.

Realistically if you are going to pay to have the engine pulled to do a valve job then I would count on putting in new rings as a minimum.

I do all my work myself so I cant help on the pricing.

I was planning on rechecking the compression today and doing a leak down test. Thanks

[9144me2enjoy]

Ok just confirm the compression check was completed with the engine warm and throttle wide open.

Best place to start is with a leak down test. That will tell you where you are losing compression through the valve or past the rings.

Realistically if you are going to pay to have the engine pulled to do a valve job then I would count on putting in new rings as a minimum.

I do all my work myself so I cant help on the pricing.

I was planning on rechecking the compression today and doing a leak down test. Thanks

. I pulled the plugs and after maybe 50 miles of driving on new plugs the ends are really black, of course that could be due to some other issues.

[Mblizzard]

Ok just confirm the compression check was completed with the engine warm and throttle wide open.

Best place to start is with a leak down test. That will tell you where you are losing compression through the valve or past the rings.

Realistically if you are going to pay to have the engine pulled to do a valve job then I would count on putting in new rings as a minimum.

I do all my work myself so I cant help on the pricing.

I was planning on rechecking the compression today and doing a leak down test. Thanks

. I pulled the plugs and after maybe 50 miles of driving on new plugs the ends are really black, of course that could be due to some other issues.

That could be inline with the low compression. Old trick and not really all that reliable but if you add a few squirts of oil to the cylinder and recheck the compression, an increase in the numbers could indicate ring wear is the issue. No change points more toward heads and valves.

Far from a leak test and really not the sole test to make any decision on it but can provide a general direction on what may be happening.