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Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:33 am

Ok, so I have a 1962 VW bus with what I believe to be the original transmission in it, however, it does not have an engine. I have found a person selling a 36hp and a 40hp engine, both came out of bugs. I'm pretty sure they should fit properly, but will they work the same in a bus? At this time, I'm not really trying to get original engine or tranny for the year, I just want to get it up and running properly and safely.
Does anyone know if it will work?
I know there has to be a forum with this info out there, however I have not been able to find it.
Thanx

Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:41 am

They both will. You just have to sort out the exhaust unless you cut your apron to allow for the pea shooters.

Tue Oct 21, 2014 11:45 am

BulletBus wrote: You just have to sort out the exhaust unless you cut your apron to allow for the pea shooters.

That metal is too thick to cut as is the rear bumper. Its WAY easier to pick up a bus exhaust.

Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:10 pm

crofty wrote: BulletBus wrote: You just have to sort out the exhaust unless you cut your apron to allow for the pea shooters. Its WAY easier to pick up a bus exhaust.

Good advice.

Also, though it wouldn't hinder you getting a bus running with a beetle engine, there are some distributor differences that can mean the difference between the bus running and it running well, assuming its got a stock bus transmission.

Tue Oct 21, 2014 12:23 pm

It should. And yes, put a bus exhaust on it. Don't cut the bus to put a beetle adaption on it.

Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:10 pm

BulletBus wrote: They both will. You just have to sort out the exhaust unless you cut your apron to allow for the pea shooters.

If I found a bus exhaust, would it work with the engine and fit the bus just fine? That way I dont have to mod the bus at all to make it fit? I'd rather not do any harm to the bus to make it work.
Chris

Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:15 pm

I was looking for a thread like this recently but I couldn't find one. Maybe the search terms are too common, surely there have been threads on this before. If not, this one could be a good resource for folks in the future.

I may be mistaken (please correct me if so and/or add to the list) but as far as I know, the differences between a typical bug vs bus motor are:

1. Exhaust
2. Clutch (heavier duty on bus)
3. Carb/carb jetting
4. Distributor

Tue Oct 21, 2014 2:21 pm

-Chris- wrote: BulletBus wrote: They both will. You just have to sort out the exhaust unless you cut your apron to allow for the pea shooters.

If I found a bus exhaust, would it work with the engine and fit the bus just fine? That way I dont have to mod the bus at all to make it fit? I'd rather not do any harm to the bus to make it work.
Chris

No harm, it should just bolt in, and the Bus muffler will bolt on to the engine fine. I'd hold out for a larger 1500 or 1600 engine, way mo-better....

Tue Oct 21, 2014 4:46 pm

stuco wrote:
1. Exhaust
2. Clutch (heavier duty on bus)
3. Carb/carb jetting
4. Distributor

Correct, except for #2. Beetle and bug used the same clutch parts year by year if not special ordered.

Using type 1 exhaust not a good idea due to exhaust builds up behind the bus and will get into any crack/hole in the body to fill the interior. Carbon monoxide is not what you want to breath for you or your passengers....

Tue Oct 21, 2014 7:09 pm

Z wrote: crofty wrote: BulletBus wrote: You just have to sort out the exhaust unless you cut your apron to allow for the pea shooters. Its WAY easier to pick up a bus exhaust.

Good advice.

Also, though it wouldn't hinder you getting a bus running with a beetle engine, there are some distributor differences that can mean the difference between the bus running and it running well, assuming its got a stock bus transmission.

I'm not a very engine savvy person, so I apologize if this is an obvious question, but doesn't the distributor work soley with the engine, if I have the correct distributor for the engine how would it effect the transmission, and/or how would the transmission effect the distributor. Also, if I do get one of these engines, what would be key to getting the correct distributor to work with both the engine and transmission?
Thanx

Wed Oct 22, 2014 3:29 am

Yes the bug and bus engine case is the same.

But I suggest picking up a 1500 or 1600CC single port that came out of later buses to fit in instead of going a bug engine route.

Wed Oct 22, 2014 10:23 am

-Chris- wrote: Z wrote:
Also, though it wouldn't hinder you getting a bus running with a beetle engine, there are some distributor differences that can mean the difference between the bus running and it running well, assuming its got a stock bus transmission.

I'm not a very engine savvy person, so I apologize if this is an obvious question, but doesn't the distributor work soley with the engine, if I have the correct distributor for the engine how would it effect the transmission, and/or how would the transmission effect the distributor. Also, if I do get one of these engines, what would be key to getting the correct distributor to work with both the engine and transmission?
Thanx

Sorry, I should have been more specific. First off, it's not something you need to worry about at this stage, as any running engine will work to get the bus moving under its own power. Sorry if my comment confused the situation.

Yes, the distributor is only directly involved with the running of the engine, NOT the operation of the transaxle. But different distributors will give an engine different characteristics, which may work better or worse with a stock bus transaxle with reduction gears. That's probably more of a 'now my bus is running and driving and stopping, how do i make it all work better' thing.

Thu Oct 23, 2014 2:31 am

The 40 hp was the original engine for your bus. It will move it around ok. Most 40 hp engines had the same distributor installed bus or beetle. I drive a 36 hp bus-it's not for everybody. You don't NEED the larger engine but in today's world its what most people are used to/familiar with- consider safe.

Early buses were underpowered from the get-go and used a mechanical advance distributor which has a faster advance curve to "pep" things up. They cause the engine run a bit hotter and bus engines typically do not last as long due to pushing the heavier weight. Beetle engines came stock with a vacuum advance distributor ( a little canister attached to the distributor with a vacuum line to the carburetor. ) They run smoother but have the advantage of pushing a much lighter vehicle around. An exception was the 36 hp beetle distributor that had both vacuum and mechanical advance in the same distributor but it does not work WELL with a heavier bus.

Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:24 am

tasb wrote: They cause the engine run a bit hotter and bus engines typically do not last as long due to pushing the heavier weight.

Will disagree with that. The bus is much lower geared to get most HP out of the VW AC engine, but at the cost of lower MPG and less engine longevity.

1960-63 bus 3,000 RPM = 47 MPH in fourth gear.

1938-79 Beetle 3,000 RPM = 60 MPH in fourth gear.

Used to get about 30,000 to 40,000 miles out of a 40 HP (1200 cc) or big bore 40 HP (1300 cc) engine rebuild in our buses due to loss of compression and no longer able to climb hills at all well. Plus only got 18-19 MPG.

Went from 55 MPH @ 3,800 RPM and getting up to 280 F oil temp, to 47 MPH @ 3,000 RPM and keeping engine oil temp below 230 F by sometimes dropping RPMS a bit more in extreme heat/hill climbing. Next big bore 40 HP engine lasted 80,000 miles when end play got too much for reliability, but still drove like new. MPG went to 27.

Installed higher geared freeway flier transaxle and slightly bigger rear tires to get 60 MPH @ 3,000 RPM. Shortly after installed 1641 (thin wall slip in P&Cs) SP engine with CW crank 7.1:1 compression. Increased cooling with DH shroud with 40% bigger type 4 cooler and 356 gen pulley for more fan RPMs. Getting 23 MPG and now over 130,000 miles on this engine alone. 1641 P&Cs are world renowned for loosing compression all too soon due to the thin walls of the cylinders even in the Beetle...

Thu Oct 23, 2014 5:49 pm

sure, but I was referring to the choice of a mechanical advance only distributors having a more aggressive advance= more heat.

Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:40 pm

Another thing that may be a bit different is how the tinware will fit up around your Beetle engine when in the bus. There are some differences and you'll need to source the bits to get your engine bay sealed up nicely to allow proper cooling.

Tue Nov 04, 2014 7:52 pm

KombiMadness wrote: Another thing that may be a bit different is how the tinware will fit up around your Beetle engine when in the bus. There are some differences and you'll need to source the bits to get your engine bay sealed up nicely to allow proper cooling.

Good point, anybody know what pieces are different?

Tue Nov 04, 2014 8:39 pm

I know the rear tin has different holes for the preheat tube, but I think the front and cylinder tins are the same?

Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:01 pm

AFAIK, there are no engine tin differences that that would keep it from fitting. There are year changes for bus tin regarding preheat, as mentioned, but they still fit the engine bay.

Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:52 pm

FI Beetle head tin is different and will not fit into a bus. Easy to get earlier DP tin instead, but would require installing a carb.

Otherwise Bus & Beetle engine tin fit the same between the two VWs.