Removing the Smog

[JeffreyBrown]

18 months ago I shipped a 1975 Porsche 914, 1.8L from LA to Sweden, registered it here and been enjoying drives on Sunday afternoons. It runs great and only has 60,000 original miles. My mom bought it new in '75 and I've worked on it and driven many times over the last 40 years. So here in Sweden the laws are different and because of that year, (SMOG control started here in 1976 so I'm exempt) I don't need any smog vacuum lines or anything for pollution. I think it would run a lot better if I took all that off. But I'm not sure if I can do it. Any ideas, advice? I've got quite a bit of mechanical knowledge, I rebuilt VW's in high school but vacuum lines are not my strong

[larrym]

a 1.8 is something of an anomaly since it has L-jet (Bosch AFC) - never a popular or well understood system in the USA 914 cult in that period - many folks just junked it cuz it was perplexing to work on and diagnose

Lots of VW buses ran L-jet however; best place to start is to get yourself a copy of the Haynes VW Transporter 1972-79 repair manual - flip immediately to Ch 13, where you will find immensely more detail on the AFC system & associated SMOG components which your 914, has versus any of the 914 repair manuals

other useful period Porsche community references are the Jim Pasha's 914 Fuel Injection article in Nov-1998 Excellence (find a copy of Excellence ) and A.L. Caldwell's Troubleshooting the 914 in April 1980 Panorama

There is probably a Bosch Technical Instruction manual on the L-jet, but i don't have that one (do have all the others above)

realize that disabling the EGR and some other interrelated vacuum components will upset the ignition timing & fuel "map",

you will need to do a lot of fiddling and possibly distributor change or mods & a recurve to get the timing curve correct (else you may discover undesirable "pinging" (too-early-ignition) - fortunately such VW parts are cheap & easy to come by (see The Samba)

after the EGR & CAT are gone, you can install a performance exhaust setup - for simplicity just get a 914-2 stock header set & a Bursch or Ansa muffler

if it is OK for you to vent gas fumes into the atmosphere, you can dispense with the charcoal canister on the gas tank (it may be long defunct anyway) & the associated lines - but understand that you have to vent the tank fumes somewhere overboard cuz many 914 guys have discovered that the fumes then find their way into the passenger compartment

check this page on our Host for options
Porsche 914, 914-6 (1970-1976) - Mufflers & Catalytic Converters - Page 1

get on The SAMBA - join the VW Transporter forums and ask your specific questions there once you understand the AFC setup as described in the above VW manual

- The Samba guys are likely to know all the answers to these issues

good luck

[JeffreyBrown]

Thank you larrym!...I have long suspected removing it will cause problems and I'm not sure if it's worth it...I will post bin The Samba & research it though,
Thanks again, Jeffrey Brown

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Backdating the exhaust from the 75-76 style to the 70-74 style will only help things. You'll need to change over pretty much all of the heater parts, as they go with the exhaust. Also the muffler and muffler hanger.

If there is an EGR system, you can remove the air injectors and plug the holes with appropriate fasteners. Make sure they can't back out. After the injectors are out, you can remove the manifold that feeds them.

Most of the vacuum hoses are needed for the fuel injection to work properly. So unless you're thinking of ditching the injection for carbs, you should keep the hoses around. It's even a good idea to keep the charcoal canister system and hoses; they do not hurt performance or longevity at all.

--DD

[JeffreyBrown]

Thanks Dave...I'll start with the EGR. ..that doesn't sound to difficult....for the exhaust, I'll wait...will probably need a new exhaust at some point then I'll switch it...also the heater works so good I hate to mess with it..if it aint broke dont fix it.....for the vacuum lines, I had thought to go to a dual 40 Weber but that can be a future project.
Thanks, Jeffrey Brown

[Tobra]

I have an L jet troubleshooting guide on PDF that is about 30 pages. I think if I post it here it would be a copyright violation. If I were to e mail it to you, it would remain a copyright violation, but no one would know. If you PM me your e mail address, I would be happy to send it to you

[Mark Henry]

L-jet is actually simple.
Vacuum leaks, hoses and cap seal, is the #1 source of issues.
Then stuck injectors, head temp sensor, bad grounds and the odd flapper has been damaged from bad backfiring.

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

It's even a good idea to keep the charcoal canister system and hoses; they do not hurt performance or longevity at all.

--DD

I totally agree on keeping the charcoal canister, it doesn't affect performance, it only burns of collected gas fumes on startup.
Good for the environment, zero cost.

[TheCabinetmaker]

the evaporative system is not a power robber it does not effect engine performance or drivability at all, it does help reduce fumes a good deal, so keep it functional.

the catalytic exhaust system if in good condition is worth a good deal in states that require smog testing, you could sell it for some good money to some one that needs it, if it is in good shape and if shipping is not too expensive. these are rare parts that are consumed with use and time and there are no aftermarket replacement for them.