914 newbie

[george405]

Hi there all, I'm a newbie to Porsche's, I'm more of a vw bug guy, kit car, etc. I just bought a Porsche 914 1972 yr with some minor rust, for 400.00 and am going to pull the motor out. I need a few pointers on taking it out, can I just remove the engine or do I need to take the trans axle out as well? I take it I need to jack up the car for it to be removed out the bottom, any info welcome before I attack this.... thanks

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

It's generally easiest to take the transmission out with the engine, if you're taking the engine out. The whole shebang definitely comes out the bottom!

There are a number of ways of doing the job, from the "unhook everything but the main bolts, lower the car onto a furniture dolly, undo the bolts, raise the car" method, to the "replace the main bolts with threaded rod and loosen that to lower" method, to just balancing everything on a floor jack or two, or a transmission jack, and lowering it out of the car. Check for a Tech Article elsewhere on this site (hint, at the main Porsche page on the left side of the page, there's a 914 section, and in there a link to Tech Articles) which describes one method.

--DD

[george405]

thanks Dave at pelicanparts for info...

[R_Davis]

Holy Cow, George!

$400.00 ? What caliber weapon was used when you either stole stole that car or got robbed? Just kidding, George ... is it a Fuel Injected or Carb'ed? 4 or 6 cylinder? What color? Does it run? Interior?

I'm a VW guy myself and they are about they same engine wise except that the impeller and all are backward.

Do you have any pictures? What color is it? Wow! What a project you just signed onto. You're gonna love it and hate it all at the same time. And you are in the right place for help from a bunch of great people who know these little cars.

Gawsh !!!!!!!!! Seriously .... Tell me all about the car ....

Cheers,

Rick

[george405]

Thanks for response R davis, it is a carbed 72 model 4cyl, I was wondering if a bug engine will work , I have a nice 2145 cc engine, and also a ford 302, I was thinking about using the 302 but I guess it won't fit as well as the chevy engine, I will have to cut firewall etc. My digital camera is on the fritz so I can't post pics yet. I haven't done anything to it except tow it home and park it. Do you know if I can just pull the engine and leave tranny in? thanks George M.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

It may be possible to just pull the engine, but it really is much simpler to pull the engine and trans together.

A Bug engine will not work. Well, I take that back. It may work, but you will have to deal with figuring out which flywheel/clutch to use, how to mount the engine, building an exhaust for it, carb conversion, etc. All for an engine that is likely quite peaky in power delivery, and not as robust as the original engine when pushing a 2000-2100 lb 914 around.

...There's a reason that quite a few Bug guys are putting 914 engines into their cars, and nobody that I've heard of has put a Bug engine into a 914...

--DD

[SirAndy]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

It may be possible to just pull the engine, but it really is much simpler to pull the engine and trans together.

i agree with DD ... after some practice, you can take the whole combo out in under an hour.

after you disconnected all the obvious wires, cables + hoses and removed the shift rod, get that butt high up in the air, put a floorjack under the combo right about where the tranny meets the engine, unbolt the two engine mounts and the two tranny mounts, lower the floorjack and roll the whole thing out the back ...

installation is the reverse.
Andy

[Scrappy]

Since you are in SF, NM .... go over to ClubNARP.com and PM MadSwede ... he's in Albuquerque and may lend some assistance.

Sorry Dave and Wayne ... he doesn't post here and I don't have his email.

[george405]

Indeed, thanks for insight, I'm a what if kind a guy, thanks for answers to my newbie questions. I am glad I found this site, you guys sound like this ain't your first rodeos...it is very informative... again thanks....

[Irvine914-4]

Originally Posted by SirAndy

i agree with DD ... after some practice, you can take the whole combo out in under an hour.

after you disconnected all the obvious wires, cables + hoses and removed the shift rod, get that butt high up in the air, put a floorjack under the combo right about where the tranny meets the engine, unbolt the two engine mounts and the two tranny mounts, lower the floorjack and roll the whole thing out the back ...

installation is the reverse.
Andy

That's only if you can get the fricken CV bolts out...

[BigDaddyZ]

As a newbie myself I'm glad that I found Georges' post. My '73 1.7 is my first step into the world of Porsche and in fact my first "project" car, so my question is verry newb... All the books and posts I have found say that the car doesn't need to be lifted very far to remove the engine, but how high is "not very"? The tallest stands I have been able to locate go up to 21". Will this do it? Also where is the best placement for said stands?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

My standard jack-stands on their highest setting are just high enough for my 2.0 motor, if I remember to remove the intake, oil filler, and dipstick. That's with the engine on a floor-jack, not on a furniture dolly. I put the stands on the "donuts" at the front corners of the engine bay.

On one friend's car, we found that wheel ramps were just a little too low to get the motor out without a little help.

--DD

[BigDaddyZ]

Thanks Dave that gets me going in the right direction.

Off subject, but congrats on German vacation... now that I got the wife addicted to F1 Gremany may be in my future as well, as long as we go during the race week.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Sorry, no German vacation that I know of...

--DD

[BigDaddyZ]

Sorry Dave, your P.I. said Europe vacation with Porsche factor tour, assumed Germany.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Oh, that! Sorry, that was about seven years ago now...

--DD