I've been having this gut feeling that i bought myself a 74' 1.8 instead of the 2.0. How would be able to find out for myself if the engine in my 74' is a 1.8 or 2.0?

start with the engine numbers ...
that'll give you an idea of what *case* you have.

however, keep in mind that any case (including 1.7 and 1.8) can be used to build a 2.0L.

as for the heads, you can easily see if you have 2.0L heads by counting the studs that hold down the intake runners to the head.
1.7 and 1.8 have 4 studs, 2.0 have 3.

also, look at the angle the spark plugs go into the head. (when looking at the engine from the top)
on 1.7 and 1.8 the spark plugs go into the head from the top, on a 2.0 the plugs go in from the side at almost 90 deg. ...

hope this helps,
Andy

aww crud i think ive got either a 1.7 or 1.8 that was converted into a 2.0...is that necessarily a bad thing compared a stock 2.0?

there is some power to be had in the Porsche 2,0 cylinder heads. is that what you're using to make your determination.

but it's not a LOT of power, and the 914 2,0 heads are a little fragile (cracks...) so a 1,7 or 1,8 head that's been enlarged to accept 2,0 cylinders, or a 2,0 bus head will be a bit down on power but probably a little more durable.

you CAN always uprate to 914 2,0 heads when you're ready. bring money.

At a quick glance...1.8's use L-jet if you still have EFI and the 2.0's use D-jet. The L-jet is distinguished by a square air filter box off to the drivers side...it is then connected to a MAF...which is then attached to a large S shaped tube (several inches in diameter) which then attaches to the throttle body.

Take a picture of the engine and post it, then we can tell you what it is.

2.0 has three studs on the intake manifold where it attaches to the head and the 1.8 has 4 studs. As I am aware, please correct if not.

Then again it could have larger p&c's and the previous owner just called it a 2.0 which is entirely possible. So to clarify, the differences are Injection, heads, bore and stroke, rod length,Crank etc...

Erik

specifically, Porsche 914 2,0 HEADS have 3 intake studs.

it can be a 2,0 bus motor.

it can be a former 1,7 or 1,8 with 2,0 internals (crank, rods, pistons, cylinders...) and have a legitimate 2,0 displacement -- even if it still has 1,7 or 1,8 heads.

2,0 heads are a really good indication of (at least) 2,0 displacement, but you cannot determine displacement from looking at the heads alone.

is it slow? or is it really slow?

here's the top view of the engine in my 74'

passenger side view of the engine:

and the driver side view of the engine:

damm, those pictures are tiny ...

looks like a 1.7L to me.
Andy

1.7's came fuel injected?

ALL US 914/4's came fuel injected.

1,7's and 2,0's used basically the same system, but with different parts to account for the displacement difference and some updates. 1,8 used a different form of injection control.

914.6's and Euro 1,8's (at least some of them) had carbs.

they ALL came fuel injected.
NO 4-cylinder 914 in the US came with carbs from the factory!

looks like a 1.7L with D-Jet from your pictures ...
<_< Andy