Just how slow is an early bay?

[VW Man 53]

Alright boys and girls, i have my 69 bay window which basically came without an engine and nothing working, i have a bunch of beetles but this is my first bus, i have my engine out of my 69 baja beetle in it, it's a healthy single port of the same year.
Keep in mind i daily drive different bugs all the time, and i have no issue with how fast a beetle is BUT, yesterday i put the plates on the bus and she is sloooooow, it struggles to reach 40 in third and falls flat on its face in fourth. I haven't taken a real crack at it yet as i plan to today, it runs flat like my timing is too far in advance, it has no real power band, and it gets hot, i get a small pop if you really wack the throttle at idle but only the first time you hit it. I'm sure it should go faster, right now it's embarrassingly slow, like undrivable. When i reach appropriate performance what should it be like? i'd think it should do 55 on flat ground pretty easily, i have never had one and all the buses i've driven had bigger engines, so please give me expert advice on type 1 engine buses and what it should feel like. I'm running a 30/31 carb with a dvda distributor.
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[ultralite]

Greetings from a fellow '69 Bay Westy!

It appears you definitely have some engine issues to sort. Which I'm sure you know with what sounds like your experience. So my answer will be based on the long term, when the engine is running properly.

Of course they were never speed demons. The only time I feel like mine is too slow is when I'm on the interstate in a busy city like Atlanta.

I climb up through the gears just fine all the way to 4th which will take me comfortably to 65 MPH, uncomfortably at 70-75 MPH but it can be done.

When you go out on adventures, which is what Busses are for, once you get on the old US Highways and State roads, at least I feel like I'm part of normal traffic.
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Godspeed

'76 Beetle (sold)
'69 Beetle (sold)
'72 BMW 2002 (RIP)
'69 Westy
'02 BMW wagon AWD w/stick shift(sold)
'67 Beetle (sold)

[Manfred58sc]

You definitely have tune up issues to sort out. I have driven a 1600 sp for years in my 69 and it will do 60-62 comfortably all day long. This day and age if you can't do 90 mph, you better stay off the interstate. Old Bus's are best suited for state hwy's and side roads, slower is better.
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Fat chick owner/operator

[Wasted youth]

You clearly have either engine management or engine mechanical issues. Once you get that sorted out, expected top speed range when new was described on page 26 of the 1970 Owner's Manual. It shows 4th gear speed range of 30-65 MPH:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jan70bus/70ownmanpage26.jpg

[richparker]

My early bay is not slow. 🏁
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[babysnakes]

65 is a comfortable speed for a 1600 in a Bay. Though Manfred doesn't like the interstates, I drive mine on the Turnpike 150 miles every weekend, 65 mph, sometimes up to 70 if I'm not paying attention. Average head temps around 360, highs are 380-385.

[SamboSamba22]

My buddy Bill’s ’69 runs about 55-60 max with a stock dual port 1600. Westfalia, with beautiful BFG A/T’s. Boy, is it slow getting moving compared to my 1800 type 4, Westy. But again, VW ownership is not a race, its the separation from the RAT Race...
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The Bus Barn Ltd. Co.

Oct. ’67 Double Cab (’68 Crew Cab)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44412.png]Click to view image[/URL]
March '69 Delivery (Panel Bus)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44414.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[vwjetboat]

how does the bus roll on flat level ground? compared to one of your bugs.. brakes tight from sitting ? bearings good ? tires full of air ? I am assuming the engine ran fine in the bug.. but slow in bus..

[skills@eurocarsplus]

it should do 65-70 on the flats....average hill will choke you down to 50(ish) depending.

that is for a healthy 1600 d/p.

you mention it was in a Baja....does it have all of the proper tins in place? 95% of the Baja's I have seen are missing a boatload of tin
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[ccowx]

I used to have a 1970 tin top bus with a sp in it. It would do 60-65 all day with no particular issues. Acceleration was nothing to make a Corvette jealous, but it picked up speed well enough for city traffic.

Sounds like you have a timing issue, would be my guess. Carb is also possible, but usually they come with coughing and farting and lord only knows if they are that serious. Check your timing and advance.

Chris

[Tcash]

Gas tank clogged or filter.

Distributor advance stuck.
Lubing the Distributor

Bad fuel pump.

Wrong fuel pump push rod.

Link


Throttle cable adjusted wrong.

Do the wheels spin free?

Good luck
Tcash

[AircooledHome]

When I had my 69 SP engine with a single carb, it was slow. I could get 60 when it was running tight, but that's about it.
With my '71 Dual Port engine with Dual webbers I can cruise 70 and hit 75 on flats. Slows like all busses to around 50 up hills. I carry a lot of weight (full camper, roof rack) and have all terrain tires.

Link

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'71 Deluxe Bus - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=659421&highlight=

[AircooledHome]

And you've tuned the carb? Timing is pretty simple on a single carb.. Just set it a little advanced to test, make sure your carb is set decent and it should do better than 40.
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'71 Deluxe Bus - http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=659421&highlight=

[airschooled]

Hi there,

I don't think the DVDA is doing you any favors with that carburetor. How have you connected the hoses, can we see a picture?

How have you set the timing?

Help us help you, and you should be up and running better in no time.

Robbie
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[VW Man 53]

[vwjetboat]

You said this motor came out of baja.. it is a strong single port.. I asked.. How well does the van roll.. not going down the road and push in clutch.. I mean on flat level ground in neutral .. and you out back pushing.. is it hard.. easy ? have you jacked it up and spun all the wheels ?

[SamboSamba22]

VW Man, anything timed after TDC is going to be to the RIGHT of the "0". BTDC being in front of the "0" or left.
German for the day, per a fellow samba member.
Vor = Before
Nach= After
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The Bus Barn Ltd. Co.

Oct. ’67 Double Cab (’68 Crew Cab)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44412.png]Click to view image[/URL]
March '69 Delivery (Panel Bus)
[url=http://www.vw-mplate.com/mplate-44414.png]Click to view image[/URL]

[VW Man 53]

[VW Man 53]

[VW Man 53]

could my dwell being off cause the two cylinders opposite each other in the distributor to be firing but firing very weak? i'm about to check out my dwell
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