TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:16 am

I am picking up an '80 Westy next week, with a 2.0L 914 engine. I'll have to replace the piston rings on it and wonder if I am going to have to pull the engine to be able to remove the heads and piston cylinders to get to the pistons?

It has a 2.0 914 engine in it, so not stock to VW (obviously).

I am also having a bit of uncertainty finding those 914 rings. They are available for the 1.8L engine, but not for the 2.0... are the the same.

I am also posting this in the 914 section.

Thu Sep 29, 2011 9:44 pm

You will definitely need to remove the engine to replace the rings. Depending on your budget it might be wise to go ahead and replace the pistons/cylinders as a set instead of just doing the rings.
I would question weather or not it was a TRUE Porsche 914 2.0L versus a VW bus 2.0L. You may have looked into this but if not then you will want to look at the intake manifolds. The Porsche heads have three studs for the manifold, larger valves, better combustion chambers, and in rebuildable shape they are worth more than a complete/running 2.0L bus engine (Close to $1,000)
The reason why I'm double checking the heads is this: While both the Porsche 2.0L motor and the Bus 2.0L motor have 94mm pistons, the Bus's cylinders are dished to lower the compression. And I'm not totally sure about this but I think the rings are different (One has a thicker ring and the other thinner, but don't ask which is which)
So I hope that helps.

Sun Oct 02, 2011 12:21 pm

good advice from lufthaus,so many people say that it is a porsche engine but they are the same ones that pronounce it porsh!!!

Wed Oct 05, 2011 3:58 pm

While a local shop may not have the rings - they are readily available. Get the engine serial number and you'll be able to tell if its VW T2 or Porsche 914. The lower compression in a T2 is preferred for your application!

Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:45 pm

If you have a 2.0 914 motor, the serial number begins with GA or GB. The combination of cam timing, higher compression, and high flow heads on these motors means they will make much more power at higher revs, at the expense of low end torque. They are great for a light weight 914, but you will be a little disapointed with it in a heavy bus, plus it will be prone to overheating. The 914 2.0's are worth a lot of money, so you would be better off keeping it complete, and selling it to someone restoring a 914, and just buy a bus motor with the correct cam, compression, and valve specs.