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

[wonkipop]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

doing a bit of resto-moding mr b? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

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@Big Len has his can flipped around to do the hose clean up - but has retained the performance update of 74. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wonkipop]

AN engine in a factory 1974 914 GT (European-market 914 CanAm car). Only car I have documentation of with this engine, and my only photo of it.

VIN 4742916340 on the 914 Can Am Car Registry.

@JeffBowlsby

mr. b, it just occurred to me that this engine is really worth chasing down for details.
hidden behind that heater blower hose is probably the last missing paint stamp number on engine tin for 74 1.8s.

a factory euro GT had gauges.
i'm betting the stamp on there is 609.
given we got the number for a euro 74 1.8 without gauges and it was 608.

is this too far back in time to contact the owner on the can am register you run?

you made the post i have quoted back on page 2 of the thread with a photo of the engine. i have read elsewhere there is some contention that some euro GTs may have been fitted with 1.8 engines. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[wonkipop]

@JeffBowlsby

i just picked up on this small detail change to 74 models looking at material i had about the plastic expansion tank change in 74.

you may know about it and if so i won't bother looking further if the change is known about.

75 1.8s (and 2.0s as well) had a first stage black plastic corrugated hose out of the air blower box in the front trunk.



i thought 74 1.8s all had corrugated cardboard hoses throughout the blower ducting in the front trunk. example - my 01/74.



but now i am seeing the change to the black plastic hose happens later in the 74 model year.

06/74



05/74



04/74



03/74 (late march)



02/74 (cardboard)





from the material i had conveniently at hand from L jet research.

[wonkipop]

MINOR CHANGES AND UPDATES THRU 74 MODEL YEAR.

compiled from review of data gathered for EC-A/B 1.8 research dec 2021-aug 2022.


UPDATE 1. Front Trunk Headlight Motor Shield.
Changes from Black Plastic to Grey and back to Black.
Black late 09/73 - 12/73.
Grey 01/74 - 04/74.
Black 05/74 - 7/74. approx to month.

UPDATE 2. Ventilation Blower Ducting - Front Trunk.
Changes from Corrugated Natural Color Cardboard to Flexible Ribbed Black Plastic.
Cardboard late 09/73 - 02/73
Black Plastic 03/74-07/74

UPDATE 3. Fuel Tank Expansion Chamber.
Changes from Metal Construction to Plastic Unit.
Metal late 09/73 - mid 05/74
Plastic mid 05/74-07/74
(refer page 4 of this thread - examples of 05/74 2.0L cars included to refine date).

UPDATE 4. Rear Trunk Insulation Pad.
Changes from Semi Rigid Moulded Pad to Light Weight Foam Filled Pillow.
Rigid Pad late 09/73 - 12/73
Foam Pillow 01/74-07/74









UPDATE 1. Headlight Motor Shields/Covers. (HLC)





UPDATE 2. Ventilation Blower Ducting. (BT)





UPDATE 3. Fuel Tank Expansion Chamber. (ET)





UPDATE 4. Rear Trunk Insulation Pad.





TRIVIA. Tool Kit Contents.
4 examples, reasonably trustworthy, retained original tool kits.
Question of Screwdriver Handle - White or Black?
Both varieties seem to be evenly distributed on limited data compiled
(few sales listings document toolkit - only cars with evident originality were included).
At least three cars under production at Karmann received the tool kit simultaneously.
(VW beetle cabriolet, VW Karmann Ghia and 914)





This data may already be known and compiled elsewhere.
either on this website or in sources such as Restorers Guide to Authenticity (Johnson).
Dates might continue to be refined with further data.

[wonkipop]

LAST BIT OF TRIVIA.

VIN LABEL COLOR MATCHED TO 74 COLOR RANGE.

extracted from 45+ examples on file from ECA/B research.
multiple examples of each color across extent of 74 MY production
(apart from black and alaska blue metallic, 1 example of each only).
vin labels exhibit 100% consistency to particular colors.
(not to say exceptions won't be out there somewhere?).

thanks to mr. b's website for color range cards i marked up.

[StarBear]

@wonkipop One correction for your table: my car (VIN 9760) had a port of entry at Portsmouth, VA. Bought it near home in Richmond, VA where I grew up, the day after graduating UVA. Moved to NJ about 2weeks later; been here ever since. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
Have also added for the record the pics below of my original air blower hoses, rear trunk pad, and tool kit with tire bar. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[StarBear]

More 1.8L minutia:
1. What/when determines the location of the HO Recall sticker? The pics on Jeff Bowlsby's site shows two colors at two different locations (see below). According to Jeff's details, this recall applied to ALL 914s, not just the 1.8s, in 1977 shortly after the model was discontinued.
2. Also, any clue as to who might make reproductions? Mine had the recall done, but never any sticker. My other other is to reproduce one myself (as I did with the tuneup sticker) off the red image.

[JeffBowlsby]

Read the HO recall papers posted on my site.

[StarBear]

Read the HO recall papers posted on my site.

Got it! Thanks, Jeff. EDIT: The one on the red car is in the correct location ("... next to the vehicle identification plate"); the one on the yellow car is not.

[wonkipop]

@wonkipop One correction for your table: my car (VIN 9760) had a port of entry at Portsmouth, VA. Bought it near home in Richmond, VA where I grew up, the day after graduating UVA. Moved to NJ about 2weeks later; been here ever since. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)
Have also added for the record the pics below of my original air blower hoses, rear trunk pad, and tool kit with tire bar. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

thanks for posting those up steve. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
the old black screwdriver hey!

i keep my lever bar with the jack in the rear trunk.
won't fit in that dumb plastic bag. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

i'll fix up your entry to say Virginia. have i got that right for VA. gotta try and remember all those USA state abbreviations, you guys have so many states.
its a lot easier here. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wonkipop]

ps steve

the screwdrivers are kind of (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) .

a car identical to mine. phoenix red. black interior. steelies week 2 jan 74 had the black.
two weeks later mine is built. phoenix red. brown interior. steelies. week 4 jan 74 had the white.
like VW had two different suppliers for the screwdrivers and just mixed them up?

[StarBear]

ps steve

the screwdrivers are kind of (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif) .

a car identical to mine. phoenix red. black interior. steelies week 2 jan 74 had the black.
two weeks later mine is built. phoenix red. brown interior. steelies. week 4 jan 74 had the white.
like VW had two different suppliers for the screwdrivers and just mixed them up?

Either that or Hans was left handed (black bin) and Johannes was right handed (white bin). It seems to happen...... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[StarBear]

Ok, here's my try at the minutia of the HO Recall Sticker. Kept it "aged" instead of nice new white. As I note, minutia. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif) EDIT: Actual size 53mm (2.09") high, 38 mm (1.5") wide based on proportional measurements compared to the VIN plate in the red image on Jeff's website and measured to my VIN plate. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[wonkipop]

don't think mine ever got taken in for recall. no sticker. still had cloth lines on it when i got it in 89 and was leaking from every orifice.

come to think of it even the 4 new injectors and new fuel lines that went in then were cloth braided. that was from West Suburban Imports - a VW dealer in chicago in maywood. so much for getting the details right 12 years down the track. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

i found the receipt in my papers here. 4 new fuel injectors cost $280.00 back then.
$70.00 each! in real terms they have gone down in price these days. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)
i think i managed to get the recent replacements, genuine items NOS from a guy in arizona for $60.00 each.

a relay was replaced too. $87.55
part # 033 251 4120. must look that up.

points were $4.00. oil filter $6.60.
all the fuel line clamps cost $15.00

funny looking back at what things cost.
for all our complaining, parts were fairly expensive back then.
labor was cheapish. looks like it was $45.00 per unit. (hour?). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)


edit
looked up 0 332 514 120. the old L jet dual relay! explains why i have the newer plastic one, like Van B has under the battery tray instead of the original metal one. another thing that was needed to make the car go back in 89. i wouldn't have even noticed or known what it was back then. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) big ticket item. more expensive than the injectors!

[L-Jet914]

@wonkipop For your data to correct the information you have on my 914 regarding the headlight motor covers, rear trunk pad and blower motor tubing. 4/74 production date. I saw you posted non-original rigid pad with what I think is a question mark? Unless it's for a different VIN. I have grey headlight motor covers, black plastic corrugated tubing for the blower motor and the lightweight foam pad for the rear trunk pad. I know my 914 never had the recall performed due to no sticker placed in the specific location next to the build plate in the front trunk.

[JeffBowlsby]

Next thing to figure out is how to determine the Dist./Dealer numbers for tyhe sticker.

[wonkipop]

@wonkipop For your data to correct the information you have on my 914 regarding the headlight motor covers, rear trunk pad and blower motor tubing. 4/74 production date. I saw you posted non-original rigid pad with what I think is a question mark? Unless it's for a different VIN. I have grey headlight motor covers, black plastic corrugated tubing for the blower motor and the lightweight foam pad for the rear trunk pad. I know my 914 never had the recall performed due to no sticker placed in the specific location next to the build plate in the front trunk.

hey thanks L Jet. i'll include the info in your section of spread sheet. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

and yes, those details i squeezed in across your entry in the spreadsheet were for a different car which i marked up with a vin #. it was one i found in between your car and next entry.

as it is you have the last car in our data with the grey head light motor covers.
nice handy bit of data to have.

out of interest does your car still have its orig tool kit.
if so what is the screwdriver. white or black. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[wonkipop]

Next thing to figure out is how to determine the Dist./Dealer numbers for tyhe sticker.

thats a job for you mr. b (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

or steve. i'm over my files for a while. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[StarBear]

Next thing to figure out is how to determine the Dist./Dealer numbers for tyhe sticker.

I'm lucky - I have my work order sheet from the dealer; its numbers are listed on the masthead!
BTW: revised the actual dimensions (did the wrong ratio comparison from the red car photo).

[Van B]

I'll be no help there as mine definitely does not have that sticker. I'm curious enough though I may look through the years of records and see if there is a service receipt though.