TheSamba.com :: View topic - looking for people with 1641's and thier real experiances.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 3:21 pm

the debate about if a 1641 is worth it or not seems to be complete but at the same time i keep seeing people who actually have the 1641's and say they're not bad as bad as everyone makes them out to be.
so i'm looking for people who have one of these and their real world experiences and if they wished they would have just stuck to the stock 1600.

my deal is, i have around $500 bucks to rebuild the top end of my engine
and of course i can't afford to go to a 1776 so please don't mention it.
i found mahale pistons and barrels for $100 new heads (complete) for $300and a gasket set for $20 ish or so (haven't looked @ these yet)
i also have all of the parts together to add a deep sump ,oil press,oil temp, and cht gauges as well as everything needed for a complete tripple battery set up (2 camper batts and 1 driving batt) so all said and done i have around an extra $100 bucks or so to throw @ my engine suggestions besides buy a 1776?

thanks guys.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:02 pm

1641 is just too small and underpowered for a bus, IMHO.

It will over-work itself, get too hot and die.

Go with a bigger, more powerful ( I'd say min. 2.0 liter )
add bigger sump, remote oil filter/HD pump/cooler
or at least doghouse cooler/fan.
Keep comp. ratio fairly low--say 8 : 1
i.e. more power, but keep it cool.

just my 2 cents worth, after going from stock SP 1500, 1641 DP, 1776 DP
to 2027 DP/Dual Webers.

cheers... 8)

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:07 pm

I've had a few starting back when that size frist came out,, all they do is bore old cylinders....

I can't say I ever had a real problem and I did run the hell out of them in a bus.... The down side I did find is when there in need of rings,,, your lucky to hone and have a new ring set last very long,, by that I mean the compression would be ok, but still use and blow oil

Jumping up 50cc's is not a real HP gain... The last small motor I built for myself I went with 1600's,, because of the price..
in my way of thinking dropping 180 bucks is not change,, so why take the chance to gain 1 hp

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:13 pm

do your self a favor,, forget the deep sump ,, your not a buggy running side hill or wheelies..

if this is an unknown motor to you,, atleast put rod bearings in itTake an old half wore out motor,, put new p&C's and heads on,, sure as hell you'll knock the rod bearings out

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:17 pm

I have a 72 Bay that is running a 1641 with dual carbs. I love it and I think it has good power. My bus is my daily driver which is about 60 miles a day round trip to work. I also drive it a lot on the weekend. We just took it to Dahlonega on Sat. I say go with the 1641 over stock.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 6:30 pm

I had a 70 with this size,header,10 dizy,and Holly bugspray for 5yrs. Cruised 60-65 all time,24-26mpg until a ex valve seat finally wore out but didnt drop,also put on doghouse cooler sys. With these add on and stock carb it died on any hill so put on bugspray an gave no problems before valve seat,replaced head and moved on. For the price i thought worked really well,no constant tuning etc.

Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:48 pm

1641s have are thin!! they get tooo hot tooooo fast!!! The are known to burn up in just the brake in period!!! then again,,, if you run them rich and change your oil alot then they may last???? iv had both happen to me. id say dont buy them!!! i wont anymore!!!!!! they are good some tiimes but do you want to put that money on the line?? uhhhhhhh hahaahhahahahhaha go 1776!!! i did!!! hahahhaaha

Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:03 pm

I take it thats 100 bucks is a used set ???

Mon Nov 17, 2008 8:04 pm

I have had a 1641 in my last 2 bugs and now my Bay and I have never had an overheating problem. I think it is all in how you build them. If you just buy the parts and bolt it all together then you may have some issues. But, if you take the time to build it right by measuring everything and making sure everything fits proper you want have any problems.

Tue Nov 18, 2008 10:00 am

... does not matter how carefully you assemble and measure, 87 or 88mm slip in cylinders are too thin. The people selling them to you won't tell you that though. The slip in sets will overheat, will distort, and will bite you in the back. They may last a tad longer in a car, but a bus engine will suffer quickly if you bolt on slip in junk.

Machine in are different. But if you install machine in big bore P/Cs, remember to calculate CR and make appropriate changes.

If you bolt on slip in big bore P/Cs just skip the CR adjustment, it won't matter as you have already sabotaged your build. I am not saying the slip in won't work, they just won't work as long as stock or machine in parts.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 9:15 pm

hey give me a ring i can help you build a solid 1641 that will be reliable and not overheat, i wont charge you any labor only parts

Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:04 pm

izzard, just don't run the shit out of it. I've had several 1641's... I just work the heads over real good. Smooth them out a bit. I run 1.25:1 rockers. However I don't think that helps. I'm about to build another one. Waiting on new heads. The only thing that is used is my case. New crank, cam, rods, etc...
I like 'em. Just my $.02

Thu Nov 20, 2008 10:24 pm

We had an otherwise stock engine with 87s in our '71 Bus. That sucker would do 80 all the way to Chattanooga and back easy. It pulled a 1600 lbs trailer and two buggies (so 3000+ lbs) without breaking a sweat.

Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:41 am

I built a 1641 one time. Put a progressive on it as the only other change. Ran like crap. Went back to the 34PICT-3. It ran better, but didn't feel any different than a stock 1600. This was in a '73 Super. Peace!

Fri Nov 21, 2008 6:44 am

Oh yeah...Running dual Kadron 40's

Fri Nov 21, 2008 4:11 pm

Jeff Geisen wrote: ... does not matter how carefully you assemble and measure, 87 or 88mm slip in cylinders are too thin. The people selling them to you won't tell you that though. The slip in sets will overheat, will distort, and will bite you in the back. They may last a tad longer in a car, but a bus engine will suffer quickly if you bolt on slip in junk.

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