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Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:51 am

NASkeet wrote: I wouldn't have minded a 2·0 litre, VW-Porsche 914 engine, for my British specification, 1973 VW 1600 Type 2, but they are as rare as hen's teeth over here!

I think that during the past 35 years or so, I have seen fewer 1·7, 1·8 or 2·0 litre VW-Porsche 914s being driven, than I could count on one hand and never found any in car breaker's yards.

Oops... you got me started. Now I'm going to go on my tirade about this junkyard. I can't help it... it kills me every time I go. I've lived in South Florida for the past 11 years. I've been going to this junkyard since I moved from Virginia after graduating. It was the only way I could afford to keep my car running at the time! hahah.

Through those past 11 years, I have seen some absolutely rare cars that just should NOT be in this junkyard. In this junkyard, they literally go through anywhere from 1,000 to 4,000 cars per month. During our housing boom a few years ago, they were going through at least 4,000 a month every month for a year. This is (I guess) because people were selling their homes and many people had unfinished projects or old cars in their garages that all ended up here.

I see you're from the UK, so you'll know a few of these cars.

I was just there the weekend before last, and there was an old BugEye. I've seen some Jensen Healeys (with the Lotus 907), Austin Healys, 12cyl Jaguars... it's ridiculous. I've seen mid 80s Maseratis (not the Chrysler LeBarons, but real BiTurbos). I've seen numerous Porsche 944s and 914s... just... dozens of cars, like old Packards, DeSotos, I've seen an Edsel Wagon in there... everything you can imagine. I saw a TTOP 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix SJ... I frequently see Y88 Special Edition 2nd Gen TransAms in there... Triumph spitfires, TR7s, TR8s... I saw a Hillman Mynx, several Volvo P1800s.... whatever... you name it, it's there...

it just kills me...

Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:52 am

BTW - Boston Bob longblocks are a great choice (if you don't want to pony up for the Camper Special).

Tue Nov 13, 2007 12:25 pm

You guys have givin me alot to think about...Thanks to all and thanks to solex for the great write up....great words to ponder.......jrbo :shock:

Tue Nov 13, 2007 3:18 pm

Thanks for the answers guys.

[quote="Randy in Maine"]

You can get a very well built type 1 built to provide the torque you need to get your bus moving for pretty reasonable money.

Who do you recommend Randy?

Tue Nov 13, 2007 5:53 pm

If it were me and I was using MY money, I would go here

http://www.steelbuggin.com/

Personally I would go with a 1776 all nicely put togeather and well balanced. Make sure they know that you are a bus and to give you the case with the rear support mounts and no lightened flywheel for your application. New heads would be nice if you have the dough for them.

I would get it in long block form and add a decent set of some small dual (dells, webers, solexes or kadrons in that order) carbs, a great linkage, and a SVDA distributor.

You should be able to get pretty good torque at the low ends and get up to speed quicker with some good reliability and decent gas mileage.

That is what I would do if it were MY money, but it is not.

Choose wisely.

Tue Nov 13, 2007 9:01 pm

This is the first "type one goodness" I have seen here on the baywindow. Serious study will ensue. Gonna drag the bus to a real VW mechanic before I make that investment. Would love to have all that torque and power of the 1776. But if my bus will motorvate for a lot less, gonna be riding in cheap bastid lane. If it turns out that I can't get the cheap fix, I will follow your recommendation. Thanks Randy.

Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:42 am

Quote: Would love to have all that torque and power of the 1776.

Don't get too carried away with that one... The smallblock can't be compared to it's MassIVe cousin..

But is cheaper and simpler and if you are not asking for this to be the last time you tiouch it for a decade its an OK choice..

Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:36 am

Jake Raby wrote: Quote: Would love to have all that torque and power of the 1776.

Don't get too carried away with that one... The smallblock can't be compared to it's MassIVe cousin..

But is cheaper and simpler and if you are not asking for this to be the last time you tiouch it for a decade its an OK choice..

OMG, that's hilarious. I mean this in the most non-insulting way, but is the Type-4 motor really referred to as the "big block" of the air cooled motors?! hahaha....

It totally sheds a whole new light to the VW Bus, the 411/412s and the Porsche 914s... oh man...

Wed Nov 14, 2007 7:48 am

Lol - here we go :lol:

Yes - the Type IV would be the "Big Block" equivelant in the VW world. Its a far stronger engine engineering wise - which is why most rebuilders have problems. The Type IV - when rebuilt properly far surpases the Type I - it isn't funny. It'll outlast them by far as well. HOWEVER - what happens is you get "some guy" who's owned a few beetles - he buys a Type IV bus, rebuilds the engine (since he did one on a beetle a year ago) and imediately has heating issues. Why? He didn't follow the proper procedures for the Type IV. These engines, while stronger, and able to pump out more HP stock than the Type I engine - requires more attention to detail.

Its the difference between a Motorcycle engine and a lawnmower. The lawnmower will probably run with "Wesson" oil instead of Castrol - but you wouldn't want to go the other way around.

Trust me - I believe that every type of VW engine has it's application. The Early Bay should have the Type I engine - but upped to about 1776 with a later 6 rib tranny. The Type IV has its place in modified bugs and of course, late busses. The Type IV generaly CAN be put in the early busses - but seriously - why? The tranny would have to be seriously changed, get rid of reduction boxes - then upgrades to brakes and steering are essential.

*shrug*

Just opinion though.

But if you want the proof - look at the specifications (stock) of the Type IV bus - and the 1971 Bus. Then go to Raby's website - and see what three small changes get you - ie propper lift durance and CCing of the cylinders, better camshaft, and better valves. LOL

I still swear - that if VW had done things Jake's way originaly - the Type IV would have made it well into the 90's....

Wed Nov 14, 2007 8:25 am

I still think that is good advice to go with a 1776 in a type 1 bus. SOme extra torque is a plus.

If you have a type 4 bus (like me), a type 4 engine is really the best way to go. They give you the torque you need to keep it moving for a long time.

Wed Nov 14, 2007 11:08 am

It's hard to justify the work to put a TIV into most 68-71 buses because its difficult in those models, unlike any other application..

My choice for Buses was always the 1679 (69X88) with thick machine in cylinders. The super thick cylinders would retain their roundness and taper without becoming warped due to the load and accelerated temps that hurt bus engines.. In a bus the enemy is the reduced time it tkes to reach a higher temperature, the engine vcan't expand fasdt enough or well enough to compensate for this most of the time..

So its not just how hot the engine gets, its also how long it takes to get the engine hot. Heavy buses do this quicker than any other application.