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Mon Mar 31, 2003 10:11 am

We've all read the 100+ posts on GEX and Bernie Bergman but who has a lot of experience with Gene Berg? It has always been my opinion that his stuff was bulletproof but I don't have a lot of experience with it. I'm interested in a kit because I don't want to reinvent the wheel in terms of good engine combos. I've got experience building plenty of stockers so I don't foresee any problems building a kit myself that is already properly clearanced and made to work together. I just got the info on pricing for his kits and 'they ain't cheap.' My priorities are reliability, power, cost in that order. In other words, I don't want to be pulling this motor all the time and I'm willing to pay what it will cost. Any comments?

Mon Mar 31, 2003 12:25 pm

The cost is the only complaint I've heard about the Berg kits. Plus they are more than helpful after the sale.

Mon Mar 31, 2003 3:27 pm

Gene Berg is one of the best. I don't think you'll have any problems with them. There is also a place in Mn. called vwspecialties. They do as good of work for half the price. vwspecialties@hotmail.com
Give them a shout too.

Mon Mar 31, 2003 7:51 pm

I bought two separate engine kits from GBE...one back in the '80s and one in the '90s. I've since sold both vehicles, but they are still running strong in our area...one has over 100,000 miles (1776 cc in a Beetle, Berg CW crank, mild cam, solid shaft, Kadrons, header, etc) and the other over 50,000 (1680 cc in a Westy, thick-walled 88s,). I drove the hell out of both vehicles in summer (including several trips to California from my home in Canada) and winter and never had a problem. The machining on the crankcase and heads was a work of art. Anyway, the GBE parts did cost a bit more at the time, probably 20-25% more, but I had already been burned by other parts suppliers, so I gave them a try. Still wish I had the Westy with the 1680cc, but family expenses necessitated the sale... Due to the high exchange rate, I buy my parts in Canada now and would recommend CIP1.com and Concept 1.

Mon Mar 31, 2003 9:36 pm

The Club presedent of the KC MOKan VW Car club purchesed one of there hyd. lifter motors several years back and only had to return it about 4 or 5 times.

Mon Mar 31, 2003 11:46 pm

save your money, buy the Scat kit from Aircooled.net and upgade the internals. (Better Cam and Heads) If you have the money do it right, but maybe instead of using older berg technology, use the new tech stuff. John at Aircooled.net super squishy pistons, CB CNC 044 heads, MAybe even CB PErformance Electronic Fuel injection, that would be the ultimite in power and reliability. The Berg is very nice, but at that price, you might be able to get 1 custom built for you (at a reputable place such as Paradise Express, Pat at CB Performance, dependent of course on where you live)

Tue Apr 01, 2003 7:36 am

I bought a Berg engine kit and went crazy with all the add-ons. Spot faced case, full flow with stainless lines, dual springs and solid rocker shafts, balanced the whole reciprocating assembly, deep sump, equalizer pulley, semi-hemi heads, etc. I can personally say I have no single regret except the stupid ass semi-hemi chambers. Getting the jetting and timing right weren't as easy as you'd think. All the parts and machine work were top notch. The cranks are super nice.

Tue Apr 01, 2003 9:26 pm

vicsvw...are you sure it was a Berg (GBE) hyd. lifter motor or do you actually mean Bernie Bergmann. I don't believe Berg ever sold hyd. parts and they do not even sell complete motors. Bernie Bergmann is not even remotely similar to Gene Berg Enterprises if you check some of the threads on this site...

Tue Apr 01, 2003 9:28 pm

glandnut...I ordered my Berg heads without the semi-hemi both times...I don't buy into the semi-hemi and compression ratio recommendations...too conservative!

Wed Apr 02, 2003 8:58 am

Good lesson on my part with the semi-hemi. Never again! Ever have any experience with their DCNF's?

Wed Apr 02, 2003 8:59 am

Oh, the Scat kit I would be careful with if it is the one with the cast crank.

Thu Apr 03, 2003 9:48 am

The research was done years ago, and mself and several others have proven it to be a way of the past.

Cannot say anything about the parts, people watch me like a hawk just waiting!

Thu Apr 03, 2003 2:29 pm

They really pushed on "cams going flat" issue so much that I payed to have them break the cam in. I used the thick red stuff they sent to put on the cam lobes and lifters during assembly. Not so sure you would need them to do that for you.

Thu Apr 03, 2003 4:29 pm

i HIGHLY RECOMEND IT BEFORE ANY OTHER SUPPLIER(RABY'S AIRCOOLED TECHNOLOGY). WITH BERG ENTERPRISES, EVEN WHEN I HAVEN'T HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GETTING AN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FROM THEM, I CAN SAY THE COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT ARE THE BEST AND I BET THEY WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. IF YOU LOOSE YOUR BLUEPRINTS OR PAPERS YOU WILL GET THEM WITH A CALL OR EMAIL ,NOT AS THE OTHER SUPPLIER
( www.aircooledtechnology.com),WHO LOST THEM ON THE MAIL( a year ago and i still waiting for them. beside ,is cheapper.if you want to spend more than $6,000 on one of this "POWER STROKERS!!!!" without blueprints(they are $250 extra)

Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:48 pm

speirsn@telusplanet.net wrote: vicsvw...are you sure it was a Berg (GBE) hyd. lifter motor or do you actually mean Bernie Bergmann. I don't believe Berg ever sold hyd. parts and they do not even sell complete motors. Bernie Bergmann is not even remotely similar to Gene Berg Enterprises if you check some of the threads on this site...

Berg use to see stock replacement motors back in they day but I don't think they sold hydrolic motors?

Thu Jan 26, 2012 4:57 pm

Why in the hell did you dig up a 9 year old post to respond to a person that has not been on TheSamba for over 8 years?

Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:13 pm

This ffs guy is from another planet, he's making strange posts all over the place. :roll:

Thu Jan 26, 2012 5:28 pm

Is that you Candy?

Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:49 pm

Joel Rosado wrote: i HIGHLY RECOMEND IT BEFORE ANY OTHER SUPPLIER(RABY'S AIRCOOLED TECHNOLOGY). WITH BERG ENTERPRISES, EVEN WHEN I HAVEN'T HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GETTING AN ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION FROM THEM, I CAN SAY THE COMMUNICATION AND SUPPORT ARE THE BEST AND I BET THEY WILL BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY. IF YOU LOOSE YOUR BLUEPRINTS OR PAPERS YOU WILL GET THEM WITH A CALL OR EMAIL ,NOT AS THE OTHER SUPPLIER
( www.aircooledtechnology.com),WHO LOST THEM ON THE MAIL( a year ago and i still waiting for them. beside ,is cheapper.if you want to spend more than $6,000 on one of this "POWER STROKERS!!!!" without blueprints(they are $250 extra)

Now thats a blast from the past!! What a crazy dude this guy was!! The engine I built for him kept consuming transaxles on a weekly basis.. He got pissed off and did a burn out in reverse and hit a power pole.... Then two days later he shot himself in the head with a .38... No joke.

Thu Jan 26, 2012 6:53 pm

dabber8@hotmail.com wrote: Gene Berg is one of the best. I don't think you'll have any problems with them. There is also a place in Mn. called vwspecialties. They do as good of work for half the price. vwspecialties@hotmail.com
Give them a shout too.

Would that be the same infamous VW Specialties associated with the even more infamous Anton Dabbs from back in the day? Oh, what history can reveal and teach us... :lol: