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Thu May 03, 2012 4:34 pm

Anyone know or would recommend an engine builder for my type 1 in the San Fernando Valley ?
Thanks for your time
Dave

Fri May 04, 2012 12:15 pm

what kind of engine are you looking for? chico isnt to far hes in arcadia

Fri May 04, 2012 1:01 pm

If you can wait a few months I will be back in SoCal.

Mon May 07, 2012 9:32 am

AlteWagen wrote: If you can wait a few months I will be back in SoCal.
Do you work out of a shop?

Mon May 07, 2012 11:46 am

56Cabrio wrote: AlteWagen wrote: If you can wait a few months I will be back in SoCal.
Do you work out of a shop?

Dude, its me Tony. We can break that puppy down in your garage clean and reassemble and save the usual $300-500 shop charge.

If you didnt already get the pistons and cylinders you may want to upgrade to thick wall 92s with the cylinder cut down to fit the 90.5 case spigots.

You will need to get the following:

German gasket set with main seal
Curil case sealant
Ultra gray silicone
A few cans of brake cleaner
A roll of blue shop towels
break in oil or regular oil and a bottle of lucas break in additive

I would recommend breaking down the crank as well and take a look at the rod bearings and cleaning all the passages. I dont remember how many miles you said was on the engine before it sat but if the bearings look good you can reuse but if they are worn, now is the time to replace. Also if the case is not machined for full flow I would recommend doing it now.

You can see the lifters without the case being opened, if they are questionable a cam and lifter upgrade would be nice. If the springs were compressed for a long period of time the engle master install kit would be perfect (cam, lifters, springs, retainers).

If you have a compressor a harbor freight engine degreaser gun ($12) would help with the cleaning of the case, otherwise a trip to the carwash will do.

If you want to take it to the shop, here are a few places

German Auto on Lazard and SF road

Walter at United Auto on Lankershim in N.H.

Conomac in Canoga will be expensive and take forever and recently has has some bad feedback so be carful with him. I wish the old man was still alive so you would be sure its done right!

Bella in Burbank on SF road might do it but usually he is a stock only shop.

Jeff at Kaddie Shack in Pasadena is also close.

Not sure if the old man in Tujunga on Foothill just past the Tommies is still doing work. I think its called T&Cs.

If you need to buy a bunch of stuff and get machine work done you may just want to go to Brothers Machine and have them do the whole thing (if you have the cash). Otherwise if you are broke like I usually am you can just get the basics, clean, measure, reassemble for a few hundred bucks.

I will be back at the end of June, so let me know.

T

Mon May 07, 2012 3:09 pm

AlteWagen wrote: 56Cabrio wrote: AlteWagen wrote: If you can wait a few months I will be back in SoCal.
Do you work out of a shop?

Dude, its me Tony. We can break that puppy down in your garage clean and reassemble and save the usual $300-500 shop charge.
T
Hey Tony did'nt recognize the screen name. You moving back down or just a vacation ?

Tue May 08, 2012 1:15 pm

Looks like I will be back for at least 5 or so years then who knows.

Mon May 14, 2012 3:15 pm

AlteWagen wrote: Looks like I will be back for at least 5 or so years then who knows.
I need something strong enough to get over the Santa Susana pass to Simi and back everyday but reliable. It's had 50 miles on it :oops: . Any suggestions on what size to go anybody?
Dave

Mon May 14, 2012 5:16 pm

What have you got currently?

Tue May 15, 2012 1:14 pm

56Cabrio wrote: AlteWagen wrote: Looks like I will be back for at least 5 or so years then who knows.
I need something strong enough to get over the Santa Susana pass to Simi and back everyday but reliable. It's had 50 miles on it :oops: . Any suggestions on what size to go anybody?
Dave

I think you said the engine originally was a 1776. If the crank is C/W keep it and go with the AA thickwall 92mm with cut down cylinders to fit the 90.5 holes in the case. You will have to open up the heads to 94mm size for the thick tops.

thick wall 1835 will be enough to pull your oval up the grade fine.

69mm crank
92mm pistons
110 cam
9:1 compression
40 IDFs
good header and muffler (1 1/2 merged)

I thought your heads were 40x35 non ported, if you have the cash have them ported for more power. Not sure if you had 44 IDFs, if you do drop down to the 34 vents if staying with the stock ports.

Run a CHT, OT, and OP gauges to monitor the engine and it will live a long life, add full flow even longer.

If cash is tight, the 1776 will work fine if you bump up the compression a bit. My 9:1 1699 pulled the grade fine and passed most civics as well. You will have to decide between mpg and power.