I have a 1700 engine in the bus with twin Solex and a cheap performance exhaust. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised at how much quicker than my old 1600 Bay it seems and indeed it even feels quicker than the beetle. But as the saying goes, you can never have too much power, so I'm thinking of buying another motor and having it rebuilt to a higher spec and bigger capacity. I already have new servo brakes, wheels and tyres and she stops on a sixpence Is there anything I should watch out for/avoid with the base motor? It needs to remain driveable and reliable, is there a finite point of capacity that this ceases to be the case? Is £3k enough for this? And finally any recommendations on engine builders? All comments appreciated, even the silly ones as long as they are funny!
1700 type 4 motor, yes. Gearbox, dunno, the one it came with!?!?! Is it easy to find out? LHD Cali X-over if that's any help. All original as far as I can tell.
I guess you have a 72 - 73 cross over right? I have a 74 1800 model with a CM box. Gearbox code is on the side. Looks like this. Once you know what box you have then you can work what motor you can put on it. If you want to go 2l, then you might as well get the box to go with it.
For £3k you can get plenty of type 4 power... but if you have got to buy carbs too, then you'll be limited to around a 2056cc motor with stockish heads (mild P&P job)
So forgive my stupidity (we all have to start somewhere, I can quote cam timing on 70's Kawasakis from memory but VWs, still a newbie) The 1700, 1800 and 2000, despite all being Type 4 (Porsche style) motors all had different gearboxes and aren't interchangeable? Given that both the bore and stoke differ as well, how big can you go on the 1700 motor? (If i don't change the gearbox) Would just buying a 2000 engine and box to start with be a better idea? (Given I intend to swap them out as I want to use my bus while the engine is built)
on the 1700, with a small bit of head machining, you can go up to 1911cc... the 1800 would go to 1911cc too, but the 2l can go up to 2056
Actually you can go bigger on all of them, but that is just slip in sizes!! If you want to spend the money, I can build you around a 3.1l engine
But I'd need a tractor gearbox to cope!!!! Sorry for all the questions Paul but if you don't ask you never learn. So it would be best to find a donor 2 litre motor and gearbox, have them both 'sorted' then swap them over (it's only 4 bolts you know. ). Recouping some of the initial investment by selling the old ones on. Is it just the case machining that stops the bore sizes increasing? Eventually there must be a limit (3.1 litre!)? I guess it's the same as my bike motors, more power=exponentially more money. HP is only limited by GBP. At least I'm in the right ball park on the costs, next stop fleabay for a 2 litre motor and box then!
Hello Banana man ,i have a type 1 1776cc engine in mine.Its been built by John Maher racing(the buzzcocks drummer)and is still excellent 20 thousand miles later.It pumps out 100 plus bhp and has loads of low down torque.Now for the bad bit he has just updated his website at the mo so no prices or specs displayed but still worth a look.I found the original bill for the previous owner £4,500+ 10 years ago but worth every penny.
Just found this info on a site hope it helps Engine Type 1, 1776cc Cam Engle 120 Carbs Dellorto 40 DRLA x 2 Heads JMR 044 (40 x 35.5mm) Compression ratio 8.5:1 Max BHP 124.9 @ 6100rpm Max Torque 120.1ftlbs @ 5000rpm
Very true,but for quality of work done,materials used etc its worth every penny. You pays your money and takes your choice (plus the previous owner paid not me)
T25 engine... can be used in a bay, but you would need to get the bay tin, fan shroud.. exhaust... But that's what I'd be paying max for a unknown type 4!! No problems on the questions, we all have them (I'm currently looking up info on a 3.1TD Jeep) Gearbox wise, for a 3.1, then you'll be looking at porsche 915 or short nose G50 to cope with the torque being produced!! Quick look at numbers and a 86mm stroke and 105 bore B&Ps gives you 2979cc... but I am sure I've heard of a 3.1 type 4.. but you're right, there is only so much you can do within a given space!! (88x106 would give you 3.1l) Yeah, bigger = cost more... a 3l motor would be costing around £10k by time I'd clearanced the insides of the motor, blue printed it all, and put it together and got it running!!
Heat? Heat? Ooooh, that sounds nice I've never had heat in the bus. That'd be a luxury! I think I'm gonna save silly power for the Crewcab.
