reliable highway engine build on the horizon

[cweiland]

Looking to start putting together a motor for my 69 Beetle here in the next year or so. I had my mind made up on a 1915cc in the 110-130hp range, but then I think I read too many forums and am now frustratingly sure of nothing. I could really use some direct and specific advice. Thank you in advance.

What I am looking to build, in no great hurry, is a reliable, highway motor in the 130-150hp range that won't overheat in traffic on the occasional 105+F Texas day. As well, I don't want to have to spend every other Saturday tinkering just to keep it on the road. Money doesn't grow on trees around here, but I am not afraid to spend it on quality parts so I don't get stranded, only angry at myself.

That being said, the 1915 sounded like an inexpensive option, but I worry about heat issues with the larger cylinders. I am wondering if a 2110 (90.5 X 82) would be a safer, easier-to-cool choice.

I currently run a 1600SP with a hydraulic cam and love it. I don't feel like I'm missing a whole lot when comparing to a stock 1600SP. Does anyone consider hydraulic cams on bigger motors? If not, are there real concerns or is it just a taboo, unmanly thing? Later buses and Porsches used them, right? I'd be willing to sacrifice a little performance for not having to adjust lifters every oil change. Anyone have real hp loss figures for switching to hydraulic cams/lifters?

Naturally, I would balance every little thing I could. I am a machinist at a state university so, I will probably do most of my own machining. I have a low mileage AH case in really good shape. Everything measures out great. I plan on full flowing it and fitting it with a monster 30mm oil pump to push oil to a cooler at the front of the sedan.

The heads I am currently courting are CBPerformance's MiniWedge CNC ported heads (42 X 37.5) that flow 194.5 cfm's at 25".

All is up for debate. Please rip/help with whatever advice you have. I am very open to suggestions.
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'69 Beetle (in production cross country sedan)
'74 Standard Beetle (going full German rat rod)

[vwracerdave]

My all time favorite engine for a street driven car is still the 78 X 90.5 = 2007cc. No matter what anybody tells you the 90.5 pistons run cooler and last longer then the 94's. In the horrid Texas hummidity that is very important. Forget about the 42x37 CB heads. The aircooled.net or DRD L5 40x35.5 heads are plenty big enough to support 150 HP. Engle W-120 cam and dual 44 IDF's with 34mm venturies. That will get you a solid 130 HP and 80,000 miles without tearing it apart. Oh and tuned correctly you should get 26-28 MPG.
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2017 Street Comp Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble, OK
2010 Sportsman ET Champion - Mid-America Dragway - Arkansas City, KS
1997 Sportsman ET Champion - Thunder Valley Raceway Park - Noble ,OK

[MURZI]

I would do instead, the 82x90.5 B piston combo using Dave's suggestions. I will go together like a stock engine with very little shimming, pushrod mods etc. Of course I havent had heat issues with a 2276 either. Heat is directly related to state of tune.........
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62 vert
2276
Tim’s welded heads
45 Dells
A1 sidewinder
Fk44 cam

[tmcdade]

I really like something similar to dave's suggestion, but maybe instead

78x92 (Thickwall)
DRD L5 or Tims stage 1 heads
Web 86B cam
Dual Dell DRLA 40's
A1 sidewinder exhaust
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Travis
1972 Super Beetle
1907cc

[mark tucker]

hmm 84x 92 thick wall &superpro heads.

[ALB]

For a 2 liter or 2110 that will see lots of highway miles and (I'm guessing) never be raced on a regular basis, some 40x35 well ported heads, 40 IDF's or Dels and a cam/rocker combo that peaks at 5500 or 6000 rpm would be just the ticket. Torque will be big right where you want it- at cruising speed. 42 or 44x37 heads and a cam that revs to 6500 don't serve the purpose; unless you decide that's what you want.
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On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!!

[modok]

a 2007cc with the panchitos heads would COOL better than a 2110cc with the mini-wedge heads

Do one or the other, small heads on the 78 stroke, or the larger heads with 82+ stroke, either way should be a good setup

[[email protected]]

I think you are wasting your time and money with a big oil cooler and 30mm pump. Full flow the engine, and add them IF YOU NEED THEM.

If it's a bus, a 2007 is great, for a beetle do the 2110. 82mm crank with 5.4" rods. The heads you are considering are too big. A good 40 x 35 is plenty, with dual 44s and 1 5/8" exhaust. The Web 163 will be a nice choice for this engine. Don't get stupid on the heads and cam. Even an Engle 120 is a good choice, you'll still have a ton of bottom end.
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[cweiland]

I like the suggestions. I chatted with Pat Downs on the phone a week or two ago and he suggested the 2110. I should add that I don't want to pump 91 octane all year as this will be a real driver. I'd say the only "racing" it'll see is from stoplight to stoplight. Maybe 8.2-8.5:1 compression.

I do have a pair of 40 Kadrons that I am currently rebushing. Not a permanent solution, but I can run them until I put together a MegaSquirt setup or find some decent Italians.

Good thinking on the heads. CB's 2110 suggests those big MiniWedges, but with 1.1:1 rockers. How about the smaller (40 X 35.5) Panchito heads or similar with 1.25:1 rockers? Still too much?
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'69 Beetle (in production cross country sedan)
'74 Standard Beetle (going full German rat rod)

[MURZI]

I would go with the 120 cam, set up the bottom end, install pistons, check deck height and then order your heads fly cut to what you need for desired compression ratio. And if it were me I would order Steve Tim's stage ones. Steve and Greg are personable and will sell you exactly what you need.
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62 vert
2276
Tim’s welded heads
45 Dells
A1 sidewinder
Fk44 cam

[modok]

if we keep the heads and carbs constant, say some 40 dells and those los panchitos or the tims stage1, the main difference between the 2007 and 2110 is the 2110 is a lower revving engine, just moves the powerband lower, on the highway I'd rather have the 78 stroke, less piston speed, more SmOOTER, but that would depend on what speed you like to drive

[cweiland]

Okay, how does a 2110cc with the following sound?

5.400" H-rods
28mm CB ultralight lifters
CB Panchito (40mm X 35.5mm) heads (that flow 168cfm @25" @0.500" lift)
AA 90.5 piston and barrel set
CB 4340 Chromoly 82mm crank
12.5 forged chromoly flywheel
chromoly pushrods
1.25:1 rockers
8mm head studs
Eagle cam (adv. duration 298/ duration at 0.050" 248/ lift at cam lobe 0.389")
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'69 Beetle (in production cross country sedan)
'74 Standard Beetle (going full German rat rod)

[MURZI]

Sounds like a solid combo.......
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62 vert
2276
Tim’s welded heads
45 Dells
A1 sidewinder
Fk44 cam

[modok]

yeah, ok
that would have enough torque you could gear it a little higher than stock too, I would

[Alstrup]

[vwracerdave]

[cweiland]

[modok]

well, I have not run the numbers on it, but I expect the CR will end up quite a bit higher than 8.25 with the deck set tight, you do have to take that into consideration. If you want to adjust the CR with bigger deck height then I suppose 8.25 would be ok. It would be preferable to set the deck tight and run closer to 9-1, though CB may not have a way to CNC that

kadrons? ok, but you have to promise to get proper carbs ASAP

VW style 1.25(1.2-1.22 ratio) and swivel feet would be ok, if you get the dual springs, wiper type rockers usually lift more like 1.3-1, which is a bit more than you really need, but you could get a smoother cam with lower lobe lift, if you want to really make a nice setup

[DarthWeber]

The dynamic CR seems awfully low to me. With the stated CR of 8.5 and 8.7 for each engine, the DCR's are 6.1:1 and 6.36:1 respectively. Perhaps CB recommends these CR's to err on the cautious side??
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[OLD VW NUT]