Can our engines develop morning sickness? Options

[andreic]

My 1972 914 1.7L suffers from what I call "morning sickness" -- the first time I start the car on any given day it runs like crap for the first 10-15 minutes. Skipping, won't rev up above 1000 rpm, very low idle, stumbles frequently, sometimes backfires. Also makes some strange noise around 2000 rpm, like a very loud rattle, especially when letting off the throttle.

After 10 minutes all is good, running well for the rest of the day. The compressions, which I have only checked with the engine hot, are uniformly 120-125 PSI.

I come from an aviation background, and aircooled airplane engines are known to have this kind of morning sickness at around 1000-1200 hours since overhaul. The cause is carbon deposits in the valve guides, which make the valves stick when the engine is cold. After warming up, the guides expand from the heat, and the valves do not stick any more. The solution is reaming the guides, which can be done with the cylinders in place (for airplane engines).

Is this something that can happen to our type IV's? Could this explain the problems I am having? What is the cure, short of taking the engine out and sending the heads to a shop?

Thanks all.