Engine sheet metal, same on all engines??

[James M]

A follow up question on the engine sheet metal the car I bought does not appear to have the metal on the under side (think it did some damage to the rebuilt engine that was supposd to be in there) So now I need to find some. Is the sheet metal the same on the different engine types or do I have to pull it off of another 2 liter?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Hrm. Well, the *top* sheetmetal is different, mainly due to the different angle of the spark plugs going into the heads. Let me take a look at something...

OK, the parts that bolt on directly to the bottom of the heads are the same for all cars. The parts below those, that Haynes calls the warm-air guides, are different between tail-shifter and side-shifter cars. Side-shifter is 73+.

The plate that goes behind the back of the cylinder head/cylinder junction is specific to the 2.0 cars, while the right side one is generic to all four-cylinder 914s. The rest of the bits also appear to be interchangeable.

At least, this is how I interpret the factory parts book. Good luck with the replacement!

--DD

[James M]

Thanks, but if running without the lower sheet metal did any damage to the engine it looks like I might be replacing more than just the sheet metal. This is my first 914 so I am sure I will have a lot more questions. Thanks again

[This message has been edited by James M (edited 06-28-99).]

[Ascaris]

By the way, anyone out there have a spare passenger side warm air guide for a 74-75 1.8L? I'm short one.

[JP Noonan]

Once again I'm going to answer a question with a question. Aren't the 2.0L cylinders longer (5mm or so) than the 1.7-1.8 ? That would mean the 2.0L bottom tin to be unique, or it could be the way they are designed the one tin streches to fit either. I wish I was finished moving into my house, I have tin ware from some 1.7L's and from a 2.0L.

As for damage, as DD said then guides that mount right below the head are critical to proper cooling. However the lower ones (in all the 914's I've seen the only place I've seen the lower tin is in a book) look to be mostly for protection of the clutch cable and shift linkage on one side and the thermostat (maybe to heat the thermostat up faster???) on the other. If these parts are O.K. (probably are) then don't worry about it.

Here's my theory, the lower air guides are "splash sheilds" like on brakes, to keep water from steaming off the block.... O.K. it's just a theory.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

JP, the extra stroke on the 2.0 motor was done by modifying the crankshaft and rods--and possibly the piston offset as well, I'm not sure. What they did is they took a 1.7/1.8 crank and ground the rod journals 2.5mm smaller--but only be grinding on the inside edges. That moved the center of rotation out 2.5mm, and 2.5mm at BDC + 2.5mm at TDC = 5mm longer stroke.

The bottom "warm air guides" have been on place in all the 914s I have been under. Might be that they don't rust away out here? Not sure. Anyway, on the side-shifter cars, the shift linkage runs underneath that warm-air guide on that side. So it's not just there to protect that.

It may be to keep water and debris off the motor, or it may actually guide the warm air dumped out by the heat exchagers away from the motor. That would be what the name suggests. But the name isn't always indicative...

Anyway, the factory really didn't put too many "extra" parts on the motors. Some parts can be done without for a while without major damage, and some will cause real problems if they're gone. But all of them are there for *some* reason.

--DD

[JP Noonan]

I wasn't thinking... I thought the cylinders were longer, not because I actually measured them (I should have). It was when I put a 2.0L crank and rods in a case with a 1.7L piston and liner the piston stuck out about 10mm. It wasn't the liner, it was the location of the wrist pin I guess. Funny thing is I've wondered how my 2.0L exhaust fit onto my 1.7L if the heads are 20mm closer together (10mm each side).

According to the Haynes pictures the 70-72 had the linkage go above the tin. Oh well, ten of one, half dozen of another.

I agree VW didn't put parts on a car without a reason.

[7391417]

My 73 1.7 was missing its warm air guides also, so I called the guys at Pelican and they told me that it was ok not to have them and alot of 914's he has seen don't. I think that they are there to aid the heating system.