1700, 1800 and 2.0l crankcases are essentially the same but the FI cases don’t have provision for a mechanical fuel pump. A CA case will have provision for a fuel pump, simply block it off if you don’t want to use it. All your 2.0l parts will swap into any Type 4 crankcase and 1700 are arguably the best to have as they possibly have had an easier life. EDIT: I should say similar rather than the same. Your existing late 2.0l case will have a different oil-pick so you’d need an early pick-up. The late case will probably be single relief, the early double relief. You can either leave the double relief or fit a spacer (preferred) to make it inoperative.
If the guts of the FI engine were transferred to the carb’ed case, would the hydraulic lifters have to be swapped for solid ones, and does it make any difference which type of push rod is used then (steel or alloy)?
You don’t have to swap the hydraulic lifers for solid but if you do (and I would) the cam, lifters and pushrods must all be one type, you can’t mix and match. And you can’t use solid lifter rocker gear with hydraulic cams but you can use hydraulic rocker gear with solid cams.
Cheers Geoff, that’s really helpful. @Chrisd - Better add to the do list - a cross check of what type of cam you’ve got to see if it’s a hydraulic lifter compatible one. We know enough not to trust whoever the last engine builder was to do things right. As Clouseau said, “I believe everything and I believe nothing. I suspect everyone and I suspect no one.”
It might be difficult to identify the cam. I’ll guess that’s^ hydraulic. I have no idea if this is correct but from The Samba: https://www.thesamba.com/vw//forum/viewtopic.php?t=348618&start=0
But you could use solid rockers with hydraulic stuff if you convert the shaft to have spacers instead of springs I would think.
Off to see an engineering company tomorrow to get their view on case and costs. Will then make decision about fix old or buy and adapt another case. Hey ho learning lots and keeping me out of trouble! PS got away with cleaning heads out in bath today...shush don't tell anybody!
The hydraulic cam ramp is apparently too aggressive for solid lifters, hydraulic lifters on a solid cam might be okay but performance would suffer.
Sorry, I misunderstood what you meant. Yes, the only difference is the spacers and as he already has hydraulic rocker gear with solid spacers can use any cam he wants. As long as it’s not standard - I knew we’d get around to that sooner or later.
@77 Westy, death can be swift or slow and painful...I know which one would occurs if I went that far!
I’m safe. My wife never reads TLB and she teaches at a local school one morning a week, plenty of time for a dishwasher cycle.
