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Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:20 pm

Basic question, point me to FAQ's if they exist....

Just bought 1960 Bug with a "newer" motor in it. How do I find out exactly what motor it has? Were do I find a number on the block and is there a table that then shows me what motor it is? While under it today, I did see the word "Brazil" on the block, and what looked like a 2001 date....

Thanks,
Chuck

Wed Jul 20, 2005 2:48 pm

if its not the original motor, may be a 1600... not for sure how you can tell without tearing it apart...

Wed Jul 20, 2005 6:03 pm

More info:

Cast on the block:
2BR VW BRAZIL
043 101 101A
AS41

"Etched" on the side of the block:
RMM
1776
1-2-01

Heads are single port, running stock looking (but newer) Solex carb, generator looks newer too....

Happen to have an 2001 Rocky Mountain Motorworks catalog...
They list a 1600cc Mexico/Brazil complete motor w AS41 cases, but it's got dual port heads....

Ideas???

Thanks,
Chuck

Wed Jul 20, 2005 11:56 pm

im not vw expert. nor a good speller. but perhaps its a 1776 cc engine?.. just a guess. well. if it goes damn fast. im sure it is lol

Thu Jul 21, 2005 4:53 am

So I don't know much about VW motors....

Does it make sense to build one out to 1776ccs, and leave it w single port heads???

Chuck

Thu Jul 21, 2005 5:55 am

Sounds to me like someone has rebuilt a singleport motor, starting with a new brazilian AS-41 block and a new carb, from what you have mentioned. There is no evidence from what you have said that says it's a 1776, this would only be determined by measuring the size of the piston/cylinders. And i doubt very much that it is a 1776 with singleport intakes- doesn't make much sense. My bet is that someone had an old 1500 or 1600 single port motor that blew, so they rebuilt it with the new parts where required.

Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:39 am

i would build a 1776 single port for a 67 and older bus.a friend built a 1914 single port. i prefer SP heads unless building a race motor.

Thu Jul 21, 2005 6:56 am

highaltidude wrote: So I don't know much about VW motors....

Does it make sense to build one out to 1776ccs, and leave it w single port heads???

Chuck
Well, it might. Depends on what you want out the motor.

If you are looking for a high-performance straight-line engine, probably not. If the goal is a really nice every-day driver, that's another story.

A single-port 1776 would be very torquey at low rpms where most surface-street in-traffic driving is done. The heads will tend to limit the rpms, but single-port heads are said to be more durable than dual-ports (less prone to cracking), another plus for a driver. It should also be possible to get very good mileage out of such an engine as well.

BTW: If you post over at http://www.vocs.net/ I'm sure one of the guys could help you figure out what you have.

Max

Fri Jul 22, 2005 10:01 am

i like triple port heads......... 8)

Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:00 pm

One of the worst-condition engines I ever took apart when I worked on VW's was a hi-po single port motor. The engine was a 1835 out of a Ghia. The counterweighted crankshaft was broke in half, both heads had been flycut and must have had high compression, but had cracked badly, both of them, between the seats. I tend to agree with Bill that SP motors can be good runners, but I think only if you build and drive them right. This one was definately an example of "wrong"

andy

Fri Jul 22, 2005 7:41 pm

Quote: I tend to agree with Bill that SP motors can be good runners, but I think only if you build and drive them right.

not a bad idea...especially if you have an all orig car you want to show, but still have some guts on the road.