Date:         Tue, 20 Sep 1994 12:34:32 -0400
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         hseaver@nyx.cs.du.edu (Harmon Seaver)
Subject:      Re: asking for help once more...(bread loafers)

> 
> >Barry Nichols writes...
> > I have a line on a 1978 bus with a 1974 SUPER BEETLE engine (???!!!). Does
> > this raise any hackles? Also the bus is possibly in need of some carb 

  I can't imagine why anyone would want to do that -- having the upright
fan, etc, makes it very difficult to even get the engine in and out in
the first place. The older bus w/TYPE I engines had a removeable rear
panel so you could just slide the engine out. Anyway, I bought a '69 new
and ran it for 10 years or so, and did an awful lot of rebuilding. That's
why VW went to the 914 engine -- the old 1500-1600 engine is just a hopped
up 40hp (1200) and the case, et al, are not up to the stress of pushing
a van around. The 914 case, etc, is much stronger, and the oil cooler
problem is better resolved (not blocking #3 cyl, and has a filter).
Also the engine I'm rebuilding currently for my '73 is growing
from the stock 1700cc to 2000cc -- I think that's what you need for the
weight and aerodynamics of a brick, although the 17-1800 engines are
simply much more powerful than even my Type I with a big bore kit, 3/4
race cam, and roller-bearing crankshaft.
  Go ahead, buy that bus if it's really cheap, but I wouldn't pay any
more than what I would pay for the same year non-running. Less, in fact,
if he butchered any stock body parts on the install. Then pull the
1600 and put in the right engine. Maybe you can sell the bug engine to
someone, buy a 914 at a junkyard and rebuild it.

Harmon Seaver 
hseaver@nyx.cs.du.edu

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