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Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:50 am

I have a 66 beetle with a very tired 1600 dual port in it right now (still 6 volt though). A friend of mine has offered me a good running 40 horse motor to throw in the car for free. I am interested in doing this in the car because I would like the extra gas mileage that a 1200 offers. I am wondering about gearing in the 66 tranny though. Did the tranny gearing change to accommodate the original 1300? Also, are the any issues with fitting the engine into the engine compartment? Will it seal properly?

Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:54 am

are you sure the original transmission is in it?, has it been rebuilt? were any gears changed?

Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:00 am

The bug sat in a field for 17 years and is pretty low mileage. When I bought it it had the original 1300 in it that was fried. I may eventually rebuild the 1300 if I can find parts, but for now I am interested in the 1200.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:17 am

with only 100cc of difference, you should do just fine with the 1200. Remember, thats just 25cc per cylinder.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 9:48 am

how do you figure it would get better milage?

Are you going to drive it slower? Are you not going to try and get up to speed as fast as you could in the 1600? Just curious about this as these will have a big factor on the fuel milage...

Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:00 am

you should have no problem. i've been temp running a 1200 while rebuilding my 1300. As long as you have the correct 6V flywheel... just bolt in and go.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:04 am

BoostedMini wrote: how do you figure it would get better milage?

Are you going to drive it slower? Are you not going to try and get up to speed as fast as you could in the 1600? Just curious about this as these will have a big factor on the fuel milage...

40 Hp motors are rated for better mileage.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:23 am

On todays highways and speeds and traffic I don't hink so.. You will get ran over or have to run it matted to keep up... Then the mpg is out the window...

So a 40hp motor running at 3/4 throttle is going to get better milage than a 1600 at a 1/3 throttle?

not trying argue this but since fuel prices went ski high allot of myths came out...

Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:31 am

I believe that the specs are from VW, not myths. If you do a search you will find thread after thread detailing the gas mileage of the 40 horse vs. the other motors common in beatles. Plus I drive a bus regularly, just drove 1700 miles on a trip and never went over 60. The idea that you are going to get "run over" in traffic is a myth. A beetle with a 40 horse still drives like a rocket compared to a bus with a 1600.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:42 am

jeromeaircooled wrote: I believe that the specs are from VW, not myths. If you do a search you will find thread after thread detailing the gas mileage of the 40 horse vs. the other motors common in beatles. Plus I drive a bus regularly, just drove 1700 miles on a trip and never went over 60. The idea that you are going to get "run over" in traffic is a myth. A beetle with a 40 horse still drives like a rocket compared to a bus with a 1600.

Maybe on the hill in Jerome you won't get run over, but around here, if you can't do 75, you better leave it parked at home!

Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:01 pm

Yes, it's road/speed dependent. VW's specs were at 100kph I think (62mph) and mileage drops off rapidly over that, as it does with acceleration. So while VW's numbers dropped with the bigger motor, real-world higher-speed (70 and up) driving makes them pretty close. Town and country driving will favor the 1200, but freeways are a draw.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:26 pm

Alright, I have an advantage. I live in a rural "town and country" area and I don't plan to have the car over 60 anyway. I don't do over 60mph with the 1600. I can but I don't. I guess that's why there are so many VW's around here, it's perfect conditions for them. I've got my squareback if I want to drive fast (well relatively :roll: ).

We drove through Denver and Albuquerque in the bus last week and felt comfortable at 60. Sure people were passing us, but nobody honked or threw things at us. Much of the rest of the trip was on interstates with no problems, even climbing at 40mph.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:16 pm

I drive 55-60 everyday with no problems on busy freeway here in California, 101 & the 405 most of the time and the only honks I get is with a thumbs up! :D

Well................I think it's the thumb?????? :wink:

Tue Jul 15, 2008 4:05 pm

Hey Jerome!

Ryan from Bisbee here....

FYI - I'm driving a 62 Beetle - stock stale air engine daily here. I keep it 55-60 as it seems to "like" that speed very well. I'm averaging 34 mpg. I HAVE taken it on the freeway at 65 - and once to 70 - and while I CAN - I wont go that fast.

As far as being run over --- I notice people generaly respect your car when its a classic - also - if you keep it in good condition you get waves far more often than fingers.

I am also noticing people aren't in as big a hurry to tromp on the gas when it costs $4 a gallon!

Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:06 pm

jeromeaircooled wrote: I believe that the specs are from VW, not myths. If you do a search you will find thread after thread detailing the gas mileage of the 40 horse vs. the other motors common in beatles. Plus I drive a bus regularly, just drove 1700 miles on a trip and never went over 60. The idea that you are going to get "run over" in traffic is a myth. A beetle with a 40 horse still drives like a rocket compared to a bus with a 1600.

and if you do a search like you told him-1967 was when ring and pinion changed and a 3rd gear change was made. 1961-1966 trans is same except for wider gears in 64 on and less needles in bearings. search has now become your friend as you told him.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:47 pm

Run the 40. I have for years and love it.

Tue Jul 15, 2008 11:27 pm

i agree, run the 40. you should have no problems getting up to 65-70 on the flats...just might take a bit to get there. the 40 should give you low 30s for gas milage.

dont worry about how fast others are going around you. just keep a pace that you and your car are comfortable with. i daily drove a split window bus all over the bay area ca and the bus didnt didnt like to go much past 60mph...it would, but didnt like to. kept it around 55 in the slow lane no big deal. my 67 bug will do 80+, but i almost always drive it at 60-65. no one has ever remotly even come close to running me off the road here in norcal. and i have noticed an interesting phenomenon happening recently. most of the traffic on my local freeways are going alot slower then they were a year ago. i often find myslef passing people and im only doing 60ish. i guess gas prices really hurt if your not getting 30+ mpgs. :D

Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:32 am

I had a 66 tranny in my 62 for a few years.... as stated above the gear ratios are the same and it ran fine as far as that was concerned. I usually get over 30MPG in the summertime on it, and that's with a big-bore 40HP, which is 100cc larger than the 1300 engine.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 6:51 am

That 40hp should work just perfect. I had a 66 that had a forty horse in it and it runs according to the new owner and that about 9 years ago,.

Wed Jul 16, 2008 8:18 am

WOW things are allot diffrent out west... her ein the South that will never fly...If you have a problem keeping up with traffic here you will get pushed.. hel li do it myself to others to include beetle owners.. I daily drive my diesel and will get on someones rear if they don't go on.

Good luck with it but like I said.. In todays real world it is not realy going to get any better fuel milage than the 1600...