Engine and transmission for higher speed, high millage DD?

[Eskamobob1]

Hey guys,

So I have finally saved up 3k for the engine+tranny specifically and I figure its about time I at least start thinking about this part of my build. My goals for this build are ~30MGP, able to maintain cruising at 80-90, and I need it to last at least a bit without a full rebuild as I do 45-60k miles a year in my car.

Now for the hold ups. It is looking like I am going to have to reduce my wheel size a bit to get good tires in the size I want (currently looking like I wont be able to really go above 24.5" total diameter to get decent tires), I honestly have no idea just how much power I want as I dont have a lot of reference for what, say, 100HP even feels like in a bug. I would like to be able to pull all the way through third as stock I have almost 0 power at the beginning of third. I will hopefully be picking gears specifically for the engine, but hopefully that gives you an idea of power? As for cost, I dont realy have a concrete goal in mind, but I priced out an EJ207 swap with subbie trans at 15k USD, so above that and I will be seriously tempted to go that direction.

EDIT: Another caveat just to be a complete pain in the ass. I would love to have AC if basically at all possible (and it has to work sitting in traffic as my drive home is always slow, but to work is lots of fast cruising). If it isnt possible, that is fine, just figured it was worth an ask since I am asking for the sky anyways.

For the engine I am honestly at an utter loss as to what direction to go, but I am not opposed to a type 4 conversion. I figure once I at least figure out the parameters and form factor I want I can study more from there, but I dont even know that part at this point.

For the transmission I do have a better idea as to my options though. I think the 3 things I am considering the most currently are a 4-speed with custom gearing, a berg 5-speed (or similar) and an early 901/914 conversion (all with a LSD if possible). I am worried about having too tall of gears in a 4-speed (24.5" tires, 3.87 R&P, and 0.82 4th still mean 4k RPM for 90MPH), I have no idea where to even find a custom gearing Berg 5 (or similar) that someone will build for me (I can do engine, but I dont want to do tyranny work on this one), and I am very skeptical about the engagement mechanism on the 901/914 transmission as I do kinda love to slam 2-4 when I get in that mood (and idk where to even test drive a trans like that to find out if I like it)

I am sorry about the massive wall of text guys. Thank you for taking the time to get this far.
-esk
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'74 - front disks/lots more work to do

[Ebel]

You need to start looking at prices. Have you seen what a rebuilt 1600 costs? If you can do most of the work yourself you can save some money. I’ve got a 2.1 oxyboxer i built for about 1000 but that took years of getting inexpensive parts and doing the machining myself. I’m guessing it would be 3000$ plus to buy. And that doesn’t even involve a transmission. At this point I wouldn’t even dig into one myself. So that’s another 1000 at least for a decent 4 speed I would think. A berg 5 can cost 5000. Or a reversed Subaru with adapter which would be at least 3000 I think. I’ve seen Porsche 901 transmissions for as little as 400. But they won’t take that much power or have an lsd. And they are used in unknown condition for the last 30? Years

[jpaull]

15k for a subie setup? My gosh. You can get a EJ20 50k mile Japan engine delivered for $750, then get a donor car with 5 speed for $500-$1000. Get a subaru gears kit and all your odds and ends and be in it for 5k max. http://www.subarugears.com/Pricing/Pricing.html

I recently bought a outback for 1,000 that just needed axles. Sold it for 3k a few weeks later after fixing everything. Right now I have a friend selling a outback for $400 that drives with solid 5 speed. These cars are littered all over craigslist for cheap.

It seems like you talked yourself out of a type 1 yourself. 40-60k per year in a type 1 at 80-90mph is just dumb. Thats 200 miles per day in a 5 day work week. I do 80mph with 90 hp in a 40 mile per day yaar round commute and its nuts already. I been running 165s lately(25") with 3.88 and .82 fourth and love it even more then my 24" tall tires cause 80 mph is right at 3500 rpms now. But, driving any faster will have temps go up. its a Volkswagen.

[vwracerdave]

[Eskamobob1]

[Dan Ruddock]

[modok]

[udidwht]

80-90mph daily.....I see lots of this in your future.

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1972 Westy Hardtop/Type-4 2056cc
96mm Biral AA P/C's~7.8:1CR
Headflow Masters New AMC 42x36mm heads w/Porsche swivel adjusters
71mm Stroke
73 Web Cam w/Web solids
Dual 40mm IDF Webers - LM-2 - 47.5 idles/125 mains/190 air corr./F11 tubes/28mm Vents - Float height 10.45mm/Drop 32mm
Bosch SVDA w/Pertronix module (7.5 initial 28 total @ 3400rpm)
Bosch W8CC plugs
Pertronix Flamethrower 40K coil
S&S 4-1 w/Walker QP 17862
3 rib 002 Trans
185R14 Hankook tires

[Q-Dog]

[oprn]

Get a VW TDI before they are all gone. 55 mpg all day long with AC on at the speed limit and last for 500K or more with minimum routine maintenance. Save the air cooled VW for a weekend runner/hobby car.

If you need the power fix the Subie gives then buy one and drive it and again save the VW for the weekends.

[jeffrey8164]

1970 Karmann Ghia.
1914cc, Weber Progressive, Erson VW200 cam. Stock trans w/ 3.88 R&P. 32mpg from Tampa Fl to Atlanta Ga at 80mph. No A/C though.

You can get a 2.3 type 4 conversion turnkey with A/C that’s been Dyno tested from Raby for about $30,000.

[Clatter]

Subaru
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Bus Motor Build

What’s That Noise?!?

[mark tucker]

I would do a 84~86 mm stroke,CB lostpanof cheetos cnc heads with tit retainers. around [email protected] cam with low lobe lift then add ratio rockers to get around .520~.565 lift. 9.4~10.4 cr, .035 piston to head clearance, dished pistons if nessary but keep a tight quench ,match ported cb big beef intakes ,properly set up hpmx carbs.good 1 5/8 merged header.2" exhaust&free flowing quiet muffler, dfl coat the innards of the engine( all soft parts that have a hard part wearing on them,cam &crankgears,rockers,lash caps, ceramic coat the pistin top's&chamber's,valve heads and ex ports. 30 mm pump(dfl it and cover too),5-20 or 0-20 syn oil. ) do it all right the first time and forget about it and have fun.and then comes the trans...send it to mcmscoot and have him build what you need.....now that your budget is blown all to hell it's a good time to go on a diet.

[weasel_ugs]

[Towel Rail]

[mark tucker]

If I saved my vw for weekends I would sure be wearing out a lot of shews....and probably shed a few pounds too. but I dont think I would save much.

[Eskamobob1]

[Bugsy61]

If your seriously going to do this, I'd look into 3.44 ring and pinion. They are available now. Have someone experienced help you pick out the right 4th gear to go with that, to achieve your goals. Of course, it will take a pretty torquey engine to pull that gear. Honestly, go Toyota Camry with a four banger for DD.

[Eskamobob1]

[RailBoy]

Street Rail with Built Berg Trans and 2110 with all Housing, Single 44 IDF on top of Redline Heated Intake.. My take, had one, but not sure of MPG, lol.... RB
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[quote="smitty24"]"HELP, I ported my own heads and now have fire coming out my ass" .[/quote]