1.7l FI on a 2.0L

[thaag]

Somehow, I'm sure this topic has been masticated throughly but I'm new to 914s so please bear with me and lend any advice you may have!

I have a 1972 1.7l and am looking to replace the motor with a 2.0l motor. My major concern is:
can I use the 1.7l fuel injection on a 2.0 replacement motor? If not where could I get the fuel
injection system need for this set up? What are the benefits of CB Racing's Ultra FI?

I have priced a rebuilt 914 2.0 liter motor with a new fuel
injection system and was quoted $5500 installed, with $3000 of that being fuel injection
equipment.

I found another vendor who'll sell a rebuilt 2.0 engine with ported/polished VW bus heads (bigger valve) , Mahle pistons, counterweighted, balanced, for $2200. This vendor is of the opinion that
I can use my existing fuel injection hardware. This definitly sounds like a better deal and a good
engine.

Can anyone recommend headers and a exhaust system for the set up? Bursch? If there are any
other suggestions regarding this conversion or other high-performance tips please let me know.

Also, is there a 914 specialist in northern Virgina anyone is aware of?

I know this is a lot but I'm starting at point A and greatly appreciate any advice.

Thomas

[JP Noonan]

To physically put a 1.7L FI on the 2.0 you need different intake runners. To make it work at peak performance you need also the 2.0L intake plenum(sp?), the 2.0L throttle body (or you could bore out the 1.7L TB if you can find a shop to do it), 2.0L throttle position sensor, 2.0L injectors would be nice but if your 1.7L are in good shape the fuel pressure could be increased to make up the flow difference, the MPS is a must unless you can readjust the 1.7L unit (some people say adjusting them this much screws them up, I can't really say). The brain, fuel pressure regulator, fuel pump, CHT sensor (but for $12 I'd put a new one on anyway), and wiring are all the same between the early 1.7L and early 2.0L (later 2.0L had some extra emissions stuff). Also which ever TB you go with you also need the airbox and filter for that TB.

Look at the tech article on D-Jet on the 914 fan web site, the author modified his stock 1.7L FI to work with his modified 1.9L engine.

For the most part the only difference between VW and 914 2.0L engines is the compression ratio, maybe the cam (pretty sure but I could be wrong), the FI, and the flow charateristics of the heads. Oh, and about 35 hp. (bus 2.0L 67, 914 Euro 2.0L 100). The bus heads (all the type 4 heads are similar except the 2.0L 914 heads) can be ported and bigger valves put in to make them flow better, it all depends on the shop. Is it some yahoo with a die-grinder and a vertical lathe, or is an experienced shop with a flow bench and a CNC machine? If it is the later then they can probably come close to the flow numbers of a 2.0L 914 head, maybe even better. The bus heads are also less prone to cracking and your 1.7L tin ware will fit. Which reminds me, if you do go with the 914 2.0L heads you need to replace the top two peices of tin, or cut and weld the spark plug holes to fit the plug wires. If the shop isn't can't promise flow numbers equal to 914 2.0L heads then see what they want if you suppley some used heads (they come up every once in a while in the 914 club classifieds).


in your case the modified bus heads would be the ceapest/easiest way to go. I don't think performance will suffer that much.

[thaag]

Thanks JP for the great advice! It sounds like using the 1.7l injection is a major ordeal. I'm not sure if it'd be worth it given the fact that car basically hasn't been driven in at least 10 years.

The vender from which I got the quote on the 2.0 motor with high-pref bus heads is GEX and from what I could tell over the phone, plugs in European Car and their website, they seem to know their stuff.

I don't mind spending extra on the CB Perfomance Ultra injection if I could get some benfit over the stock Porsche FI, such as the ability to run a more aggressive cam, increased displacement. I'd really like more then the 100 HP I've been quoted. What are the benefis of such a system?

Thanks again for your time.

Also, If anyone knows of a good 914 in Virgina please let me know.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Uuuuhhhh... You may want to think twice about the GEX motor. They don't seem to have a real stellar reputation in some circles. (If you want to start a flame-war on rec.autos.makers.volkswagen.aircooled, just ask about GEX motors...)

Try a Deja News search in that newsgroup on "GEX". Then make your own conclusions. I personally have no experience with them.

--DD

[thaag]

Dave,

I did what you suggested and thans for warning me. I had no idea of GEX's insane methods. Who knows what kind of mickey mouse engine they'd trow together. I guess I'll ditch my GEX option!

I wouldn't support a company like that on principle. That leaves me with trying to find a new engine for my 914. How (un)reliable are some of the more aggressive (2.1 and up) type II motors? I read the article on the 914 lite and that sounds a little to extreme for me. Can you recommend any sellers of complete performance engines?

Phew! Thanks again!

TH