4-Cyl Engine rebuilders

[DAM]

I've been looking at different rebuilders for my 1.7. Mostly Motermeister, but a few others as well including Fat Performance.

It's probably going to be stock job, maybe I'll go crazy with H.P and put the 93mm cylinders in.

Any comments / suggestions on rebuilders? How about Motermeister?


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Original Owner '73 1.7

[Joe Bob]

FAT has a lot of experience, but are very expensive.....they do not have a website, they don't need one....they have a great reputation....

MotorMeister....well, never actually dealt with them....BUT there are a quite a few choice tidbits of bad stuff on them on this and a few other lists....there is one guy that has a personal crusade going on against them.....

Both are busy, take a while to get things done and most jobs will run over budget....so keep your knickers unbunched and ask questions and keep on them.....one word of advice....know what you want up front, get it in writing and make no changes....that's where it gets screwy....

Good Luck.

[This message has been edited by mikez (edited 09-13-2000).]

[Jim Smolka]

When I needed a 2.0, Pelican had one rebuilt for me. The quailty of the work was excellent...

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Smoke Daddy

[Steve M]

I had my engine rebuilt with FAT about 8 or 9 years ago. It was an honest to go 2.0 now its a 2.01, (the reciept says 1999 cc's). In any case I had the works done to it, as I'm so fond of talking about it when I was very active on this BBS.
Oil galleys tapped
ALL reciprocating mass lightened and balanced (right down to the flywheel).
A slightly more aggresive cam.
Three angle valve job heads ported and other things.
There was probably more but I dont remember.
I paid about 2+ grand, could be too much in one persons mind and a great deal in another.
But I'm very happy with the engine and if I had to do it again I would.
The engine is very rev happy and breaths real nice throughout the RPM range. I've redlined it accidently a few times and it didnt skip a beat. I remember one time where I jammed on the gas accidently and the engine just SCREAMED way up. I looked over to the guy in the lane next to me in traffic and noticed he had tried to sheild himself from the noise.
There is a stop sign on an on ramp by where I live, it's right at the end of the ramp. So if one was to get onto this major roadway one would have to accelerate as fast as possible. I did it twice me and my cousin about 235 lbs total in human. From a dead stop to 60 mph about 6 seconds. No scientific method was involved. Just him wathcing the speedo and counting Mississipii's me doing the driving duty's.

Disclaimers:
Since the 914 is a light weight car with a light weight eingine, performance may vary depeding on the size of ones butt. I have no vested interest in FAT.

Their website is oddly enought www.fatperformance.com. Its still under construction though but there is a contact number.

[campbellcj]

Motormeister doesn't do 914/4's anymore. They only do 911-ish (air cooled) and 356.

[DAM]

Motormeister quoted 8 months wait time on my 4-cyl. That's not really a problem for me, I'm not in a big hurry and have other parts of the car that need to be fixed up.

OK, how hard is it to do a rebuild myself? As I said, I'm not in a hurry, I've got a good place to work on it, and don't mind digging into new things. I've studied the books -- they make it look easy, which I'm sure is not the case.



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Original Owner '73 1.7

[Jim Smolka]

I have rebuilt 2 and 1/2 of these motors. It is not that hard. However, no shortcut for experience. There are many tricks to correctly build a type IV motor that are not always in the books. If I was to rebuild a motor, I would have someone build the short block and redo the heads. Then, finish the rest. This route I took when I bought a new 2.0 from Pelican (that is where the 1/2 comes from).

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Smoke Daddy

[BenI]

I like the previous note-Ive done 2 top end rebuilds with no problem. Plus cylinders come with rings on them so you dont even have to worry about filing the gaps. If you have Haynes, even that book goes through the steps so you can get a feel for it before you decide. Good luck!

[wtherr]

If you don't mind me asking..What did Pelican P charge you? You can give me a ballpark answer if you want..Thanks