914 head damaged

[hugo5]

Hello,

I recently purchased a spare 914 2.0 engine with a damaged head on #4. Please advised what would be my best option? Can this be fixed or should be replaced?

The engine was already disassembled when I purchased it and the piston was not there.

[930cabman]

A good machinist will fix this, what is your location?
I recently purchased a used 2.0 basket case engine. A PO attempted to repair an exhaust stud. Someone drilled through into the combustion chamber. Maybe a Rube??

[hugo5]

Originally Posted by 930cabman

A good machinist will fix this, what is your location?
I recently purchased a used 2.0 basket case engine. A PO attempted to repair an exhaust stud. Someone drilled through into the combustion chamber. Maybe a Rube??

Thanks..
I’m in Austin Tx. How much Am I expecting for the cost? Just to have an idea

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I don't know about used heads, but new ones are available. Not cheap for the ready-to-go ones, but they are available.

https://lnengineering.com/type-4-store/cylinder-heads.html

--DD

[bdstone914]

Originally Posted by hugo5

Thanks..
I’m in Austin Tx. How much Am I expecting for the cost? Just to have an idea

Without the damage a valve job cost about $600-800. Add $100-200 for added welding and reshaping of the combustion chamber.

[hugo5]

Thanks for the response.

Quick question.. Do you know if a vanagon 2.0 head would work on a 914 2.0? A friend of mine has a set and was to give them to me. Not sure the match.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

No, they will not work without modifications.

The Vanagons have the spark plugs in the same location as the 1.7 and 1.8 motors, not angled outward as in the 2.0 914. So at a minimum, the holes in the engine tin would need to be moved. The Vanagon heads also have four intake studs instead of three, so you'd need to change out the intake runner on one side. The Vanagon heads have rather smaller valves, and different ports, than the 914 heads. They will flow differently and very much confuse whatever fuel system is feeding the motor.

And finally, later Vanagons have "square port" heads, where the exhaust port is a rectangle, instead of the 914's oval exhaust ports.

--DD

[John Rogers]

Dave might remember the name of the company in the L.A. area that does type four heard welding, heat treating, larger valves, better valve seats and all sorts of other things? Back many, many years ago when I had a 2.8L big four we had troubles with heads periodically and Black Forest in San Diego would mail my head(s) up north, a week or so later come back better than new!
John

[infraredcalvin]

Competition Engineering may be who you’re thinking about, but I just had Fat Performance / Rimco fix and modify one much worse for my my race type IV after I bent a valve and blew up my engine…

[John Rogers]

The name "Rimco" seems to ring a bell? Whoever they were the work was as good or better than new. When we went with titanium valves their stem was a tad bigger then Porsche valves and they installed larger valve guides and at the same time a different pressed in valve seat as it had to be harder. The heads had been flowed by Jerry Branch's company before I got them and their machine work was never disturbed.
John

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I think I remember that Rimco went downhill at one point, much like MSHP did. Don't know the status now, though.

--DD

[hugo5]

Thanks for the response.

How about CB Performance or AA piston ? And experience with them?

I saw a new set of cylinder heads 44*37.5 for about $1500. I way be able to also get a set of new pistons 96mm.

[John Rogers]

In any case, whoever you decide to do your head work, ask for some customers, do they heat treat after any welding, is there any warranty of their work?
John

[KSCarrera]

FAT Performance was sold to the current owners of Rimco but still operates out of the same N. Case address.