bus motor

[johnboy914]

I am sure that there are lots of opinions about this, so here we go. My 1.7 ate a valve yesterday on the way home from auto-x school. So, it is rebuild time. My main question is, what, if any difference is there between a 914 motor and bus 72 and up motor? And, is it safe to just have the top end (p&c+heads) done without throwing a rod at 90k miles? Thanks in advance for all your thoughts!!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Much of the motor will interchange. That doesn't make it the same, though.

All of the Buses have different dipstick and oil filler locations. I don't think they'll work in a 914, and you have to do some machining to get the stock 914 stuff in there. (At least the dipstick.)

The exhaust is, of course, completely different. It points a different direction and is shorter.

The 411 sedan, I think, has the same dipstick/filler setup as the 914. The motors from the 1.7 liter D-jet versions of that car should be a direct swap, and should have little or no difference from your original 1.7.

Carbed versions of all of the Type IV motors will have the mechanical fuel pump on the crankcase.

The 1.8s are somewhat different, mostly in the intake, and possibly in the filler/dipstick.

The 2.0 Bus motors are quite different from the 2.0 914 ones. The crank and rods are very similar or the same, however the pistons are very low compression, the cam is different, the heads are very much different, and the intake is different. The Bus made 67 HP, rather than the 95 of the 2.0 914 (73-74 US spec).

--DD

[Roland Kunz]

Hello

rebuild is depending on the impact. A slight touch doesn´t force a low end rebuild

Grüsse

[Jake Raby]

I do alot of BOTH engines...
Here are the differences that you will be concerned with:

I will start by saying that your 1.7, 914 spec engine made more HP than a 2.0 bus engine!!small valves, and low CR pistons make for torque, but no HP...

The bus engine will install, you will need to block off the stock oil fill location on the bus case, machine for a dipstick in top of the case ( tricky with the engine together) and then place your breather chimney from the 914 engine on top, to fill the oil..

The 2.0 bus engine, is my least favorite engine in stock form, and they are the WORST about dropped seats...

The 2.0 is great with 1.8 heads( or 2.0 914), and a piston change..(CR)

Also all the sheetmetal is different, and so are the mounting pads for the engine hangar...

[This message has been edited by Jake Raby (edited 04-10-2001).]

[johnboy914]

thank you everyone. I was considering a bus motor. This put an end to that. I had always figured type4 is a type4. I have found a good 2.0 motor (Porsche) with a nice cam and Webers. So, I am no longer tempted by the low price of the bus motor.

[odie]

I had a 72 1.7 that dropped a valve once. I installed a 2.0 bus motor. I was living in Hawaii and hand little choices at the salvage yards. Since the 1.7 was carbed it was an easy install. The only tricky thing was to get the 1.7 exhaust mounting machined flat to bolt to the bus heads. Also didn't have to woory about the heater boxes. It was nice having Hyd lifters but my 1975 1.8 FI runs stronger and gets way better mileage.