TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Apr 11, 2012 8:33 pm

So I have a 1972 beetle that's going to be made into a baja. Will be driving street and lots of logging roads. Will have 29" or 30" tires on the back. Be running a early 002 trans (5.37 r&p). Speed limit is 55 mph for a 2 mile stretch then is 45-50 mph most everywhere else and 25 mph in town. We live on one big mountain basicly lots of hills no freeway at all..

I had ordered a C35 (have the scat lifters that came in overhaul kit) and it isn't gonna arrive so I canceled it. I am now wondering if I should get a FK-7 and some engle lifters to match..

1776cc
L3 heads (DRD OR ACN)
Dual Kadron 40s (fixed to flood less)
034 dist
8.3:1 SCR (.050" Deck)
002 trans with 29-30" rear tires

I need to upgrade the rockers anyways..

What would the differences be between these cams?

I can't break the FK-7 in with dual springs though right? I'm not into buying a extra set and swapping and switching. That isn't a level of performance I'm ready for I guess..

Greg

Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:12 pm

A FK7 is a real mild cam with a mild ramp and low .050 dur. I would go with an FK 42. It has a lot more pep and better low end. Using oil with the proper ZDDP levels and a ZDDP additive for break in, you shouldn't have any problems. Some others will chime in with more exp i'm sure.

Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:19 pm

KopfenJager wrote: A FK7 is a real mild cam with a mild ramp and low .050 dur. I would go with an FK 42. It has a lot more pep and better low end. Using oil with the proper ZDDP levels and a ZDDP additive for break in, you shouldn't have any problems. Some others will chime in with more exp i'm sure.

Had planned on using proper oil.

The FK42 has ALOT of lift though .522... Just running the L3 heads, they only flow well to .450.

In my mind the C35/W110 seems better suited but I'm open to opinions.

Greg

Wed Apr 11, 2012 9:38 pm

FK7 has .500 versus FK42 has .522. Maybe you would do better with say a VZ14 or a w110. BUT the FK42 is a lot more cam across the board.

Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:15 pm

It sounds like you want to torque around. You might consider a C25. The specs don't sound like much, but for low rpm motors, I have used them several times and they are very frienfly with the sihgle throat duals. Even though I am running a 110 right now, I think I would stay away from for your app.

Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:41 pm

The fast ramp speeds are enough to scare me away from the vz series.

Really what was interested in finding out is what's so great about the FK series when compared to a C (c35/c25) or a W (W110/W100). I have just found that the FK series are newer.

I'm thinkin I'll use a C25 with 1.25 ratio rockers (gets me .415" lift) with the ACN L3 heads. I'm not sure though.. It just seems that the c35 and my low gears would be a good choice..

Would I be alright at 8:1 CR? I don't wanna worry about pinging... Would I be stuck running high octane? The baja bugs and buggies book says stay around 7.5:1 CR.. I thought stock the bug was 8:1.

Greg

Thu Apr 12, 2012 5:18 pm

the c35 would be more fun, but hve less low end punch. It is also happier with dual twin throats. You should be able to run 8:1 if you keep your deck tight.

The engine you are specing is almost identicle to my last baja motor. It was a 1776 with a c25 dual kadrons 8:1 & 002 trans. I took it everywhere, from the dunes to the the desert. What was really nice about it was between the mild cam and the low gears, I could pull third, where more wild setups had to pull second.

I am now running a 2010 with FK 7 with 1:1.4 rockers dual 44s and a 5 rib (4.86). My new motor is definately more fun, but it doesn't quite have the same pull off of idle and even thogh I have higher gears, my fuel milage is less

Thu Apr 12, 2012 6:44 pm

I forgot what it was like driving offroad in Alaska.. I searched you tube and agree low end is key. Even in my 4x4 I remember crawling over the rough stuff..

I'll be going .050 deck, 7.7:1 CR, L3 heads (57cc) and a c25 with 1.25 rockers. I'm thinking the short duration will help low end and the extra lift will help the high end.. May be a nice balance.

What size tire were you running with the 002?

Greg

Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:56 pm

30 x 9.5

Greg, does your last name begin with Bac?

Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:59 pm

... How'd you know? I've never posted my last name... You're in cali, my family is down there.

Your bug kinda looks like my uncles.. But he isn't in Lefty California.. Nor does he know my screen name.. So you can't be him.. Now I'm wondering how you knew that... Do you know me?

Greg

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:05 pm

I just took a shot - think about who in the family has vws

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:06 pm

Uncle David? Wow! I've been meaning to call you!

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:06 pm

lefty is a state of mind , but not mine

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:08 pm

Yep its me, great minds must think a like

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:10 pm

Multi69s wrote: lefty is a state of mind , but not mine

Now that I see your list of vehicles I recognize em.. Also the instructor part gave it away too.

God it's a small world!

Now that I know it's you I'll listen :lol:

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:11 pm

I'm thinking mofoco 040 heads with a C25 and 1.25 rockers..

I've always wondered what was in your baja! I figured it'd be cool...

While I have you here, what's Grandpa Gene running in his for a motor and trans? I've always wondered that too...

Greg

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:13 pm

I am running FK7 in a 2165 with 041 heads, 1.4 rockers and dual 40 Dell's. It is against a large nut RGB. (1.26 gear reduction on a 4.12 transaxle to give a final drive of 5.19:1) It has so much bottom end torque I could pull the panties off a nun. It does peak out early around 5K rpm, but that is acceptable in my combination.

I run a single high rev spring and do not have any problems with valve float. I do run two piece light weight lifters and light weight CM pushrods with a titanium retainer to make the valve train as light weight as possible. It costs $ 150 to $ 200 additional to go this light weight route, but pays off in lower spring pressure, less cam wear and a much quicker revving engine.

One of the best all around running large displacement VW engines I have ever built.

I am going to build a 2276 for my FG Buggy this summer and will be trying a VZ15 on a 044 head with dual 44's. This will be turning a 091 6-rib with 31 X 10.50's.

Thu Apr 12, 2012 11:22 pm

Our motors are almost identicle 2010 now except he is running a stock cam with 1:1.4 rockers. The trans is my stock 69's. It was funny, before mom passed, we'd go to pismo and my old 1776 would give him fits because I had the 002. He'd be in second gear with wheel hop, while I'd grab 3rd and just torque by. :twisted:

Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:20 am

I had a C35 in my 1776 for a while with dual kads, and then 40IDF's. It was an ok runner, decent power and would go pretty good when I got into it. When I built my 2017, I went with an FK-42. I have never looked back! Awesome cam for my combo. I recently pulled the engine down to switch blocks, and cam still looked great so it went back in to the new 2085. I'm running 29's with a '75 super beetle single side cover trans with a 3.88 ring. The power band really comes in about 1500 or so, and it peaks about 6k. Not a ton of power on the high end, but when it kicks in mid-range, it is quite fun! :lol: