what would be your "perfect" type 4 engine for a camper?

As above really, what would be your spec and why?

I love my bus and i guess to some extent the lack of power and slowing to go up hills (and changing down to third) when fully loaded with camping gear and family is all part of the fun of owning a classic vehicle... however it would be nice to have something that cruised at "modern" speeds and didn't become a mobile chicane for the other traffic everytime there's an uphill gradient.

I'm skint (nothing new there) so this is not something i'd imminently planning to do, but i'd be interested what people's views are - maybe you've already got the perfect bus engine? @zedders? @holmsen Not interested in drag racing or gold plated unobtanium high $$ motors, just a good spec for making a 40 yr old vehicle torquey and reliable. I guess 150 hp and 150 torques would be about the right amount of "go"?

Don't want a subaru before anyone mentions it.

My current spec; stock 2.0 type 4 with ICT's and a 123 ignition.

Purely based on reading stuff on the internet, i'm thinking mine would be 96x78 (2257cc) no machining required, like this: http://aapistons.com/collections/hi...w-type-4-performance-plus-engine-rebuild-kits

With 42/36 heads:
http://aapistons.com/collections/st...-type-4-performance-cylinder-heads-42x36-pair

Plus drla40's like zed's? Would a stock cam work ok with that setup or would i need something different to get the most out of it (don't want to trade top end power for low torque - i need to be grunty).

OR - should i just try my current engine with some meatier carbs - maybe put a set of DRLA's on with with what i have now and see how that performs first before i start dreaming about any other shiny new parts?

Thoughts? Views? Opinions?

 

Best i've had is a 2056 ccm. Bas copy exhaust, new cam and 40mm carbs

 

Capacity = torque
More lift and/or bigger valves to keep up with increased capacity. Increasing lift increases duration by default.
More cam duration lets it rev hence more power (torque x revs).
But it's a balance for us becsuse you can't gain on one area without loosing in another without variable valve timing. Bugger!
So in short if you want power and a driveable engine, the bigger you make it, the madder you can go with the cam and still retain the low end grunt.
Mine is a wee bit on the grunty side of perfect, but the low revving nature of it let me keep standard exhaust and heat exchangers.
102 HP, 177 ft/lbs.

 

As Holmsen's is almost 400cc smaller and beats me to 55 on the recent thread, I bet mine is quieter. @holmsen what revs did you change gear to get your time?

 

pretty high up,,,5100-5300 ish

 

Corvair. Close the thread

 

All good technical advice. I take it the van is running fine and slow up hills as expected with all the extra weight. In my opinion, if it aint broke, then leave it alone and enjoy it. You don't have any money for upgrades anyway, just spend a bit more on higher octane super unleaded fuel and more frequent oil changes using the 20w50 of course.

I just don't get the idea of driving these old vans at motorway speeds. Maybe I am missing some extra thrills in my old age but I like 55 mph in my van and the challenge of going up hills. I don't want to go 70mph and worry about the handling and the brakes.

Enjoy what you have and just admire as I do the other vans with their subaru engines and stuff, its free of charge.

 

But you can still potter along at 55 on Aroads in a bus that's capable of doing 80 all day if you want to. Sometimes you do just want to get there a bit quicker, there's no fun in any journey down the M6,M5, A30 at the best of times, these busses are under powered for long journeys fully loaded up for camping because they weren't designed for it.

 

Keep your bus as it is. If you get some money, spend it on some good weed. That'll take the edge off of the old M5 footkiller. You'll enjoy the "trip" much more and see different and wonderful things on your travels.

 

could get a panelvan with rock and roll bed ? how heavy are these interiors ? i want one but im dreading the weight!

my panel van has a 1.7 type 4 and rips along in 4th all day this is the most savage hill around mine http://veloviewer.com/segment/729036/Worldham Hill
with a half decent run up i can do it without a down shift .

 

Good advice. Unfortunately I'm not patient enough or have enough time (that's just a perception thing) If I had all day id potter. invariably I don't. Answer should be plan sooner, set off earlier and enjoy!

 

It's the poptop/Windows/ curtains, soft furnishings, put cupboards in then you only go and fill them, cooker , gas , fridge, sink ..........

 

Setting off sooner is stressful! There always seems to be a mad rush to get the last bits crammed in, even if we're 3 hours early! I still don't really want to go above 60 though, even if I could

 

to be fair, mine with just me on board, no camping gear etc will zip up most hills no problem, just when you add kids, wife, dog, camping crap etc that's when it doesn't like the hills any more..

 

ive had my little panel van off the clock and its scary !

 

mines abit thin at the moment its litrally a panel van with a tube frame RR bed thats it .

 

yep, and we always seem to have about 10 extra "emergency" tins of beans/soup etc - never get eaten, just there in case we get stranded somewhere without shops or there is a nuclear war, famine etc.

we also have enough gas to last us 'til the end of time - i'd be much happier with a little canister..

 

ok, and if you google Raby's camper special motors those are only 2.o capacity just with special heads/cam etc.

I guess the question is - if you're going for new barrels and pistons anyway to get 2056 why wouldn't you go for a bigger capacity too (like zed has). the 2257 b&p i linked above don't need machining so should just be bolt on, right?

 

You surprise me. you always give the impression of just getting in the bus, pick up some shopping and job done!