TheSamba.com :: View topic - www.importmotor.com - vwlocomotor

Wed Oct 22, 2003 7:34 am

I was checking this site and the stuff they have is very affordable, so i came here to ask about this supplier. How good is www.importmotor.com and who had deal with them before.

Fri Oct 31, 2003 4:16 pm

bump.

And I am interested too...Anyone have any experience with them.

For the poster, Joel, I will say it seems like the cranks they are use are not CW'd (r they balanced? I don't remember if they said they were) and they don't use solid rocker arms and the cams appear to be regrinds.

So please, anyone with ANY experience please let us know.

Peace,
Dave

Sat Nov 29, 2003 8:21 pm

anyone???

Sat Nov 29, 2003 10:58 pm

I recently purchased a 2007 cc longblock from them. they seem to be a pretty good company from my point of view. The only problem that I had was some rocker arm sideplay issues. It wasn't bad, It was one arm and the sideplay was about .015, after some rearranging the shims, all was fine.

And for the other posts, My motor has a c/w crank and solid rocker arm shafts and 1.25 ratio rockers, and teflon wristpin buttons, forged pistons, and 40X35.5 heads.

Mon Aug 23, 2004 1:14 am

I'm going to bring this thread back to life in hopes that more people might chime in. I am contemplating one of their stroker longblocks for my Baja project and would like some input before I lay cash down.

SHMO

Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:13 am

I purchased a 1915 longblock from them without any problems.

Mon Aug 23, 2004 11:25 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=82249

this thread is about importmotor

Mon Aug 23, 2004 12:35 pm

go to www.914club.com and do a search in their BBS.... That should answer the questions!

Mon Aug 23, 2004 4:53 pm

I bought my last motor from them and it's good to go.
No problems so far after reaching 300 miles,I'll be giving updates from time to time on the motor-but so far so good!

JCS of Califorina builds their motors-

Tue Aug 24, 2004 10:40 am

hmmmmm i was looking at the masecator motor and they list heads as.

CYLINDER HEADS: '044' Big-Valve Dual port 42 x 37 Remanufactured & Improved over NEW.

isnt the 044 a CB Performance only head.

Tue Aug 24, 2004 5:59 pm

Jake Raby wrote: go to www.914club.com and do a search in their BBS.... That should answer the questions!

I signed up at 914club so i could access the search feature of their forum, and im not getting anything about importmotor.com there?

Wed Aug 25, 2004 2:20 pm

I didnt have any luck finding info on that site either. I still have not heard enough good, or bad about importmotor to make a descision. Most of the things being said so far are not worth considering. I realize that $2,000 would not buy a new set of performace heads, new case, trick crank, bla bla bla. But, are they really needed for a mild motor? I don't intend to buy the "worlds fastest 2332" and rev it to 9500RPM every time I shift a gear. My question is about the assembly procedures and reputation of importmotor. I want to know if they cut too many corners and build better grenades than they do engines. Do they build a decently reliable motor for us cheapskates that just want to have some fun, one that will last a few years?

SHMO

Wed Aug 25, 2004 3:08 pm

a 1776 with GOOD heads will spank all over a 2332 with crappy heads.

You do not get GOOD heads from a mass engine builder.

If you add up the price of good parts, you'll find you are getting shortchanged somewhere (or EVERYWHERE) by purchasing the "rebuild performance engine" in almost every case. Displacement sells engines, and that's what sucks people in on the magazine ads.

Caveat Emptor.

John
Aircooled.Net Inc.

Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:18 pm

[quote="[email protected]"]a 1776 with GOOD heads will spank all over a 2332 with crappy heads.

John,
I really like the concept of as you say, "spanking" anything or anyone with a 1776. This was the original displacement I was considering, but over and over again in the mags and on the street I am seeing "large displacement" becoming the standard. So what does a "spanking" 1776 look like? I don't have the money to do a turnkey or much else, so it's piece by piece for me.. where to start?

I love the Tech Articles on your site and have really enjoyed learning from others experience.

Thanks!
Michael

61 Ghia Vert

Wed Aug 25, 2004 10:40 pm

The normal timeline for someone building a "powerful" street engine is that they build the biggest engine they can, and by the time they get to the heads their $ is mostly used up, so they throw on whatever they happen to be able to afford by that point in time to "just get it done". Naturally they are disappointed when their huge engine is like a tractor motor, running out of breath quickly because the heads suck; it's even worse if they have a huge cam because they have no power at low RPMs because the cam is out of the powerband, and when the cam comes on the heads are already maxed out!

I suggest you budget for a 1776 or 1914cc engine, and get the best heads you can afford. Do not hesitate to spend 1/3 your engine budget on the heads alone. If you have $500 left over, then get the stroker crank and rods to match, and case clearancing, and you have a good big engine. But do not make the mistake of building/buying a big engine with a weak set of heads, you'll be seriously disappointed.

Most guys have no clue how powerful a "small" engine can be with a good set of heads. The cylinder heads are THE primary determining factor on how your engine is going to make power; cheese out there and you'll be sorry. So many guys get turned off of the VW hobby by buying a 2275, 2332, or larger engine with "big valve heads" with little or no portwork, or some horrible hog out job that looks impressive in a picture or to someone that is buying based on looks. The magazine ads are ripe with these "racing heads", term used loosely.

A 1776 or 1914 with a $1500+ pair of heads (and cam/carbs/exhaust to match) will flat MOVE OUT.

John
Aircooled.Net Inc.

Wed Aug 25, 2004 11:10 pm

john,

when you say that the engine will spank, what type of spanking are we talking about. snappy fun car to drive, or something that can be used for light to light racing or on the track for the weekend.
also what is the bore and stroke on the 1776 i know with a 94 bore there is a 1777 and with a 90.5 bore there is a 1775 so i am thinking you are speaking of one of these.

sorry if that last ? was dumb but i am new to this
dan

Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:14 pm

I purchased a longblock from Importmotor today. Dwayne was very helpful. Didn't try to up sell me. Had good advice and was interested in my project. I'll post again when it arrives and again after installation. So far, I'm pleased.

After reading all the feedback on this seller, I did not see anyone unhappy with them. For the price range I could afford it looked like the best choice.

Fri Dec 03, 2010 4:22 pm

Yeah, please post more feedback when you have your motor installed, and the specs too. Like what is remanufactured, and what is new, as it was one of the main critic about their engines.

Sun Jun 26, 2011 6:14 pm

Bought a 2 liter for my 1982 from these fella's - got it in good time, took my 6 months to get it installed and after my 1000 mile maiden voyage I am quite happy.. Had one little issue and they called me after I sent them an email.. So far so good...

Tue Oct 11, 2011 9:42 am

bump.. any more news?