Canadian 914 web sites? 2.2L 914?

dave blackburn · 05-26-2002, 07:33 PM

Anyone know of any places in canada to get 914 parts. Also I am wondering about putting bigger pistons and cylinders into my 1.8L 75 914. I am hoping to get about 2.2L of displacment. Does anyone know where i can find the stuff needed? If I replace the cylinders and pistons can I use the stock crank/con rods? Will I have to machine anything? I am new to my 914 and have never worked on a type 4 before. Any tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Dave

Zeke · 08:07 PM

Is there a problem using mail order houses in U.S. for shipment to Canada? If not, then you can have your parts at your door.

You asked for tips, here's tips:

Buy, How to Rebuild Your Aircoolled VW Motor by Tom Wilson

Use Technical Articles on Peican's site (our host).

Search here and on Shop Talk Forums, Type4um

Buy a kit from a reputable motor builder or send your motor out for one.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Anything larger than 96mm pistons and cylinders will require machining to both the crankcase and the heads. 96mm x 66mm (stock 1.8 stroke) will give you 1910cc displacement, and you can use the stock rods.

Going to larger than about 78mm stroke will require clearancing the inside of the case, and quite possibly some odd stuff like getting a reduced base-circle camshaft. Different rods would be required. (96mm x 78.4mm = 2270cc.)

Take a look at http://www.aircooledtechnology.com for one guy who really likes building larger-displacement Type IV motors. (The 914 four-cylinder motor is one version of the VW Type IV motor.) For discussions by a bunch of people, some of whom have large-displacement Type IVs, see the "Type 4um" at http://www.shoptalkforums.com .

--DD

DDS · 05-27-2002, 10:39 AM

Getting parts from the US is very expensive for Canadians. Some vendors won't ship via mail, and UPS customs brokerage fees added to freight, added to exchange, added to 15% tax at the border mean that US purchases cost double in CDN$.

California import parts in Langley BC is a good source if they have stock and you don't expect service. www.vwcalimports.com

There are some guys with used parts as well.

dave blackburn · 05-27-2002, 07:53 PM

I have thought about ordering from the U.S. but it turns out to be very expensive. About 2/3 more for the same stuff. Besides I'm CANADIAN and I realy woud like to support canadian vw shops so maybe one day there could be more of them up here for us. Any other canadian part shop adresses would be great.

DDS · 04:22 AM

You'll have to pay the piper and shop in the land of the free for some stuff - Pelican charges fair prices and FAT has the engine stuff you need with the advice to put it together.
I have used stock 2.0 pistons and cylinders and a crank and rods - the crank is within factory tolerances, the rest I haven't measured and I would think the rods would need to be resized. (about $100cdn IIRC incl bushings)
Better do some research and plan your project and budget - a proper 2.2 will cost bucks no matter how you slice it. You're looking at around $3500 CDN for a complete stock rebuild for parts if you include cam and lifters, head rebuild, pistons and cylinders and yer basic machine work. Add to that if you want to go bigger, change the induction etc...
I also recommend Jake Raby's T4 engine building video. It is GREAT. (Though he doesn't use much loctite - ? -) I'm in the throes of a rebuild and am referring to it, Wilson's book, and hte haynes manual as I go.
Leitner and Bush in Toronto is a good machine shop and saves parts crossing the border multiple times.

dave blackburn · 05-28-2002, 09:00 PM

If I were to use 2L pistons and cylinders would I still be able to use my stock crank (1.8L) and cam providing they are in good shape? I am very new to the type four and have yet to find any realy informative info on it. Right now i am just tossing around some ideas about what I want to do. I would like to get around 110-120 hp any suggestions. My budget is pretty tight but I would like to have a nice car when I am done. Thanks for your replys.

DDS · 09:43 AM

Corrected - thanks DD.

Dave, there's loads of info out there so start digging! I'm hoping for around 130hp with dual 42mm webers, 96mm pistons, big valves and ported heads, zoomy cam (.465/280deg IIRC), higher cr, balanced like crazy, fancy dist and ignition, etc...
That wasn't at all cheap by my definition at least, so if your budget is really tight, just enjoy the car while thoughtfully planning what to do and when. You can pour tons and tons and tons of money into a 914.

Is your current engine unwell?

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

You can't use 2.0 pistons on a 1.7/1.8 crank without a bunch of extra work. You can use 96mm P&Cs designed for the 1.8, but not those designed for the 1.7 or those designed for the 2.0 .

The 2.0 pistons have a different "crown height" (distance between the wrist pin and the top of the piston) than the others. Using a 2.0 piston on a 1.8 crank would wind up with a mm or two of piston sticking out of the cylinder at TDC, which ain't too good for your motor when it's running.

--DD