Attempt to fix and convert my Bus 2.0 to solid lifters or go with 1.7 motor? Options

[Mueller]

I have not worked on my 914 yet, but I was told by the previous owner that "something" is wrong with #3 cylinder, could be valve seats, could be injector or even something with the Megasquirt or a collapsed hydraulic lifter(?)

What I am contemplating is that should I even attempt to fix the 2.0 bus motor or focus on getting a 1.7 installed into the car?

Is the 2.0 bus motor that bad hp/torque wise that a stock 1.7 would be a noticeable improvement?

If the added cubic centimeters have the advantage what about converting it to solid lifters? Any performance increase or is that mostly for reliability?

[JamesM]

I have not worked on my 914 yet, but I was told by the previous owner that "something" is wrong with #3 cylinder, could be valve seats, could be injector or even something with the Megasquirt or a collapsed hydraulic lifter(?)

What I am contemplating is that should I even attempt to fix the 2.0 bus motor or focus on getting a 1.7 installed into the car?

Is the 2.0 bus motor that bad hp/torque wise that a stock 1.7 would be a noticeable improvement?

If the added cubic centimeters have the advantage what about converting it to solid lifters? Any performance increase or is that mostly for reliability?

Depends on what is wrong with the 2.0 and how serious the fix it but i would stick with the 2.0 with hydo lifters in the bus if possible. If this were in a 914 I might say the opposite, but not in a bus/Vanagon.

I had hydro lifters in my 914 for 10 years, only problems I had with them:

1. Clattering on startup if they sat for a long time (not really a problem so much as an annoyance)

2. Inability to rev past 5k is RPMs. Not really a problem on a bus but annoying as hell in a 914.

In the 10 years i ran that motor, never had to adjust the valves, so that is a plus.

the 2.0 bus motor should have quite a bit more torque to get that box moving.

Properly converting to solids is more involved than just swapping the lifters, and in a bus really isnt going to gain you anything.