Ok so there is not really a question here just My observations and anyones opinions. I recently bought a 75 914 here in Ohio great car runs well very minimal rust ect. I have just been working through the normal glitches and getting to know my car. Anyway I was suppose to be a 1.8 when it left the factory however it has D-Jet and an EA engine code for a 1.7. I was then looking through some paperwork I received with the car for an engine rebuild in 2003 and the shop in seatle that worked on this car used a vanagon cam and 1.8 type 2 pistons and cylinders . It now also has hydrolic lifters . Anyone know why this combination may have been used it seems very odd? Cost? parts in the shop? anyway the engine runs well and i guess I dont need as many valve adjustments but i have read with the vanagon cam that I will have nothing above 5k . So right now I am just driving her like I stole it and I am building up a spare 1.7 I have to a 1911 to throw in the car next year at least that is the current plan.
Ok thats enough for now
Thanks for the ideas

It probably has the vanagon cam in order to run the hydraulic lifters. Yes, it will be set up more for low-end torque, but for around town driving that is what you need. Sounds like a low-maintenance engine built with driveability in mind.

I have a similar set up with a 2.0. The lifters fail above 5500 or there abouts. For a DD it's quite a nice setup. Valve adjustments only every 6K or so, and you don't have to adjust right on the money. Its a no lash plus one turn or something like that.

Good to know some others have been there done that. It is a great sunny DD so far and I am loving it. I just now know to ease off on that high end of the throttle a little.