'74 2.0L smoking

[yeahmag]

Brand new owner of a '74 2.0L with the original D-Jet in place. Until now I've built and raced Type I based VW Beetles, so I'm on a bit of an accelerated learning curve.

I purchased the car with the understanding it probably needed a top end rebuild. When you drove it it would leave a cloud behind it like none I've ever seen. Oil was litterally dripping out of the tail pipe. Yes, drops of oil.

Once I got it home I found that the crankcase was insanely over filled. Oil was half way up the dip stick. This gave me hope of avoiding a top end rebuild. I drained and correctly refilled the oil, cleaned about 3 quarts of muck off the bottom of the car, and set the timing as best I could without verifying TDC.

Now it doesn't smoke at all when cold, but still smokes moderatley while driving. It does NOT smoke on decel. There are a few other interesting observations.

1. It doesn't idle well when warm, yet idles very nicely when cold.
2. The plugs are black with carbon, but not wet with oil. The carbon build up is somewhat chunky and all 4 plugs are the same.
3. Power is good on the car, but that's a bit subjective as this is my first and only 914 and I'm use to a 160HP '66 Bug.

I'm planning on replacing the PCV valve and checking other routine maintenance things. Any other ideas on the smoke other than a top end rebuild?

Thanks.

-Aaron

[Tidybuoy]

As a general servicing tip, I would start with replacing all vacuum lines and fuel lines.

Fuel Injected 914's don't do well with vacuum leaks (although, the 2.0 does better than the 1.8). Fuel Injected cars operate with high fuel pressure so fuel lines are important and these cars seem to have brittle rubber - could be due to higher temps.

There is definitely a specific routine for timing the engine that's much different than a bug. The distributor in a 2.0 also controls the fuel injectors so timing is important. Check the technical articles section of Pelican - there's some really great tips.

I have a 1.8 so I cannot give you specific tips on your 2.0 but other guys here will answer.

Vern