New engine

That's an 040 head - So 1600? Type 1 part numbers really aren't my thing

 

Can't find my book.
is that 16 or 18 at the end?

 

I always say lets start with the simple things and move along from there

Does the engine run at present?

 

18 I think.

 

I think Paul's right and 040 heads are 1600 TP
1300 heads most commonly appear to start with 113
Your heads look quite new. I'll tell you a story...
I replaced a pair of cracked heads with new for someone. I bought a pair of new from an engine building source I won't name and fitted. The engine was poo and as you describe, it went up to 45 in 3rd ok if a little sluggish, but put in 4th and nothing.
After head scratching I stripped engine, cc'd the heads, measured the deck height and worked out the compression ratio which was something like 6.8:1. Hopelessly low. Material had been machined out of the heads I know not why, destroying the compression ratio and leading to a gutless engine.
I sent them back, got a refund, bought elsewhere and the engine was cured.
What i'm saying is that I suspect some engine builders are deliberately building low compression ratio engines so they don't go pop under warrenty and maybe you have one.

 

Some of those 040 heads have a massive chamber in them too, and others haven't been ported properly... I did a set a few years back, and they hadn't been ported correctly... they stepped down to around 20mm behind the valve seat!!

I'm sure I took some photos at the time, but for the life of me I can't find them!!

 

its a 16.

 

So would it not make sense to just buy another engine? Im not a mechanic, so my options are limited. But rather than trying to polish a turd, would it just be safer to get a decent one in there?

 

Quite possibly.

 

It would make sense to take it to an aircooled specialist garage or find somebody from the VW aircooled world who has some idea of what is likely to have gone wrong with it.

Before buying another unknown quantity AKA a cheap recon engine which may end up just as bad.

There are a lot of simple reasons why a bus runs badly. Quiite a lot of them have simple adjustments. Like replacing points, adjusting points gap, checking the timing , replacing sparkplugs, putting four ignition leads in the right order on four sparkplugs.


Although you are not a mechanic now, if you keep the bus and dont have a lot of money to burn, I would recommend buying the books, watching Youtube videos and learning at least the basics.

Or you could always treat yourself to a T2D boot camp which will point you in the right direction (but does cost a significant fraction of the price of a cheapo eBay engine ... ) .

 

DOes anyone know of a reputable dealer that I can get a decent engine from?

 

I'd find out what's wrong with the old first. If it's as bad as you say, there's likely to be something pretty obvious that's wrong - may possible things. As above, try and find a decent air-cooled specialist. Your local garage won't have a clue.

Hopefully, it's something that easily fixable.

 

Its been with an aircooled specialist. Who has told me to buy a new engine.

 

Did he tell you what was wrong with it? Was this the same bloke telling you it's a 1300?

 

Yes, Theres nothing actually wrong with the engine its just too small.

 

Or its running so badly it feels too small?

Is this your first aircooled engine?

 

Have we not just ascertained that you've got a 1600? That's more than enough for a bus.

 

Sorry how has this be ascertained?

 

I think @burnzdog is being clear thou mark , hes admitting he doesnt know , and people are asking him questions that he cant answer , hes believing his mechanic /aircooled specialist, who non of us know who he is but .............................. I think it would be good if someone whos local to him if they could take a look and let him go from their maybe?? before he goes back ??