Long block options for my '76 2.0, advice needed Options

[Queenie]

Phone your local Porsche dealer and ask them but it probably doesn't include all the fuel injection stuff. Don't let them tell you it's not available ... I contacted the Porsche dealer here too and they said it's retail price is $ 5773.14 (Cdn) exchange.

Couldn't I just swap out the injection stuff from my current engine? It all works just fine - in fact, the car runs perfectly. It just burns oil. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Of course, it leaks too but it's supposed to do that, right? Heh. It leaks too much now; it definitely needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

[Queenie]

Hey Queenie, Glad you made it over here from the Rennlist Webforums.. Post a pic of your car when you get a chance..

Geoff

Thanks so much for the tip, Geoff. Much more action here - not to dog Rennlist, but there just isn't a lot of activity on the 914 forum there.

I did try to post a picture here the other day but I got rejected. It tells me I'm not allowed to post the file type - it's a standard .jpg, so I'm not sure what the problem is. Maybe I'll try renaming the file and uploading again, just for fun.

[Queenie]

Good luck & happy hunting.

Thanks, Bruce!

I'm sure I'll find a solution to this problem. I'm a very determined and resourceful girl, and I have good mechanical support in the ex-husband (bless his pointy little head).

I love my 914 and I'm not giving it up for anything. I figure if I can get a good solid engine in it, I'm good to go for a few more years. (I know better than to slack on the routine maintenance, so all I need is a good starting point.)

I have known since I bought it that this repair was impending. And yeah, I probably could have bought a car that didn't need this kind of work but hey - have any of you EVER bought an early air cooler that didn't need some love and attention? I suppose if you have a big budget that's a possibility, but it's never happened to me and I knew this experience wouldn't be any different. I've put over 10K on the car already, and it's been extremely reliable.

So I'm gonna fix it, and keep driving the shit out of it. It makes me happy.

[seanery]

Queenie, there is a file size limitation ~299 kb I believe.
Make sure your file is smaller than that and you should be ok. There used to be a 10 post minimum to post a pic, too, so maybe that was it.

[bernbomb914]

Queenie make sure that you are in the pic. with your car so all these guys dont have to use their imagination as to what your car looks like.

Bernie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)

[Alfred]

Phone your local Porsche dealer and ask them but it probably doesn't include all the fuel injection stuff. Don't let them tell you it's not available ... I contacted the Porsche dealer here too and they said it's retail price is  $ 5773.14 (Cdn) exchange.

Couldn't I just swap out the injection stuff from my current engine? It all works just fine - in fact, the car runs perfectly. It just burns oil. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Of course, it leaks too but it's supposed to do that, right? Heh. It leaks too much now; it definitely needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

According to Dave Darling's 914 FAQs there are induction (air pump, EGR) and exhaust differences between the earlier and later 2.0s so it might be problematic to add your f/i and exhaust to an earlier 2.0 (which, from the motor's description in the PET catalog, it sounds like it is). You might consider having your motor rebuilt or if you can wait a couple of years buy the 2.0 from Porsche and then add the '73/'74 f/i and exhaust and have yourself a strong 100 hp motor.

Alfred

[Queenie]

According to Dave Darling's 914 FAQs there are induction (air pump, EGR) and exhaust differences between the earlier and later 2.0s so it might be problematic to add your f/i and exhaust to an earlier 2.0 (which, from the motor's description in the PET catalog, it sounds like it is). You might consider having your motor rebuilt or if you can wait a couple of years buy the 2.0 from Porsche and then add the '73/'74 f/i and exhaust and have yourself a strong 100 hp motor.

Alfred

Alas, waiting is not an option. I'm burning too much oil to put this off any longer than the end of the year, and the last time I had my oil changed my mechanic told me the leaks were slowly getting worse.

It looks like it's just going to have to be a rebuild. Which is fine with me - I don't care how the problem gets solved so long as it gets solved. I just wanted to avoid the hassle of doing the valve guides if at all possible (assuming that's what it needs, which is highly likely). I will continue to hunt around for rebuilt engines, or maybe I'll just let my ex-husband struggle through doing whatever needs to be done with the current engine.

As I said, it runs fine other than the burning/leaking issues.

Thanks for your advice.

[Mockmaw]

I don't believe that replacing valve guides is as difficult as your making it sound.. my understanding is that any competent VW machine shop can rebuild a set of heads with new valve guides for not too much money. You can try talking to Headflowmasters in Southern California.. not close enough to drive, but shipping should be fast and relatively inexpensive. Of course, playing with your heads often leads to the vicious money pit characterized by the phrase "while I'm in there, I might as well.."

I'm in the finishing stages of my engine rebuild. Looking back, there's only one thing that I wish I'd done differently. I wish that I'd purchased an inexpensive 1.7 or 1.8 (fair running ones can be found for very little money) and then slowly rebuilt my old one (waiting for good prices on parts and whatnot, but most importantly to just be able to drive the thing around while the good one's being rebuilt.) Thinking about this now, though, I'm not sure that's really an option for you seeing as your car is smogged.

In any case, there are lots of ways to get your car back on the road.. and it sounds like you're doing a good job of weighing all the factors and looking into all the options.

[Part Pricer]

Queenie,

I just went back and reread all of the posts in this thread and I have a question and perhaps a suggestion.

When will the car need to be smogged again?

If that is a little ways off, here is what I might suggest. Find a good running engine. You could probably pick up a 1.7 or 1.8 relatively inexpensively. Have your ex-husband pull out your 2.0, and install the replacement engine. Then, have ex-hubby rebuild the 2.0. He could take his time until you get close to the date that the car needs to be smogged again. When smog time comes, have him swap out the engines then get the car smogged.

You can then sell the replacment engine and you haven't been without your 914 for any lengthy period.

Me? I'm an idea guy!

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/mueba.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/MDB2.gif)