1.5L build

[Keoni67]

Any recommendations? First aircooled engine I'm building. Carbs, rockers, headers, cams, anything that would give better performance and some power. I'm looking to try and retain it being a 1.5 liter engine just out of curiosity sake.

[Aussiebug]

Keoni 67,

First question - is it an H series engine number? If so, the metal on these cases gets brittle with age, so they do NOT make a good case for building a high powered engine - you could spend big money on it and end up with a cracked case or whatever after a very short time.

If it's an H case and is in good condition, (head studs still firm in the case, no signs of cracking at the base on No3 of between No3 and the flywheel, and no excessive end play on the crankshaft?), then it can be used as a stock 1500 or 1600 rebuild.

1500 P&Cs are almost impossible to get these days, but the 1600P&Cs will drop straight into the case. You can reuse the 1500 heads if they are in good condition, but you'll have about 8:1 compression ratio and will need 95RON/91AKI fuel. Or you can fit 1600 sp or tp heads for a normal 7.5:1 compression ratio.

If you fit 1600sp heads, you can leave everything else the same, and you'll get about 57hp - up 4hp on the 1500. If you fit 1600tp heads, you'll have about 59-60hp, but if you do that, you REALLY need the doghouse fan/shroud too, and of course you'd also need the tp upper cylinder tinware, and you'd have to change the top centre two studs to the shorter tp style, use the larger flanged tp manifold and a larger 34PICT/3 carb, which does not work well with a 009 distributor, so you need to have an SVDA to get the best out of it. And you are stressing the case more with that extra hp too.

In other words, if you go for a tp engine, you add a degree of complication.

I have a 1500 H engine built as a 1600sp, using the 1500 heads, original 30PICT/2 carb and SVSA distributor, and the extra 4 hp is quite noticeable, but fuel consumption has not changed much at all. This engine now has 248,000 miles on it, so the H case CAN be reliable, but only if used sensibly and only a little extra hp from stock.
_________________
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.vw-resource.com

[gt1953]

Are you located in Europe? or where
_________________
Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.

72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold})

[Aussiebug]

Isn't it upsetting when you try to help, and fffft - nothing!

You there Keoni?
_________________
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.vw-resource.com

[Keoni67]

Sorry guys computer was no good just got a new one. Well I'm California. Engine wise its the original one that it came with. The car was sitting for about 40 years until I got a hold of it.