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Fri May 21, 2004 3:25 pm

I have a 79 Vert with a stock 1600 fuel inj engine, which I have started to bring back to life. I just had the engine case and crank worked on at the machine shop. I need to replace the heads and pistons/cylinders. The machinist suggested I go to 90.5 pistons. This means $170 more machine work to the heads and case. I will also need new cam and lifters. Is it worth all this for about 20 extra HP? The pistons will cost more and I believe I will have to switch to a carburetor from fuel injection. I don't have heater boxes, so I can buy the 1974 prior type to use with a carb. I see this upgrade costing $170 machine work, $100 extra over regular pistons, $300+ for dual carbs (if needed), upgrade cam and lifters for a total of $570+ extra. Any suggestions? If I go with the 87.5 pistons, will I be able to use the fuel injection?

Fri May 21, 2004 11:10 pm

Have you considered getting a type IV motor instead?

Sat May 22, 2004 1:25 pm

I'm probably the last person you'll want to ask about "up-grading" your motor. I rebuilt my stock 1600 in my '79 at 194,000 miles. I've drivin the car all but 8,000 of those miles. I religiously changed my oil every 2500-3000 miles, tuned it up every year, and the moment I detected any issue, I delt with it immediately. In 20 years I replaced a starter, alternator, two air box intake hoses, and two injectors.

I vote to keep it stock.

-jeffrey

Sat May 22, 2004 2:49 pm

I never even thought about putting in a type 4. I am considering keeping it stock. I just didn't know if the 20hp extra was worth it.

Sat May 22, 2004 5:24 pm

I'm with JHICKEN. IMO the 20 HP is not worth the driveability of the FUEL Injection. 68HP does sound interesting but I wouldn't want to risk not having a car that runs as well as my 78 with 19K on it. I had a 914 with basically the same system and it always ran sweet. Even when I rebuilt the motor in the 914 I stayed stock.
You can do a search on fuel injection and most likely find lots of good stuff about this topic. Everyone has opinions about this. I've found that my car makes it up every hill on I-89 in forth gear and only slows down to 60 mph. I pushed it to 85 mph on a long flat stretch with the wife and 4 year old with the car packed. It was fine but I'll most likely keep to 75 mph and bellow. I'm not looking for a fast car and really don't need it here in Vermont. Actually I want a beetle that will get 50 mpg, but wouldn't do that to my 78, see here
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68553&highlight=