1974 914 1.8, the mystery of the EC-A and EC-B Options

[wonkipop]

I would add 914World user name of owner, engine & transmission serial #'s, interior color & seat insert type. We could add a list of paint codes and interior codes as an addendum to the form. Door glass type (Delodur -0 or -F).
Karmann body # stamped into right corner of rear trunk, or tag in front trunk.
I don't think we should limit this to the 1.8 engine cars. We could have a universal form or a set of forms for different cars. Listing of options would be a nice addition. We could add a list so that just codes can be entered to save space and add clarity. Optionally, an email address would be useful for contact purposes should we want to confirm something. A fillable PDF form would be useful so that data can be entered by computer for clarity.

Great suggestions! Will work on it.
I used to know how to do fillable Word docs converted to pdf; don’t have Acrobat to make forms directly.

i can convert it to a pdf if you send the word doc to me.

[StarBear]

@wonkipop
@jeffbowlsby
Saw this “610” tin in a 1.8. What does that denote? Don’t recall seeing this number before. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[wonkipop]

@wonkipop
@jeffbowlsby
Saw this “610” tin in a 1.8. What does that denote? Don’t recall seeing this number before. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

610 is an EA 1.7 engine from 1972-73.
(49 states engine - calif 1.7 from 73 was an EB and was marked 613).
i would say that is not an original 1.8 engine in the car but a replacement engine.
check the oil filler tube and cap and other features that identify L jets.
its also possible that its a frankenstein engine. plenty of those have come up.
tin on a 1.8 is identical to 1.7 so you can easily build up an engine out of various pieces,
but its not an original piece of 1.8 tin with that number.

further numbers from that era were that all euro 1.7 engines in 72/73 appear to have been marked with 606. prior to that in 70,71 and maybe part way into 672 they used a different coding system. the number was 0.226. also additional M codes also stamped on the engine tin identified them as european market or north american market packages.

[StarBear]

That would explain it - Frankenstein engine. The rest is clearly a 1.8; just a replacement tin. Will let him know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Thanks!

[wonkipop]

That would explain it - Frankenstein engine. The rest is clearly a 1.8; just a replacement tin. Will let him know. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Thanks!

for reference in future to help here is the list of stamp numbers i got to.
complete i believe for all the USA market cars.
but don't have complete info on the home/euro/japan market cars.

[wonkipop]

@JeffBowlsby
@StarBear

here is another little anomaly i picked up between the 74 1.8 and the 75 1.8.
i assume it might also be there for the 74 and 75 2.0 cars?

i was looking at the tyre pressure stickers i had for 75 1.8s thats on the gas tank.
which i never really looked at closely.



i noticed it indicates same tyre pressures for front and rear.
and further distinguishes between 1/2 load (26 psi F/R) or full load (29 psi F/R).

and i thought hang on?

this is what the 74 sticker says.



which i have always taken to mean. 26 psi front, 29 psi rear.

which the 1974 owners manual says very clearly!



even the french owners manual says the same as the english in 74.
front and rear are different. 26 and 29 respectively.



don't have any 75/76 owners manuals on file to see what was written into the owners manual versus the 75 gas tank sticker to see if they changed it in the owners manual.

interesting.
is the gas tank sticker in 75 a typo or error?
or did they change their advice on tyre pressures in 75?
or is the advice in the 74 and pre 74 owners manual incorrect and the sticker on the gas tank sort of ambiguous - ie it could be read as 26 normal, 29 full load (for all tyres).

germans!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[StarBear]

Yep, just like mine. I’d interpret as one person/two people.
Have always kept mine about 32 anyway.

BTW, paid the price for being lazy and not putting on the service mat while checking battery in Spring prep last week. Dropped the volt mater on the top edge of the quarter panel. Ouch. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

[wonkipop]

Yep, just like mine. I’d interpret as one person/two people.
Have always kept mine about 32 anyway.

BTW, paid the price for being lazy and not putting on the service mat while checking battery in Spring prep last week. Dropped the volt mater on the top edge of the quarter panel. Ouch. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

ah well. you just have to grin and bear it.
dings and scratches are a part of the bigger picture.
there are a few of those on my car. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
each one of them has got a story like yours. usually me dropping something or bumping something into it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

on the tyre front. i naturally assumed there is a difference in pressure front to back despite the 50/50 wt distribution. my old type 3 variant had recommended tyre pressures of 18-20 psi on front tyres and 28-30 rear. of course it was rear engined. think beetles were the same. if you pumped all tyres up even the handling became truly deadly. massive understeer.

i'm pretty sure they are supposed to be different front to rear. its only a small amount.
2lbs. i keep mine 26-28 split front to rear.

[StarBear]

Yep; think I’ll start doing that. Maybe 28/30

[davep]

is the gas tank sticker in 75 a typo or error?
or did they change their advice on tyre pressures in 75?
or is the advice in the 74 and pre 74 owners manual incorrect and the sticker on the gas tank sort of ambiguous - ie it could be read as 26 normal, 29 full load (for all tyres).

I would hazard a guess that the person designing the 1975 decal interpreted the specification incorrectly without verifying. Therefore an error.

[StarBear]

@wonkipop
First stage repair. Pretty good for a rookie. Will do 4000 wet paper then a bit of spray (ordered a Prevalence unit) to finish building up divot, then 4000 again, polish, glaze, and wax. Should (!) do it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer3.gif)
Lesson learned! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

[wonkipop]

just obtained data on earliest 1.8 L jet i have come across and added to the files.

4742907225.
k # 4429603.
commenced build on tuesday 30 oct 1973.

been listed on bring a trailer.





this is the earliest one i have a vin and k number for to add to data.
i have an earlier vin number car. 07184. but no k number.
this one just found assists since it is 19 cars after 07184 and firmly points to 30 october as the build date on both,

its possible they started the 1.8s with L Jet on a monday. 29 oct. but so far nothing has come up earlier than these cars.

my business partner is in germany at the moment visiting family.
he is spending a month in stuttgart.
i have given him the porsche museum curators details that i had from a few years ago.
he is going to see if he can get a look at the marchart euro 1.8 and either get the vin or get a date on production of car. suspect from the body shell details i have on that car it could date from the period aug to early nov 1973. earlier than the L jets.

[davep]

I believe that during 1974 MY the production # and the Karmann body # are the same as opposed to previous years. I can get the production #. I'll see if I can find the earliest car. Not easy since they only provide the serial and not the EC portion; but the serial should drop to 500 or so while the GA codes will be much higher in the 12000 range.

[wonkipop]

I believe that during 1974 MY the production # and the Karmann body # are the same as opposed to previous years. I can get the production #. I'll see if I can find the earliest car. Not easy since they only provide the serial and not the EC portion; but the serial should drop to 500 or so while the GA codes will be much higher in the 12000 range.

that would be great dave (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

there is a further hint in the 914 factory workshop manuals.
there it is listed in either the engine section or the EFI section that L jet commences Nov 1973. i believe the first three months of 1.8 engine production is purely dedicated to the VW 412 production line from august to end of october 1973.

of course the AN 1.8 cars with twin carbs could have and probably did start production at the commencement of the model year in august 1973. i'm hoping my business partner while he is over in germany can get some detail on the 1.8 in the museum collection which is an AN engine not an EC L jet USA model.