swap in type IV VW bus engine into 912E?
 

My 912E needs a rebuild because it burns too much oil. I did some research and I was offered a 78 bus engine to be installed. Since performance is not that important too me and it is the cheapest solution do you think it is viable? Which changes are needed to get it installed properly?

It's relatively easy to swap in the bus motor, but I'm not sure about the injection & exhaust. I'd take a second look at your original motor. The bottom ends are very strong, but the heads seem to be where the problems are. You might be better off pulling the heads & send them out for a valve job & guides and stick on a set of new pistons/jugs which should cure your oil consumption problems. (Although I wouldn't advise it, I've seen this done with the engine still in the car, but it's much easier to drop the eng/trans.) Since the bus motor is very similar, you might end up with another oil burner in a short time. Also, if you're in a "smog state" (Calif?), you might be opening a can of worms.
Hope this helps,
Bill.

Hi Bill - Besides exhaust, would the bus type 4 bolt right up to the 923/02 transmission? Scott, 912E #86

Scott:
Here's a really useless answer: I'm 99% sure they're the same - that 1% is because I've seen both 912E & type IV bus motors, but never actually side-by-side & have never actually bolted one to the E gearbox. How's that for avoiding a definite answer?
Bill.

I'm on the 99% but don't want to commit fence too. I've tried at length to learn more about the transmission. I know it's specific to the car, and have the original specs guide & factory manual, but I'm not sure if the ways in which it is unique make it slightly off for other engines. I've learned that 915's can be retrofitted to work in the 912E but the process essentially builds a "new" 923 the same as if you started with a 923 in the first place. One of the attractive features of the 912E is the degree to which the type 4 can be modified & changed but I wonder about the tranny. Any books, etc. on the 912E besides the usual? There must be more documentation on this "special-edition" model. What will happen in 20 years when the become even more rare & parts are made of unobtanium? Scott

Hallo

If you have the old 912 E engine you can swap over nearly all parts but you will find the bus has a other oilfillerlocation and you have to run zhat trough the shroud. If you have a Later bus engine like CJ you have additinal other exoust ports so the 912 excangers will not match ( early are oval late are retangualr ).

Also the 912/914 2,0 heads are special for those cars and have a relocatet spark pkug position. If you use normal heads you have to relocate the holes on the original coooling shroud.

Best would be to swap the P&C with the heads over to the bus engine and then rebuild the original short block for a later reswap

( or offer the block to garry kutter on the 914 board http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-914-914-6-technical-forum/70758-hole-engine-case-post468624.html )
Grüsse