1974 914 1.8, the mystery of the EC-A and EC-B Options

[wonkipop]

i'll be dropping the information we have gathered over Dec 2021 in with a set of posts.

the material was prompted by mr b ( @JeffBowlsby ) who observed that for the 74 MY there was an EC-A and an EC-B engine. mr b's thought was that the EC-A was a 49 states car and and EC-B was a californian car for emissions.

mr b's view was rational and reasoned. 73 EA engines are 49 states. 73 EB engines are california. 75 engines are documented in factory literature as EC-a (49 states) and EC-b (california). the logic should follow?

BUT

as per the mystery of the 914, the truth about 74 1.8s turns out stranger than fiction (or common sense?).

the material is not necessary to running a 1.8 or having fun with a 14. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

its for historical purposes and as information to 74 1.8 owners to assist with restoration if they want it.

[wonkipop]

@StarBear

@JeffBowlsby

additional info of interest.

i might be very close to pinpointing date (production week/even day) the charcoal can switches over. has this been done and if so is info in agreement?

two cars.

1)
member Ferg has vin # 4742909104. Ferg states it had the can in the frunk on the evidence. his post is attached below.




2)
found a car advertised for sale in 2012. excellent original condition 1.8.
vin # 4742909096.
shows evidence of having originally had a front trunk cannister that has been removed.
clip and mounting point intact on tank.







https://www.early911sregistry.org/forums/sh...book-EUR-44-000

the cars are 8 vin numbers apart.
neither are listed with a karmann#.
however the register on this site lists vin # 09098 as k # 4729590 = tuesday 20 Nov. 73.




this puts the date for the changeover at week 47 of 1973.
mon nov 19 - friday nov 23.
both these cars above are likely commenced on the same day (tues 20 Nov).

-----
StarBears car is a week 48 car and has the engine bay can.
R Rietman's car is a week 46 car and has the frunk can.

----------

EDIT - JUNE 29 2022

additional data point found.
VIN 4742908765.
K plate production # unknown.
poor condition abandoned 74 1.8 with original engine bay charcoal can intact.




using 914world Vin data base - closest VIN with K # recorded =
VIN 4742908715 K # 4649581 = 81st car commenced thursday 15th Nov 1973.

4742908765 = 50 cars after. given average daily production was around 100 cars, likely this was commenced the day after on friday 16th Nov 1973.
this is earlier than the Tuesday 20 Nov cars above this supports conclusion there is some mixing of chassis numbers in chronological order at the introduction of the charcoal cannister update.

if karmann numbers were available for cars that have been pinpointed a more precise date could be determined.

update information indicates the change is occurring either side of the weekend 17/18 Nov 1973. with at least one car likely on the friday 16 Nov with engine bay can and two cars on Tuesday Nov 20 with a frunk can.