checking inside a block

[Eat-um-up]

as ive posted a fiew times i lost my hydrolic 2.0.... but to fix the problem heres what i have and plan to do:

I have a 1.7 that was just about wore out when i got it and finally started burning 5 months after i got it. it also blew the main seal so it leaks like a cive. thts do to me pushing a wore out engine.

i want to put the 96mm pistons on it to convert it to a 1910cc. id like to save a bunch of money and not slpit the case. is ther any way i can check the crank, and cam without splitting it? how reuseable are cams in these things.

and off the wall, can i put 1.8 or 2.0 cylenders on 1.7crank and rods with 1.8 heads on it?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

You can't use the 2.0 P&Cs on a 1.7/1.8 crank without lots of trouble. The 1.8 P&Cs will bolt right on, and give you stock 1.8 displacement. Also stock 1.8 power, which is less than stock 1.7 power. (Lower compression.) If you want that power back, you'll have to have the heads flycut.

Tom Wilson's book (I think) describes how you can check the main and rod bearings.

The cam is one of the main wear points of the bottom end of the Type IV motor.

Up to you if you want to split the case. It's cheaper not to, but... If you decide to, I would suggest replacing the cam and lifters.

--DD

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Pelican Parts 914 Tech Support

A few pics of my car: http://www.pelicanparts.com/gallery/Dave_Darling

[SteveStromberg]

If you have the heads off it is false economy not to split the case. If anyone ever over tightend the oil strainer bolt ( it is only tightend to 9 pound of torque ) the cam will have wear on the center lobes. Steve

[roadtrp204]

I have had to build vw engines from my spare parts pile for myself and others who could not afford to do it any other way. Something like spinning a rod bearing on my only daily driver and having to come up with something to get it back on the road by the end of the weekend with the only expense going towards bearings and gaskets. I understand that building an engine the "right" way is not always an option.

Go the route you have all the parts for. In stock unmodified form

• 1.7 p/c's need 1.7 heads
• 1.8 and 2.0 heads are interchangeable (except FI mounting 3 studs for 2.0 and 4 for 1.8, carbs have universal manifolds and will fit either)
• 2.0 crank and rods need 2.0 p/c's
• 1.7 and 1.8 crank and rods are the same and will fit either 1.7 or 1.8 p/c's.

I would suggest splitting the case, it is the only way to get piece of mind and completely inspect and clean. If the engine is tired there is about a 99% chance that the cam is worn beyond it limits. I have an OEM stock cam and lifters with less than 5000 miles, just send me an email with your address if you want it. Good luck with the rebuild.

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Chris
75 914 2.0L

[This message has been edited by roadtrp204 (edited 08-06-2001).]