new engine wanted

Tristan79 · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject: new engine wanted

i just purchased a 1979 VW bus for my first car, when i graduate i would like to put a new engine or a new long block in it. i need help picking what cc of an engine i should get or if i should get a performance long block, i would like it to have a little more power to get up the hills. also when the bus gets filled up it only goes to about the half full mark but runs for well bellow the orange empty mark, i've heard it could be the sending unit or the gauge its self, which is it?

Glenn · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:10 pm Post subject: Re: new engine wanted

mtcamper · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:22 pm Post subject:

90 in a bay? You may want to consider a different vehical. Mabey an american van, ford, chevy, sportsmobile if you want a camper. You can do 90 in a bay but the results may not be good.

Glenn · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:26 pm Post subject:

It cam be done with a Subaru conversion, but you need suspension upgrades along with brakes and steering.

BTW.. where in the USA is the speed limit 90 mph?
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74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
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PicklePickle · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:28 pm Post subject:

Did somebody say "rollover?"

You'll need to lower that beast to get the center of gravity down and reduce the volumes of air pushing on every surface of the little loaf or the 90 mph trip will probably be short lived!
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seventyfo · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:46 pm Post subject:

I would like ONE MILLLION DOLLARS!!! Hahahahaha
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PicklePickle · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:08 pm Post subject:

SGKent · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2012 9:14 pm Post subject:

I almost wet my pants laughing when I read the original post.

Busdriver79 · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 5:33 am Post subject: 90 mph bus

Sell your bus to someone who will appreciate it for what it is....obviously an aircooled bus is not for you. Shocked

reluctantartist · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:48 am Post subject:

Everyone replying to this post should do so with encouragement and humility. This is a new bus owner and a member of the new generation that will help keep these beasts going into the future. For the OP, hi and welcome to the world of classic VW's. Since you are still in school which I am assuming is high school; I would recommend you get Tom Wilson's book on rebuilding type 4 engines Whether you rebuild yours or go for another engine after doing some research, you will not be able to do 90 as some have pointed out. But you may find the bus's other characteristics better serve you anyway. My westy has proven to be more reliable than my friends' newer cars and much more useful. You will also avoid the $80 cost of havlng the dealer tell you to tighten your gas cap since you will be able to do most everything on your bus. Not all of us VW enthusiats will treat you so condescendingly.
Again welcome to the fold.
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1982 Westy, 1974 412 Variant... Yes, Aircooled's are great! Oh and I do have modern computer controlled vehicles too, but I just don't care about them.

busdaddy · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:37 am Post subject:

Daverham · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 8:50 am Post subject:

Busdaddy speaks wisdom.

My 78 bus with fuel injected 2.0 FEELS like it goes 90MPH compared to every other VW I've ever had. Plenty of power. Stock. Reliable. Original. Wonderful. I can go 75MPH easy. Probably more, but I don't want to push her. I can pass slow cars on the freeway, get up hills - even steep ones - and accelerate as much as my little heart desires.

Answer to your original question: Put the engine in that 79 that VW intended it to have. You'll be happy.

If you need more than that, I don't think an old bus is really what you want.

cefalu · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 9:10 am Post subject:

I just drove through Bend last month to retrieve my new '74 Westy. The roads in that area did not impress me as a place you could drive a bus at 90, or for that matter much of anything, besides maybe a sports car. And as others have noted a bus was not engineered to travel at that rate.

Here in CA, our I-5 speed limit is 70, and I can usually drive just under 80 without much fear of a speeding ticket. It seems that the CHP ignores the drivers who are 0 to 9 mph over the speed limit.

Maybe once you get a few speeding tickets, your 90 mph goal may not seem so necessary.
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1970 Jeepster Commando
1974 Volkswagen P27 Westfalia Camper
1974 Mercedes SL350 Euro Market Model
1974 Jeep J-20 ZZ
1985 Alfa Romeo GTV6
2005 Toyota 4Runner V8 Sport
2008 Mercedes E350 Wagon
2018 Lexus GX460

Desertbusman · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:43 am Post subject:

For a young person don't even consider driving it beyond any posted speed limits. It's not at all about what you can get away with without getting caught. Drive it moderately, cautiously, legally and safely. Any bus will greatly appreciate that and society will also. Where many of us messed up with our first cars was stupidly thinking we could avoid those dumb rules. Consider it potentially as harmful as any other weapon because it is. You can easily harm others, yourself, and tear up the bus. We already have a big supply and way to many young and old irresponsible brain dead drivers. But good busses are getting in much shorter supply.

Wanting 90 fricken miles an hour and still in school? Laughing

Stick with a bicycle or tricycle.
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71 Superbug
71 Westy

Daverham · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 10:58 am Post subject:

See bottom line...

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Glenn · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:09 am Post subject:

RACE TAXI

Link

Link

Link

Can't be done is only said by those without enough imagination and cash to make it happen.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

Daverham · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:34 am Post subject:

^^ I agree with that but.... Nobody here said "can't be done" I've only heard "It's not recommended"

busdaddy · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 11:45 am Post subject:

Well I guess if you've got the skills to back up your wallet it's OK, but just because you can afford high performance doesn't always qualify you to use it http://www.driving.ca/news/story.html?id=6709538
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Desertbusman · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:25 pm Post subject:

I love the Race Taxi but if you want to go fast then build it to go fast.

_________________
71 Superbug
71 Westy

Randy in Maine · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2012 12:32 pm Post subject:

Fuel gauge stuff....

It is usually either a bad fuel tank sender (to which the engine really should be out to replace it) or the gauge is not making a good electrical connection at the dash.

Odds are the sender is bunk, but go here and see if this works first....

http://www.type2.com/library/misc/vwggauge.htm


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