Just got my first 914, need a little help.

[James M]

Ok after figuring out what I wanted in a 914 I seemed to have found one that comes pretty close. I wanted one that was pre 74 so I wouldnt have to deal with California smog laws, one with the side shifter trans, a 2L motor and still had the FI system, and a solid body. I am pretty happy with what I found. It is a 72 that has been converted to a side shifter with a new 2L GA motor with FI. it has 180 lbs rear springs, a 22mm front sway bar, a roll bar, 5 point seatbelt, momo steering wheel, fiberglass fender flares and 16x8 wheels with 205 55ZR 16 Pirelli tires.
I have a couple little problems with it though. First of all the transmission I cant get into forth gear. It doesent crunch going into gear like some other ones I saw but when U release the clutch in forth it whines like it is not engaging all the way. The guy I got it from said that every time he took the engine out he had to re adjust the linkage to get it into forth. Any ideas on this, I havent touched the linkage on it yet because I didnt know for sure if it would help. Second the car seems to be lacking some power I am guessing due to the FI not being set up right. First of all it does not have the correct air filter so some of the hoses were hooked up wrong. (I already went through and hooked up the hoses according to Dave Darlings Hose Layout and that help it some)before there were little problems like one end of the supplementary air regulator was hooked up to the oil filler vent. I still dont have the correct air filter though, does anyone know where I can get one? Right now I just rigged up a 4inch round air filter on top of the throttle body. One the vacume advance that points at the throttle body was not hooked up. I got a hose and attached it, is there any advantage to running it not attached? As for the injectors them selves the guy said that 3 of the 4 were new. I looked and three are green but the one on the #4 cylinder is yellow(that means it is a 1.7l injector right?). Could this be a part of the power problem? Also if one of the injectors was from a 1.7L system what else on it might be for a 1.7L and how do I check?

[Conrad W Peden]

I can only offer one piece of advice about the tranny question. When you switch from a tail to side shifter the linkage is a different diameter at the firewall. The bushing at this point is an aftermarket one that adapts from the sideshift linkage to the pre-73 body. If the bushing is incorrect you may experience a shifting problem. However I suspect it would be in all gears. Another problem may be inside the tranny, like a bend shift arm or the gear itself is damaged in some way.

Good Luck

CWP/VIR

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

On the tranny: Dig into your Haynes manual and look up the shift linkage adjustment procedure. It is pretty straightforward and not that difficult. (Except for removing that one piece of carpeting if you have a center console...) If that doesn't help, you'll probably want to mandipulate the gear selector at the tranny end directly, after unhooking the linkage from it.

The air cleaner can be bought used from a variety of sources. I would bet that Tom has at least one or two in stock. Come to think of it, I have a spare or two as well.

There is no advantage to not hooking up the vaccuum advance. In fact, there may be a little more torque with it hooked up.

Yellow injectors are 1.7, green are 2.0. I have a friend who has a 1.7 with one 2.0 injector. Maybe you two can trade... I may have her contact you.

--DD