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catahoula lou Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2008 Posts: 594 Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:13 am Post subject: 1600 VW engine in a pre-A? |
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In the event I find/buy my Dad's pre-A 356 and it turns out to have a numbers-correct engine in it, can I put a 1600 VW in it to preserve the OG engine?
My neighbor did the same with his 356C, so I'm assuming same can be done with a pre-A...
Best,
Thom _________________ 1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")
Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734). |
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dsrtfox Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009 Posts: 443 Location: Phoenix
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Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Yes you can. |
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catahoula lou Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2008 Posts: 594 Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 6:34 am Post subject: |
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Thanks, I suspected so, but wanted confirmation before I crossed that bridge, assuming I get there...
Best,
Thom _________________ 1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")
Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734). |
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tobiasax Samba Member
Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 202 Location: Sweden
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:59 am Post subject: |
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Why not build a clone using a 30/36 hp engine case (same look as pre-A.)
If you use the Bengt Holrnén made manifolds you can put 32 PBICs on single port VW heads (the carbs will sit at approximate the same height as on the preA). Add a cast iron centrifugal distributor and an old oil filter canister and it will look pretty much stock.
A 1600 will look horrible in a preA and as it is wider and longer than stock the fitting won't be easy. _________________ __________________________________________ |
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MMW Samba Member
Joined: April 30, 2012 Posts: 846 Location: northern NJ
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:27 am Post subject: |
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Who would you be preserving it for? The next guy? Why not enjoy it while you have it. If it is for investment purposes then why would you even drive it & risk an accident?
I don't understand where all the fun went with these cars. As prices climb more & more people are hiding them away so the next guy can have a museum pc.
If money or time was an issue & there is no engine at all then yes I would put a type 1 engine in it to drive it. _________________ Mic
1959 356 coupe
Missing the original engine 72488
Update - third pc. found!
Now just need the case halves.
1965 fenderless beetle |
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catahoula lou Samba Member
Joined: August 30, 2008 Posts: 594 Location: south of Silver Springs, NV
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:07 am Post subject: |
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Tobiasax:
Thanks for the useful recommendations. Will ask my neighbor, who owns a '64 356C about your ideas.
MMW:
Considering that we're talking about an expensive purchase, especially if it's the original engine, yes, I would like to preserve it for the next guy to recoup my purchase, being a '55 engine. A rod can come loose and break a hole through the case, making it non-rebuildable, which has happened to me. Not such a concern with a used 1600 VW engine (hey, I own 2 VWs, so I can say that). As far as driving it, I would enjoy it on the mountain roads where I live, but being a family "heirloom" I would no way push it through the turns as hard as I do my '59 lowlight, which is not a family "heirloom".
However, if it was a later 356 and not pre-owned/amateur-raced by my Dad, it would not have the same sentimental value...
Best,
Thom _________________ 1 great wife
2 Catahoula Leopard Dogs (Mahogany Star and Spartan) - RIP Lucy, Braveheart, & Dusty!
1 1959 mango green Ragtop Bug (the "Mango")
1 1958 pantina red Lowlight Ghia (the "Chili Pepper")
Still looking for:
(1) My Dad's 1955 356 (he raced it amateur-class at Riverside and other courses during 1950s),
(2) My parent's black 1955 hardtop bug (CA license plate FWC 201 or FWG 201), and
(3) My parent's agave green 1957 ragtop bug (CA license plate LFK 734). |
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