Increasing bus engine size

67splitCanada · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:21 pm Post subject: Increasing bus engine size

Hello

I am new to this forum. I purchased a 1967 Kombi a few years ago and am wondering if anyone could give me a quick crash course on engines. I have the 1500 single carb and of course it is very slow. I know someone selling a 1971 1700 dual carb (vin CB011551) – hoping I read the engine vin list properly in the Technical section. I was wondering if it would work. I want to lower my bus using the spring plate spline method and keep my reduction gears and tranny at least for now. I have drop spindles for the front and would buy adjustable spring plates for the back. Any help that can be offered would be welcomed.

Thanks.

mightymouse · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:52 pm Post subject:

Not to be the mean bad guy but... buying used engines sucks. i wouldnt suggest it.
Lowered on reductions also sucks.

So... tune it up and check compression, make sure its running tip top 1500 power... and it should go just fine until you can save up for straight axle and dropped spindles at minimum.

With the 1500 dialed it should go 65 mph all day long. Also you can camp a bit and enjoy some bus offroadin before you lower it.
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joe56vw · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject:

i agreed on the used engine thing they do suck most of the time you never know what someone has done to them

the lowered on rgb isn't that bad i had a '67 with drop spindles and one notch in the rear on rgb with a stock 1500 sp
and that thing wouold do 65mph all day long i drove the piss out of it also
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dawerks · Samba Member Joined: September 15, 2010 Posts: 2349

Do a compression test/tune up. Maybe your engine is tired or not running right. They aren't 'slow', they should still be peppy and fun to drive. My bus launches off the line and gets up to 60-70KM/hr in a very fun amount of time.

Of course getting to 100 is almost impossible.
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busdaddy · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Increasing bus engine size

Erik G · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:11 pm Post subject:

X2 nothing wrong with one spline drop on the redux boxes. It works good for a small motor and keeps the bigger brakes.
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67splitCanada · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:45 pm Post subject: Increasing bus engine size

Thank you all for your opinions.

Glad to hear others have gone the route of one spline drop.

I will take heed of the engine advice.

One poster mentioned getting to 60/70km with no problem. I agree to that, I just find my engine under powered on the highway. I have a US imported bus/speedo so 55/60mph is about max. maybe 65 to pass but the engine is reving high - 3500 to 4000 rpm.

joe56vw · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:42 pm Post subject:

What size are your rear tires? The small the tire the higher the engine will rev

I had 205/65/15 on mine and it was doing around 3500 rpm at 65 mph
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Erik G · Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 11:08 pm Post subject:

I don't know the exact figures off the top of my head, but you need the RPM to turn the fan to keep the motor cool. A bigger motor will not solve that. A different trans ratio and motor will.
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EDragnDean · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:33 am Post subject:

otis_bartleh · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:02 am Post subject:

67splitCanada · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:03 pm Post subject:

Erik G · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 7:01 pm Post subject:

To cut to the chase, and I don't mean to sound rude, I'm guessing this is your first bus and perhaps your first early aircooled vw.

Your bus is a big brick in terms of aerodynamics. It's actually a decently shaped brick, but it's a brick. The motor is tiny and makes very little horsepower. The trans compensated for that. The engine is meant to be at that RPM at that speed. The higher the RPM, the faster the fan turns and it cools the motor that is working so hard to move that brick up to 65-70mph.

Two things. Verify everything is correct and tuned. Have someone else that has a bus to on a drive with you, to verify its running normally, to put your mind at ease. AND live with it. It's scary enough to be going that fast in a bus on the freeway.

Or. Get a big motor with big carbs and a freeway flyer trans without redux boxes. You will need a big motor to push your brick with longer gearing.

Feel free to ask more questions, etc. we all had our first bus at one time.
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67splitCanada · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 9:22 pm Post subject:

Thanks Eric

You are right on all accounts.

I have sound deadened everything during my restoration, so when I have it on the road again in the coming months it shouldn't be as loud inside and thus less daunting to hear such a high rev. I do understand and appreciate the higher revs given it is air cooled now that that has been explained to me.

Thanks to all.

EverettB · Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:47 pm Post subject:

Erik G · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:45 am Post subject:

Original tire for a 67 was a 7.00-14 right? And the closest radial is a 185-14. I think that's like 26.2 inches, so his 25.5 isn't that far off. A little, but I don't think much to be worried about. I did run cheap 195/75/14's on a 66 split camper that was my daily and only driver around norcal, They wandered a bit too much, but no issues rpm wise. 185-14 truck tires are stiffer
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EverettB · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 9:26 am Post subject:

I went back up above and saw you were talking about a '67 so 14" tires.
It would be better to run 205/75/14s to stay closest to the original size.

Looking at the Coker site, the original bias ply tire size of 7.00-14 is
26.8"
http://www.cokertire.com/bf-goodrich-bias-ply-narrow-whitewall-3283.html
(This can vary by tire manufacturer)

According to this calculator
http://www.wallaceracing.com/tire-aspect-calc.php
205/75/14 is 26.11"
195/75/14 is 25.52"
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dmuis · Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:13 am Post subject:

Here's some info I put together on gear ratios and tire dimensions based on VW manuals and Coker tire dimensions. I also measured original tires and confirmed the heights, accounting for wear.

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

This link goes to both metric and imperial versions of the spreadsheet.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/info/50_67_bus_gear_ratios.php

The Kumho Radial 857 is available as a 205R14C. It is rated as a transporter tire and has a diameter of 27".
http://www.kumhousa.com/tire/category/truck-suv/7EAB87AD-62DC-4D82-897E-E59335DE416C

I wouldn't suggest these if you are planning to lower.

mtb7001 · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:32 am Post subject:

mightymouse · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 10:27 am Post subject:


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