Formula Street

[Dusty1]

I've been driving around days at a time with nothing better to do that look at the scenery. And think about motors.

And, I came up with a specification I call Formula Street. I claim the trademark Formula Street. Mine! Don't call it Formula Street unless you build it like I do.

I should have registered Freeway Flyer when I came up with it.


I was going to spell out the specification in detail but I figure I'll back into it. I'll throw down a few parameters and listen to what y'all have to say. After all, this is supposed to be a discussion.


Concept: CB's "Builders Choice" engine kits are well over $5000 each. I'm not embarrassed to say exactly zero of my Bugs out in the barn cost over $5000, not even my oval sunroof.

The hard line I'd like to throw down is cost. I built some great motors as far back as thirty years ago for less than a grand in parts. So, cost:

$1000 in parts starting with a core motor,

$2000 in parts built on a new case.

That's $1000 all in starting with a core, $2000 all in starting with a new case.


Bear in mind this is supposed to be a motor you can build and get right maybe even on your first try.


Double the cost if you're going to have someone else build it. Those guys gotta eat and pay the rent, too.


We're not tryiin' to win races or build the (usually hypothetical) 200hp VW motor. You are clever indeed if you can do that for a grand.


For a little more focus, let's say 1776cc.

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[BFB]

so its a "build a mild engine for under a grand " challenge , starting with a donor engine?
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"how am i supposed to torque the rear wheel nut to 250 ft lbs??? " - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
Most experts aren't.

[Glenn]

Carbs along can be over $1000 if buying new.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[Dusty1]

[Dusty1]

Got a set of 40 Dells for $200. I'm probably going to go cheaper. I've got two pairs of Kadrons and three pairs of 34 ICTs. I'm probably going to use the ICTs because they leave plenty of wiggle room in my budget. I bought a "tote fulla carbs" a few months ago. Tote contained two sets of ICTs with the manifolds and linkages, a Solex 34PICT3, a Bocar 34 copy and a couple progressives.

Using your buddy's hand- me- downs isn't cheating.


If anyone can honestly say,

"This motor is 100% floor sweepings and it cost me nothing"...

I'll send them a three foot tall trophy. There's a chrome guy bowling on top of the trophy. Don't know where I got it, just got it.

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[67rustavenger]

Ha, I could probably do this for under $500.

I have a core engine on the garage floor that needs a camshaft, lifters and, maybe bearings.
I already have the camshaft and lifters sitting in the garage too.

I also have a set of Chinese 40 IDF's in storage, if I were to use the cam and lifters in the other core engine I have sitting here with DP heads.
This one is questionable. It overheated on the way home from a camping trip two years ago and I already had an engine waiting to install in the car.
So, I just haven't touched it.

Things to ponder.

EDIT: What is the end goal of the Formula Street engine build?
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
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There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
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2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!
Don't let your bad ideas remain, ideas!

[NJ John]

I can sweep the floor and only spend on a few missing things. What I don’t have is time. That part is really starting to suck.
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1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
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[Dusty1]

[halfassleatherworks]

My 1975 1800 and Automatic trans $00.00 I did a trade, $90.00 HF 20 ton air/hydraulic jack and something else I forget.
Then sold the trans and torsion assembly for $400.00.
Overhaul, some old maybe 15 year old WD 40 to free it up, pull the rockers and plugs, fill the holes let sit fill again.
New cam gear and bolts, rod and main bearings because of some
water damage, gasket kit.
Flywheel bolts, new ignition kit, Dist., coil, plugs and wires $219.00 or so.
Set of used 32/34 pdsit carbs, manifolds, linkage, air filter housing, around 300. cleaned everything up and reused the rings. my time $00.00,
two chambered mufflers from Summit Racing 19.99 each, pick up no shipping.
Maybe another 150-200 For miscellaneous..
Do I qualify for your Formula Street? or maybe just a cheep old Bastard?
Runs good I just need to get it drivable.

[BFB]

I think this is a cool idea Dusty1 , but there has to be other guidelines. We cant just build something from parts we have because different people have been collecting for different amount of time.
I for one have a loft thats probably 20’ x 30’ thats full of vw parts I’ve collected over the last 15-16 years, some ppl have a lot more than i do and others have no stock pile. A lot of my stuff I bartered for, and once i got a whole pickup bed full of engine parts for $200. So how do we determine what values are to make this fair?

I also dont have the time to actually build the engine for this game, so could we have a theoretical build category? As long as all parts are actually in hand and cost assessed or something like that?
_________________
"how am i supposed to torque the rear wheel nut to 250 ft lbs??? " - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
Most experts aren't.

[U&I]

I can do this.....

[Dusty1]

[Dusty1]

Aw. I was hopin' I'd be off the grid for a few days and come back to a few good ideas.

Why I'm goin' with Formula Street:

I've been messin' with Formula Vee.

(from an adjacent thread:)

[modok]

Why use dual port heads?

when the rule was dropped, replacement SP heads didn't exist, but now they do.

[Dusty1]

[oprn]

I have a type 3 and at least two type 1 engines that would work for this. The trick is finding a case that is re-useable without spending a King's ransom on machining. Gaskets, rings and bearings are going to run close to $500.

I have a set of type 3 carbs that need throttle bushings and a set of Bus dual carbs that need cleaning.
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old!