914 engine replacement options - Advice and Opinions please, What are my best and easiest options? Options

[UberElectricEagle]

Greetings,
I'm new to the 914's so please forgive my ignorance.
I have a 1972 1.7 with dual carbs (weber 34) that is slowly giving up the ghost. I'm going to keep driving it until it quits or I find a replacement motor. I'm trying to figure out what my best and cheapest option is to put a good and solid running engine in my 914. Yes, more power would be awesome, but just a working motor would be great too.
What I was thinking I would like to find is a decent and solid running engine that someone has removed from their car for whatever reason.
-What are my plain stock options? 1.7 1.8 2.0 ?
--Can all my 1.7 components switch over into a 1.8 or 2.0 or would I have to get some different items like bigger carbs or a different distributor?
-What kind of fair price can I expect to pay for a fairly complete and running motor?
-What could I expect to pay for a rebuild if I went with that option?
-Can I just use any type 4 engine (say from a VW whatever) and switch all my tins and components over, or are they set up differently for the 914?

I'm looking for all opinions or what you would think you would do so I can look at every angle here. Any guidance in the right direction or ideas would be much appreciated.
Thanks,
Sam

[geniusanthony]

Your in the PNW right? An engine is a complicated system in which alot of things need to be close to make the engine run at least close to correct. I have been offline a bunch lately and if you have had prior troubleshooting posts, well I haven't read em. There is a wealth of knowledge near you in the PNW.
Rather than dropping in a new(used) engine and thinking that will fix the problem. Take a step away and take the advice that the rest of us have spent cumulative thousands to learn.
You need a thourough tune-up first. It won't cost you more than some simple parts. Say less than a hundred dollars and a weekend. Worst case reuse the tuneup parts on a rebuilt motor or whatever.
Until said thourough tuneup is complete noone is in a position to judge whether or not you even need a rebuild.
Still stuck, take it to a GOOD garage. Those of us from the area can pointyou to one.

[UberElectricEagle]

Your in the PNW right? An engine is a complicated system in which alot of things need to be close to make the engine run at least close to correct. I have been offline a bunch lately and if you have had prior troubleshooting posts, well I haven't read em. There is a wealth of knowledge near you in the PNW.
Rather than dropping in a new(used) engine and thinking that will fix the problem. Take a step away and take the advice that the rest of us have spent cumulative thousands to learn.
You need a thourough tune-up first. It won't cost you more than some simple parts. Say less than a hundred dollars and a weekend. Worst case reuse the tuneup parts on a rebuilt motor or whatever.
Until said thourough tuneup is complete noone is in a position to judge whether or not you even need a rebuild.
Still stuck, take it to a GOOD garage. Those of us from the area can pointyou to one.

Hi. I appreciate ALL the help and advice I've been given. I've only had a 914 for a couple of months and I know I'm green with these cars. I've had many cars over the years and I'm getting better with my skills and understanding of how they work. I have much to learn still for sure and many more tools to buy. I will however, stick up for myself when somebody wants to accuse me before they have all of their facts straight.

I agree, Tune ups are a good thing and necessary when it will help your situation. I'm in a situation of my ignition parts are working and I have other problems that I won't be able to fix with the engine in the car. I have compressions of #1=85 #2=90 #3=74 #4=92 and I have some internal noises that don't sound promising at all. Plus the engine likes a diet of oil. I believe it's time for the motor to come out and taken apart so I can try to figure out what went wrong inside to make the horrible noises. I'd like to Learn a bit about it and see if it's worth rebuilding or not. Maybe build it up to something better than stock specs.

I'm new to these cars and the market, and I was just trying to get a little more information and advice on my engine options/possibilities and try to see what I should expect to pay for a decent running motor so I don't get ripped off. Maybe upgrade while the time is right? I'd like to have a running car while this motor is out of the car. I'm not looking for a quick fix.
Thanks for your help, Sam