Engine decision

[Tclynes]

It was all going so well, drop the engine out, strip, rebuild with a tinker, tune nicely, enjoy. (Michael the miracle mechanic doing the work, me popping in occasionally with biscuits.)

Then last Thursday 2 things happened, I got driven around Goodwood by Chris Harris in Kermit the 911, and he then told me the 356 he was in at the revival had 150bhp.

I now have a hunger for more power. I don't want to drop a 6 cylinder in, I like having four pots banging away. But what are your collective thoughts on dropping a VW engine or modded engine that's got over 2L in. Ruining the purity of the thing, or a good way to protect the original engine?

All thoughts welcome!

[cubist]

Type4 big power... save the 912 lump for a resto down the line. Er, imho.

[jury]

Do it !!!

I have had the same plan for the last 5 years. I have a Type 4 block sitting in the Garage.....maybe this winter I'll start. Though after a random conversation with one of the guys working on my house, it turns out he used to build VW Baja racing engines in south California.....just need to get him onboard before he smokes himself to death

2056 on carbs, a DTM fan, a modified 911 'RSR' engine bracket and full flow Oil system



Lovely :
http://cprclassic.com/images/carsprevio ... mages.html

Rough and ready but keep watching this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5St2ahTmBs

These guys are good:
http://fatperformance.com/home/

Don't know about these guys but they are in some way linked to Jake Raby:
http://www.originalcustoms.com/engines.php

Jake Raby:
http://www.aircooledtechnology.com/inde ... orsche-912

Theres these guys in the UK:
http://www.statesidetuning.co.uk/

Or if you have very deep pockets
http://www.polomotor.com/


Then Gearbox...Then Brakes...etc etc etc

Chris

[hot66]

If you want big reliable vw power, give my mate Darren chandler a call at air cooled performance ... Builds some of the best engines in he uk and he is based I yorkshire. Built engine for me in the past and looks after a few Porsche's . Give him a call to see if he can do something ... Not sure what his engine building work load is like as he's also fantastic bikes and v8's these days

[Flat 4 McCor]

I would keep the original engine, have word with Ian (Wolfsburg performance) he would be able to get 150bhp from it and I would also consider revs I had a type 4 in my beetle it had plenty of torque but didn't like revving much past 4000 which could be a problem on long journeys. that is the big difference between a vw engine and your engine, it is all possible with the type 4 but it just wouldn't be the same.

Just my thoughts,
http://wolfsburgperformance.co.uk/

[Nige]

If you are starting from scratch with a Type 4 budget a good £5k if not much more especially if you are farming the work out. Things to consider: custom fab'ing, engine mounts, exhaust/ heat exchangers, tinware, throttle linkage. Other things to add into the mix, fuelling, new carbs or EFI, ignition, clutch/flywheel setup, cooling 911 style will require the case to be machined, you'll also need the alternator and fan assembly (not particularly cheap these days). On top of that you need to find a decent base motor to start with, ideally a 914 motor as it has half decent heads to start with.

A hot Type 1 motor will be cheaper to build but all the above still applies, it's not as simple as it might sound.

A type 4 will rev happily up to 5.5-6k provided it's not built for a Camper van.

A pretty basic 2056 Jake Raby short motor starts at about £6k, well it did last time I enquired about 10 years ago.

[neilbardsley]

I suggest chatting with Ian Clark 170hp from a 356 race engine and a master VW engine builder. He should be able to suggest options

Sent from my UP520 using Tapatalk

[Tclynes]

Thank you for all the information, definitely plenty of options. I took the car out this morning for a drive, I am torn about not keeping the Porsche lump in for originality, but it I have time to decide though, 30% pay cut for fiancée and 50% for me with more hours, so I will be selling the 912 to fund a career change unless things improve, I'm gutted.

[neilbardsley]

Thank you for all the information, definitely plenty of options. I took the car out this morning for a drive, I am torn about not keeping the Porsche lump in for originality, but it I have time to decide though, 30% pay cut for fiancée and 50% for me with more hours, so I will be selling the 912 to fund a career change unless things improve, I'm gutted.

Ouch! Lots of experts on here can help with keeping it going and keeping the cost down. Sometimes like buying a house once you get your foot on the ladder it's best not to step in and out.

[Mr Pharmacist]

A pretty basic 2056 Jake Raby short motor starts at about £6k, well it did last time I enquired about 10 years ago.

Jakes engines now start at $20k! He only does a couple of big type 4 options now - does stuff like boxster and 911 engines a lot more now

[Tclynes]

Cheers Neil,

Still holding out for Jeremy Hunt to back off andplanning on keeping her. My argument is that it's not worth selling with an engine that needs work anyway!

Current shift is towards keeping original engine and getting it reliable and tuned up mildly as budget allows, this is all obviously going to cost less than £800 if my other half asks!

Will keep you all posted

Tom

[912uk]

I found the best way round this...

Kept the 912 as it was and bought a 996 to go fast!

Both about the same price but twice the fun now