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  View original topic: How do I figure out what I have for sure?
deerhunter2 Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:07 pm

I purchased a street legal rail buggy. It runs great and I am very happy with it for the price I paid, ($2300). Person I bought it from says it is a 1641 cc engine that was rebuilt by Smileys VW Specialist in Paducah, Ky. and the buggy was built in 2010 by Archway Import in St. Louis, Mo. He said it is not a bus tranny and it has a Weber carb. I have no reason to doubt what he told me, but as you can already tell, I am a newbe and just wondering how to figure out more about what I have. Any info you guys can give me as to how to id my stuff will be greatly appreciated. I have attached some photos in case it will help. Thank You.



SamT Wed Jan 22, 2014 7:43 pm

Nice for the money!

I can tell you its a dual port engine, 1585 or bigger. Weber progressive carb (mixed reviews)
Irs rear suspension and trans (69+ car)
Looks like a berrien warrior frame.

You did great at that price.

deerhunter2 Wed Jan 22, 2014 9:29 pm

Thank you SamT. That is the kind of info I'm looking for, as I am a complete beginner with this stuff. I've been reading these forums a lot, and am finding lots of information from all you "VW veterans". Anything you guys can tell me that will help me understand my ride will be appreciated.

ORANGECRUSHer Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:06 am

that's the same setup I ran at first.
how do you like that carb?

ORANGECRUSHer Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:07 am

disk brakes too. nice

andk5591 Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:34 am

You can try contacting the engine builder, but seems like most dont keep records. The former owner SHOULD have gotten a build sheet. The only way to know for sure what you have is to pull the heads, measure the bore and stroke.

I have said this about a hundred times on here - a good idea to get the John Muir How to Keep your VW Alive book. Gives a good overview of the cars and covers a lot of normal repairs. Well worth the $20.

deerhunter2 Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:58 am

I guess I like the carb. It starts and runs ok. Is there one that would be better?

deerhunter2 Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:02 am

I might give the builder a call just to see what they can tell me

ORANGECRUSHer Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:20 am

SamT wrote: Nice for the money!

I can tell you its a dual port engine, 1585 or bigger. Weber progressive carb (mixed reviews)
Irs rear suspension and trans (69+ car)
Looks like a berrien warrior frame.

You did great at that price.

As far as anyone can see from the pics you have this is the best description.

Only thing I see that is suspect with the frame is on the Warrior I have, the part of the engine cage that bolts together is different. Tubes are the same, but the bolt together flange placement is different. Mine are in the vertical down tubes just under the main horizontal hoop where-as yours are in the horizontal main hoop. Perhaps yours is a knock-off of a Warrior. If so they did a very good job. I don't know if Berrien made any little changes to these over the years that would make one stand out against another.

As far as that carb, I'll just say if you're not having any problems don't worry about it. I was not so lucky.

As for the engine. I would just assume it's a stock 1600 DP maybe with the bigger jugs that bring it to 1641 unless there's evidence to the contrary. The 1641 kit is an easy bolt-on kit anyone can install. It really doesn't matter anyway unless you plan to change something with the engine. I never knew what I had in mine either. As far as I knew it was entirely original which is why I don't run it anymore. ;) Your engine looks beautiful and well cared for. Looks like it has plenty of life in it and then some.

I just question their taste in wires. What's with the telephone cord look and no wire looms or anchoring? I would have to clean that up a bit.

Do you happen to know anything about the disk brakes they installed?

BUGGUTZ Thu Jan 23, 2014 3:26 pm

Looks like a Link Pin beam as well. I run a Progressive on my 1600. Its a decent carb once you get it adjusted right. Mine has no heat tubes to the manifold so it will ice up on chilly days.

Nice clean ride though.

deerhunter2 Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:33 pm

Thank you for your input guys, I am really just getting into this and have a lot to learn. Orangecrusher, I really don't know much about the disc brakes either. The seller told me that it had disc on the rear and shoe on the front because if there were disc on the front, it would just try to lock the front up due to the lack of weight up there. Another note, he told me the top bar on the front end has the spring removed and a threaded rod through it. Said that was done because it was way to stiff with it still in there, due to the lack of weight up front. I don't know if that is normal, but it does ride good like it is now. Keep the words of wisdom coming if you all see or think of something else. I truly do appreciate it.


no1clyde Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:07 pm

Your buggy looks real nice. If it is not a Warrior it may be a BeeLine frame, they are similar and their front bumper looks kinda like yours.

Ed

deerhunter2 Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:27 pm

Any one care to give me a guess at what kind of HP my motor produces? I know it's not a hot rod engine, but just wondering what it might be.

ZARJDR Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:19 pm

DP1600 is 60 hp stock. With good header, single progressive carb you won't
be any more than another 5 hp or so, if evrything else is basically stock.
But your car weighs in at 40% less than a bug +-

andk5591 Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:37 am

60 is on a good day with a tailwind :lol: . But yeah - you dont have any weight - Its worth spending the time to have a good tune on what you have. I have picked up 13% HP over what I thought was a decent tune with a really good tune.

deerhunter2 Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:41 am

When you say a tune, do you mean just the points, condenser, rotor, and cap? Or is there more to it than just that?

BUGGUTZ Sat Jan 25, 2014 11:55 am

Valve lash, carb jetting. These things are all very important to a well running VW engine.

deerhunter2 Sat Jan 25, 2014 3:39 pm

Thanks guys, I have a lot to learn. PS - I have never been a mechanic and have always taken my vehicles to a shop when not running right. (I'm sure nobody would have guessed). BUT, at least this rail buggy thing is giving me the interest to learn a little about it.



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