Engine rebuild cost Options

[bajafreaks]

I've been getting a few verbal estimates and doing some searching on costs for rebuilding the type4. It seems like the magic number is right around 10k for a good quality complete rebuild, adding a few goodies like head work, cam, etc. I know it's a very broad subject and there's a lot of contributing factors on what impacts the overall price but I'm just looking for a ballpark for right now. I can't afford a Raby build but also don't want something I can't rely on. Thanks for the input.

[Jack Standz]

VW Type 4, no?

No.

Especially, when you're talking 914 motors (or 912 or 911 motors). They are "Porsche" motors. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Similar motors, but not the same.

There are differences in the cases (i.e. dipstick in the wrong place), 914 Type IV motors all had fuel injection, so the cams were optimized for FI. Many many more Type IV motors went into VWs than 914 Porsches. 914 cases are getting much harder to find in good condition.

Have you looked at prices for VW motors (Type 1 or others) lately? You can do a lot with $10,000 when building a Type IV motor. However, if you can't or won't do the work yourself, then that's a very different story.

There has always been a premium to pay for Type IV motors compared to Type 1 motors. There has always been a premium for "Porsche" motors.

Here's a 2056 Type IV short block for $5,500. You could possibly get someone to install it for the $10,000 total? Of course, there are other options.

https://scatvw.com/product-category/long-bl...e-type-2-4-914/

Am not vouching for SCAT rebuilds, but we did have them do machine work in the past.

[VaccaRabite]

Especially, when you're talking 914 motors (or 912 or 911 motors). They are "Porsche" motors. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Similar motors, but not the same.

I fundamentally disagree.

While there are nuances between bus motors and 412 motors and 914 motors, they are all VW Type 4 motors.

You can use a bus case to build a 914 performance motor. I know because I did it. Block off plate for the forward dipstick, and changed out the curved dipstick tube for the straight 914 version.

After that, its just parts.

Lots of people run 914 motors in their bus or 412. Lots of people have used bus or 412 cores in their 914.

As to why its expensive.... Getting the heads right takes experience, and that does not come cheap. You always want to put as much money into your heads as you can, and they will make or break your engine. They also go together differently then most modern liquid cooled engines. They don't have the breadth of cheap aftermarket parts that the T1 community has (which is a good thing, as most of those are CRAP).

It used to be you could do a budget 2056 for about $5K. But that was 15 years ago. You can probably still do it yourself for about that, but you won't find a shop building for that amount that has not cut a TON of corners. I agree that 10K for a stock motor is about right. And I also agree that you should be looking hard at the PMB engine program. I LOVE my 2.3i from PMB. But it cost more then 10K.

Zach