My first car was a Porsche 914. Fun car. It was the reason I got into VW's.
Being as it was half VW parts.
Peace Out,
Peder
'84 Westy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Daniel Schmitz" <djs@GENE.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, July 22, 2001 9:26 PM
Subject: Flywheel and orientation...

> Owning both a Porsche 914 and a Vanagon, I feel qualified to comment on
> the orientations the VW flat-four engine has assumed over the years in
> its various applications. (BTW, the engine works well whether the
> flywheel is mounted on the front or the back :)
>
> As some on the List have correctly put forth, "front" is the front of
> the vehicle into which said engine is ensconced. Thus, the "front" of a
> given engine is whichever end is pointing to the front of the vehicle,
> and not necessarily the end featuring a certain component.
>
> In the Vanagon, the front of the engine happens to be the flywheel end,
> as it faces front. Conversely, in the Porsche 914, where the engine is
> mid-mounted ahead of the transaxle, the front of the engine is the fan
> shroud end.
>
> Cylinder numbering on VW flat-four engines is always the same, as is
> firing order. In the offset pairs of opposing cylinders, #1 is closest
> to the flywheel, irrespective of engine orientation in the vehicle. As
> an aid, the Type 4 engine's sheet metal has the cylinder numbers stamped
> into it, but the rule holds true for all VW flat-four mills for
> automotive applications, as far as I know.
>
> For more examples of flywheels on the wrong end of the engine, see Saab
> 99/900s, whose flywheel/clutch assemblies were mounted high up front
> near the radiator.
>
> Dan
>