"75 Porsche 914

[RobertDD]

I own a 75 Porsche 914 1.8. I bought this car in the 80's and drove it about 3000 miles. The girl I bought the car from said it had been rebuilt but I have no paper work. I bought a new house in '97 and pulled my 914 into the garage to begin working on parts of it. Every now and then I would start it and let it run for a while, sometimes a half hour or more. I have converted this car over to the 911 5 lug pattern while rebuilding all of the suspension with upgraded componets. I am now trying to finishing the body and need to do some rust repair. I wonder if while I'm this far, should I leave the engine alone or work on it also? It's been so long since I drove it I don't remember much about it but it did seem to run alright. I have thought about re-ringing it or buying a set of jugs and pistons and replacing mine. My questions is I don't want to split the case and do a full rebuild, as I know it can get into a ton of money, but if I'm pulling the engine out to work on the engine area, wouldn't now be the time? How can I tell if it was rebuilt or not? If I add new piston set, will my bottom end go south? Or should I do a compression test and just drive it? The car is still fuel injected and I have replaced most of the componets for it, including injectors and sensors. It also has a new clutch, 3000 miles or so, and new axles, new starter. And much more.

[Type 4 Unleashed]

I own a 75 Porsche 914 1.8. I bought this car in the 80's and drove it about 3000 miles. The girl I bought the car from said it had been rebuilt but I have no paper work. I bought a new house in '97 and pulled my 914 into the garage to begin working on parts of it. Every now and then I would start it and let it run for a while, sometimes a half hour or more. I have converted this car over to the 911 5 lug pattern while rebuilding all of the suspension with upgraded componets. I am now trying to finishing the body and need to do some rust repair. I wonder if while I'm this far, should I leave the engine alone or work on it also? It's been so long since I drove it I don't remember much about it but it did seem to run alright. I have thought about re-ringing it or buying a set of jugs and pistons and replacing mine. My questions is I don't want to split the case and do a full rebuild, as I know it can get into a ton of money, but if I'm pulling the engine out to work on the engine area, wouldn't now be the time? How can I tell if it was rebuilt or not? If I add new piston set, will my bottom end go south? Or should I do a compression test and just drive it? The car is still fuel injected and I have replaced most of the componets for it, including injectors and sensors. It also has a new clutch, 3000 miles or so, and new axles, new starter. And much more.

Hi RobertDD, And Welcome to STF

You could do or have a compression check done or have a leak down test done, which would tell better, but cost a little more, but first either do a valve adjustment or have one done, before the compression check or leak down test, to make sure there are no tight valves, which would throw the Test or leak down off. And have it done at a reputable place.

And if it checked out ok Run It. First rule don't fix something that's not broken... ... If the leak down is questionable, then you could just re-ring it and have the heads checked. But I think it will check fine.

And when was the last time you did an oil change ?