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cgoward Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2014 Posts: 10 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:28 pm Post subject: What’s the best street engine configuration? |
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In high school I had a '73 Super Beetle and always dreamed of some day owning a Karmann Ghia. Now I've done it. I just purchased my dream car: a perfect all original stock ’72 Ghia.
My plan is to keep her looking all original other than wheels and engine.
I’m going to drop out the stock engine and keep it for resale, and put in a new performance engine for weekend fun. She won’t be for the drag strip. Just for fun. So, I'm starting from scratch and looking to buy a complete engine setup.
I’m looking for a smooth, gutsy acceleration, as quiet as possible, and anything that will help handling. And, I want to minimize maintenance -- I'm no mechanic.
So, my question is: what engine specs would you recommend in the $5,000 range?
Which are the most important components to invest in? Which will give the best all around full spectrum performance on the road?
Should I just buy a Gene Berg kit? |
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juki48 Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2007 Posts: 602 Location: Upstate NY
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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very nice looking car. if you want something you can just bolt in, I would suggest something like a 2007-2110cc range with dual 44mm carbs, a mild cam and merged exhaust with dual quiet pack mufflers. should be very reliable and have plenty of power. the 2007 and 2110 are stroker cranks which will give you more low end torque. _________________ Riley
74 Ghia 2276 Turbo MSII Extra
67 Beetle in restoration
Manx style buggy 1600 stock |
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15278 Location: Deep in the 405
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Welcome to The Samba
82x90.5=2110, DRD 40x35.5 L5 heads, Engle FK-8 cam w/1.4 rockers, 1 5/8" exhaust, dual 44 IDF's and 9.0:1 compression for 91 pump gas.
That will get you anywhere across Canada and a few good stoplight squirts against the Hunnda's on Saturday night. Built right with quality parts will take little maintenance to get 80,000 miles and 30 MPG _________________ 2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63
Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos |
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Eaallred Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2003 Posts: 5756 Location: West Valley City, Utah
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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86B, wedgeports, 82x94, 1 5/8" exhaust, and 48 Webers or Dells. Would be a screamer of a street car that could run pump gas. _________________ Eric Allred
You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; Jealousy you have to earn. |
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Eaallred Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2003 Posts: 5756 Location: West Valley City, Utah
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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You'll get as many opinions as asking what is the best beer. Lots of answers, lots of good combo's.
Whatever you do, stick with one combo, don't try to combine recipes or you're likely to end up with a bastard combo that doesn't perform like you want. _________________ Eric Allred
You have to remember something: Everybody pities the weak; Jealousy you have to earn. |
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bugguy1967 Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2008 Posts: 4338 Location: Los Angeles, CA 90016
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:11 pm Post subject: |
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What Eaallred said. I'll pick out what you said is important to you. You need quiet operation? You'll need a cam with a gentle ramp for one. Less valvetrain noise. Mild camshafts designed for 1.4:1 rockers are usually much quieter than ones designed for 1.1:1 rockers. The Engle FK 7 is renowned for it's quiet operation, but ends kind of early in the RPM range (5000). The FK8 is pretty quiet too (6500ish).
Aircooled.net sells cut to length aluminum HD pushrods. Aluminum pushrods are much quieter than steel.
Your exhaust selection will also change the noise level. Vintage Speed in Taiwan focuses on DBUs over raw horsepower.
Lastly, balancing all of your rotating assembly will smooth out your ride and reduce noise from vibration. _________________ "A petrol engine can start readily, run smoothly and give every appearance of being in good order, without necessarily being in good tune." - Colin Campbell, "The Sportscar Engine" |
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75smith Samba Member
Joined: July 09, 2011 Posts: 2275 Location: NH
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Eaallred wrote: |
You'll get as many opinions as asking what is the best beer. Lots of answers, lots of good combo's.
Whatever you do, stick with one combo, don't try to combine recipes or you're likely to end up with a bastard combo that doesn't perform like you want. |
this, and if your looking for turnkey, go to a reliable shop, you'll pay a little more but you will get the reliability you want
that being said Daves' combo is pretty good, and would be my first recommendation _________________ My 1975 Beetle Build Updated 8-21-12
My engine build |
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gprudenciop Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008 Posts: 606 Location: portland or
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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vwracerdave wrote: |
Welcome to The Samba
82x90.5=2110, DRD 40x35.5 L5 heads, Engle FK-8 cam w/1.4 rockers, 1 5/8" exhaust, dual 44 IDF's and 9.0:1 compression for 91 pump gas.
That will get you anywhere across Canada and a few good stoplight squirts against the Hunnda's on Saturday night. Built right with quality parts will take little maintenance to get 80,000 miles and 30 MPG |
This would rip in a light ghia and would last for years if built right!!! _________________ Never look down at anybody unless you are helping them up..
Loaning someone your strength instead of reminding them of their weakness = kindness.. |
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cgoward Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2014 Posts: 10 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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vwracerdave wrote: |
82x90.5=2110, DRD 40x35.5 L5 heads, Engle FK-8 cam w/1.4 rockers, 1 5/8" exhaust, dual 44 IDF's and 9.0:1 compression for 91 pump gas. |
Awesome. That's exactly what I was looking for, Dave!
Do you know anyone that builds this turnkey or is it better to find a local shop to assemble it?
bugguy1967 wrote: |
Aircooled.net sells cut to length aluminum HD pushrods. Aluminum pushrods are much quieter than steel.
Your exhaust selection will also change the noise level. Vintage Speed in Taiwan focuses on DBUs over raw horsepower. |
Good tip there too! |
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Eaallred Samba Member
Joined: May 18, 2003 Posts: 5756 Location: West Valley City, Utah
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cgoward Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2014 Posts: 10 Location: Canada
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks! I see they say "We only offer solid lifters, we do not sell, use, nor recommend hydraulic lifters."
Do you agree with solid vs. hydraulic lifters? Hydraulic needs less maintenance, right? |
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Quokka42 Samba Member
Joined: December 02, 2010 Posts: 3117 Location: Melbourne, Australia
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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Not in a VW. Hydraulics are known for having problems, especially if used for anything over stock. For that reason you are severely limited in cam choice as well. _________________ There has only ever been one man who was perfect, and they nailed Him to a cross. |
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k@rlos Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2012 Posts: 485 Location: Suffolk, England
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 5:36 am Post subject: |
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[quote="vwracerdave"]Welcome to The Samba
82x90.5=2110, DRD 40x35.5 L5 heads, Engle FK-8 cam w/1.4 rockers, 1 5/8" exhaust, dual 44 IDF's and 9.0:1 compression for 91 pump gas.
That will get you anywhere across Canada and a few good stoplight squirts against the Hunnda's on Saturday night. Built right with quality parts will take little maintenance to get 80,000 miles and 30 MPG[/quote
More or less the same as my bus motor. Expect I have 48 IDF's and 9.5:1 compression. In my '70 westy it has tons of bottom end grunt and goes like a rocket. In a Ghia that will be horrendous on the street |
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Tom_Kathleen Samba Member
Joined: August 26, 2004 Posts: 918 Location: Vernon, CT
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 7:07 am Post subject: |
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If the 1600 Dual Port engine you are taking out of the car is the original matching# engine, I would not sell it. Keep it with the car, the next owner would pay extra to have it. Tom _________________ Manxter #16, 1968 Meyers Manx & Kick-Out SS #16 (WIP)
Manx Club & CVA |
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MURZI Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2005 Posts: 5063 Location: Madisonville, La
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cgoward Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2014 Posts: 10 Location: Canada
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:10 am Post subject: |
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Tom_Kathleen wrote: |
If the 1600 Dual Port engine you are taking out of the car is the original matching# engine, I would not sell it. Keep it with the car, the next owner would pay extra to have it. Tom |
It was a single owner, a lady who kept it meticulously. Unfortunately, when she had the engine rebuilt a few years ago, she didn't specify that she wanted the original block used. When I bought it she still thought it was the original with matching numbers until I spoke with the rebuild shop. I'm not fussy about that, but it would have been nice to have the OEM. |
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cgoward Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2014 Posts: 10 Location: Canada
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Dan Ruddock Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2012 Posts: 3573 Location: Sarasota, in my adopted state of Florida
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:27 am Post subject: |
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If you have this guy supply your engine I would ask for a vw journal crank over the chevy journal. The vw journal crank is stronger. The only time they are a benefit is with 86mm+ strokes and with all type 4 mains because it fits better. Dan |
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vwracerdave Samba Member
Joined: November 11, 2004 Posts: 15278 Location: Deep in the 405
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 10:22 am Post subject: |
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There are a lot of good engine builders in Canada that could build you a good engine and save money on shipping. _________________ 2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK
Featured in Dec. 2001 HOT VW's Magazine page 63
Watch my racing video's http://www.youtube.com/user/okvwracer/videos |
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Trevor P Samba Member
Joined: January 21, 2004 Posts: 860 Location: Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2014 11:28 am Post subject: |
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vwracerdave wrote: |
There are a lot of good engine builders in Canada that could build you a good engine and save money on shipping. |
True^^^
Where are you located in Canada? Maybe we can suggest a reputable builder near you. Shipping across border can be a pain sometimes and usually ends up costing you more. _________________ 53 Canadian standard oval
56 Wolfsburg PG/SG
57 Oval, 2332 & Berg 5
70 911T
91 Westy |
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