Who built your engine?

R. Boger · 05-04-2004, 04:16 AM

Clays car is painted and ready to reassemble so I thought I may as well get started on mine while he attempts the rest of his project. I have a 74 2.0 engine in a box, no fuel injection parts what so ever. Leaning towards carbs (I have more experience with these from the old 750 honda engines I have had). I would like a mild performer and as reliable as possible because this car will be driven often. I like everything I have researched on Jakes engines but rebuilding 2 of these car from scratch in 2 years has pinched the cash flow. Lets have some of your input on what you have done. Jake, your engine is still in high reguards. Thanks all!!! When Clay gets the doors and trunks on we'll post some pictures of his ride.

lmcchesney · lmcchesney's Garage

Mikez has a nice engine on the classified:
Complete 914 hi performance motor for sale
L. mcC

Jake Raby · 05-04-2004, 07:46 AM

Spend it once, or twice or three times, either way it will get spent...

Its cheaper to do it once- trust me. I have guys that call me up and debate on what to do only to source another option for less money..

atleast 50% of them end up sourcing me within a year to unscrew the conglomeration of parts that were called an "engine" and I have to start all over again..

The job that would be 4K, is now atleast 5K, and takes longer to do...

its all in the combo!

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Most of the $$ is in the parts. The motor I have for sale was in a race car that I bought. I am converting it to a six for vintage racing. Probably little hp gain from the swap but puts me in a stock class as opposed to a modified class with the four cylinder.

Not looking to get rich, just looking to recover the costs on the purchase. Motor COMPLETE less exhaust $4500.00. Warranty from the shop of 6,000 miles/6 months.

2056CC with 44 webers, eurorace H grind cam and lots of goodies.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

So Randy--was there an actual question in your post? The title asks who built our engines, but the note makes it sound like you might actually want to know something else.

--DD

R. Boger · 05-05-2004, 08:39 AM

Actually your right Dave, just trying to find out if most folks assembled there own engines or had them built by someone else. Also some input from others about any problems they encountered doing there own engines. Not to many true 914 mechanics in our area that I know of to lean on for help on engine building.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Mine was assembled by a shop that is semi-local. I wouldn't have them do it again--I have had nagging doubts about it in the time since then. (Many years, few miles. Sigh!)

I'd probably do my own next time, or go to a local 914-specialist shop. Or if I really wanted a big Four, I'd contact Jake for a kit or a complete engine.

--DD

ws91420 · 05-07-2004, 08:43 PM

I rebuilt my own engine with parts from Pelican and I also called and was able to speak with Tom while I was working on it. He was a great help and source of encouragment. I also had a Haynes manual and the book How to keep your VW alive or something like that. My background is working with my father at home, who was a mechanic by trade, on various friends cars. This was my first rebuild on my own and I am proud to say it runs.

DDS · 05-07-2004, 09:11 PM

I did mine, no regrets. Jake, his video, tom wilson's book, my (excellent) machinist, this BBS, and the shoptalk forums were all a great help. Runs smooth and strong, leaks like a sieve! (new oil cooler just arrived) I'd build another - in fact, I am!
2056cc, precision balanced, 9.5:1, webers, FAT cam, HD springs and studs, big valves, ported, Mallory diz and hyfire box, new triad exhaust, etc, etc...

Dave

Jake Raby · 05-07-2004, 10:14 PM

Glad the video helped!

should be doing the performance video in the fall of this year!

Pritchard · 05-08-2004, 11:44 PM

I had a tired '74 2.0 that needed some TLC. This is the first engine "rebuild" that I attempted. I read everything that I could here, ShopTalk, and many other sources on the web. I had the heads done here in town, Jake bored out my cyls. to 96mm, and I put in 96mm hyperuretic (sp?) pistons. Bumped the compression up to 8.3:1 and tweaked the FI. Replaced the pushrod tubes and seals and have almost no leaks. After two years, I am still happy with the results. I would do it again.

BTW, where is Rockwell?

Pritchard

sean_V8_914 · sean_V8_914's Garage

I build my own. it feels better when i DRIVE IT

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

The price difference between assembling my own 6 and having the engine rebuilder do it was $850. No way my time to assemble a 6 is worth $850. He also did all of the machine work, heads porting, etc.

James

sean_V8_914 · sean_V8_914's Garage

good point. we all get to a point in life where time avaaialable must be meaasured against teh cost of out-sourcing such things

Jake Raby · 05-10-2004, 05:52 PM

damn, 850 to build a six?? HOLY COW!

Alfred1 · 05-10-2004, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pritchard
I had a tired '74 2.0 that needed some TLC. This is the first engine "rebuild" that I attempted. I read everything that I could here, ShopTalk, and many other sources on the web. I had the heads done here in town, Jake bored out my cyls. to 96mm, and I put in 96mm hyperuretic (sp?) pistons. Bumped the compression up to 8.3:1 and tweaked the FI. Replaced the pushrod tubes and seals and have almost no leaks. After two years, I am still happy with the results. I would do it again.

BTW, where is Rockwell?

Pritchard

Pritchard,

Can you tell me more about how your car runs? Do you know how much hp it puts out now or have some acceleration times? How well does your d-jet cope with the bigger displacement?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

The $850 was the assembly charge. The other machine work and parts etc added up to about $3500. With the P&Cs, cams, new crank and rods, I have $6000 into it.

sean_V8_914 · sean_V8_914's Garage

vroom vroom?

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

It's "Pop-Pop-Pop-Pop-Pop-Pop" right now....

Flame is shooting out the carbs, in perfect succession. I think the engine was left timed to #4TDC, not #1TDC

James

Pritchard · 05-11-2004, 05:32 AM

Alfred1-

I unfortunately have no numbers on HP or quickness to give you. I can tell you that the seat of the pants feeling is that I have a bit more power than before. I can't really remember what a "normal" 2.0L felt like to give you a good comparison. All I can tell you is that it pulls strong. I love the feeling of going up a hill and accelerating the entire way up.

The D-jet FI mods were: bumped fuel pressure up to 30psi, enriched the idle setting w/ knob on ECU, dialed in the MPS by ear (I know that some of you just cringed at that thought) at 2500 RPM. The D-jet seems to be able to handle the bigger bore with no trouble. I only increased the displacement by 80 cc so it wasn't really that big a jump.

The extra power I'm feeling is probably due to having fresh heads, new rings and cyls., and the higher compression ratio.

Best of luck to you.

Pritchard