Who's baja is getting a motor rebuild and trans rebuild? Me

[indianpeaksjoe]

Well I love this baja, it is pretty basic compared to the monsters on this forum. But I decided I wanted a few jobs outside my skill set done, like new disc brakes on the rear, new shocks, a general tune up, etc.

I took it to the dudes up at Verve Vintage https://www.vervemotorworks.com/ in SLC. I asked them to check out the motor while they were at it. Welp... I have tons of compression loss in 2 cylinders. Rebuild time!

I have had some trouble getting into first, along with downshifting from 3rd to 2nd. So, my trans is getting rebuilt too.

At least it'll be fresh for a while!

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[ORANGECRUSHer]

It'll last a good long time.

My baja's previous version of the motor would not die. Despite being a thin wall 1835, there was nothing that could stop it.

Not spark plugs stripping and popping out on the way home from work.
Kept going
Not sinking it in a lake between sand dunes and filling the motor full of water.
Drained it out in the parking lot and filled with new oil and drove 45 miles home.
Kept going
Eventually it just didn't want to start anymore. I got at least ten years out of that motor and it definitely wasn't new when I got it. It was built by a local builder of performance engines and tranmissions named Petrucci who's probably not alive anymore. RIP
We'll see how my new version of it holds up.
I hope those guys take care of you. You love that car. Not that anybody shouldn't... it's the perfect color!
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[indianpeaksjoe]

Thanks OrangeCrusher - They seem like really good folks. They even picked the Baja up at my house in Moab! Which made them great in my book, and they’ve talked me out of upgrades I don’t need for my style of driving. So the list of things being done while they have it started as :
- Rear discs
- General inspection and tune up.
- New shocks
- New shift tunnel bushings (front and rear)
- Install of Baja front tube bumper, I can’t weld.. my current one is a bolt on light bar
- Replace rear axle boots
- modern oil filter adapter
- electric fuel pump

And now an engine rebuild and trans rebuild.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[67rustavenger]

Is the shop just rebuilding your rather stock engine?
Or are you gonna upgrade a bit more low end torque?
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I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[indianpeaksjoe]

I’m waiting to hear back on what the engine looks like inside. How many times has it been cut, etc. Then decide from there! Any tips for a 1600 DP who cruises at 5-10mph on the sandy and sometimes bumpy trails of Moab?

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Hopefully, the case is on it's first cut.

A popular size is a 1776 stroker. Thick wall cylinders and lots of longevity. From what I hear.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[Scott SD]

Engine size is always a combination of how much you want to spend. A 1776 is a rock solid combo. I have build a few 1776s for the street that would a scream. A mild 1776 will live forever.

Mr Orangecrusher, Primo Petrucci built that motor, I didn’t know that he passed away. I had a lot of conversations with him 20+ years ago. He was a builder that understood engine dynamics and started a build with a purpose in mind. I always referred to him as Midwest Gene Berg or Primo Berg. Super talented guy.

[ORANGECRUSHer]

He may still be alive, I just know he's not in business anymore as far as I was told. We are losing all those old guys who kept this going for so long. Hopefully, their knowledge has been passed down to people who appreciate it.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Joe-


Link

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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[ORANGECRUSHer]

It's like he heard me lol came out 17min ago
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[DesertSasquatchXploration]

69 crank 90.5 full weight flywheel will run forever and run cool. 1776 stocker
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Key is to have downward travel Preload keep both wheels on the ground at all times once you lift a tire your DONE. Guys worry about clearance instead think of the opposite you want the suspension to drop that tire in the hole and keep you going. A spider for example they keep their body low but their legs can reach pretty far so they don't (bottom out)

[indianpeaksjoe]

I do like the idea of a mild 1776.

He brought up lots of good points, but I’m a neophyte when it comes to engines. He could have just been making shit up and I would never know

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[BFB]

I think it's like most things in life, it all depends on who you know. ive got al 'ol boy who does line bores for me for $80 ( although he's on his way out so those days are numbered ) but at that theres no reason for me to not use used cases.

and one of the last engines I built I used old stock heads, put new valve guides in, bought new valves, did a little mild port work , then had the valves & seats cut which cost me about $150. dont think I have more than $250 total in the heads and they're working great on an 1801cc.

If I was in OP situation id throw a little stroke to the engine, it's amazing how much difference that makes. but that also depends on the builders skills too.
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"how am i supposed to torque the rear wheel nut to 250 ft lbs??? " - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
Most experts aren't.

[dirtkeeper]

Right on , a new engine is alway a great addition.

I suggest a build that provides low rpm power. That was the best thing when I had a 2050 stroker built for me. With big tires and my original engine it was. A struggle to do anything low speed because of the higher rpm power range.

A stock fan shroud might be more effective than that rounded one you have.

I’m not convinced that rear discs are an upgrade. That said I have upgrade mine to type 3 and that made a great improvement .

[indianpeaksjoe]

Update from my dudes at Verve. It is a 1776 already! After taking things apart, it does not look as bad as they had thought it was going to be.

So that is cool.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Well then maybe they can reuse a lot of the parts and just freshen it up!
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[indianpeaksjoe]

Thats the hope! They are polishing the cam and soda blasting the...(heads?).

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[ORANGECRUSHer]

Have you thought about trying a different cam?

Especially if it has a stocker, you might be able to wake it up a little with a different cam. Or at least make it behave more to your liking.
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Brian H.

OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes

[indianpeaksjoe]

OK, this is my ignorance showing, but they said it "had a cam". So not a stock one AFAIK.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle

[indianpeaksjoe]

I went with this crank https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1104.htm?s...t95rWbOwEp
And straight cut gears https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/1399.htm?s...R4uoG1XiW_

Also thinking of going from the 34 pict 3 to a IDF.

-Joe
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Adventures in owning a 66 beetle