What size valves should I use

dawireman · Post by **dawireman** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 5:47 pm

I am building a daily driver/ weekend fun at the track. I am debating on what size heads I should use. Any help would appreciated.
82mm Demello c/w crank
5.5 Demello rods
engle 120 cam
dual 44 webers
94mm p/c
straight cut cam gear
new (yes i'm going to try it) al case tapped and clearenced.
8.75 c/r
12.5 flywheel
Thunderbird header and exhaust
I guess that these are the specs you would need. It is going into my 66 beetle that i will use to commute about 120 miles per day. I don't really care about fuel economy but I don't want to have to look at the ass end of everybody in the slow lane like I do now in my 1600 stocker. What size valves would you recommed? Anyone?

Post by **Marc** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 5:54 pm

As big as you can afford?
Seriously, the port work matters as least as much as the valve size, but 42x37.5 would be a good place to start IMO. A nicely done set of 40x36 heads would probably work as well overall, but with a 120 you must not be planning on too much stop-and-go work anyway, and you'd always be wondering what you missed out on...

superdrag73@work · Post by **superdrag73@work** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 6:00 pm

I've always liked big valves. I like 44 by 38's for the street.

dawireman · Post by **dawireman** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 6:41 pm

Don't the smaller valves give me more low/mid power? I am not really interested in speeds beyond 90mph or so on a dailey basis. Won"t the smaller heads run cooler? I am willing to pay the extra money for bigger valves if they will be beneficial to me on a daily basis. Also is the 120 web cam a good choice or should I look at the 125 or 130? I really don't want to run ratio rockers. I am most interested in 0-80 mph runs. I am running a stock tranny.

superdrag73@work · Post by **superdrag73@work** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 7:07 pm

I had a 2110 with 44 by 38 valves, and a 130. With 9.3 to 1 on the street. I liked this combo a lot, but for a daily driver ,I think it's a bit much.

James2 · Post by **James2** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 7:23 pm

I have 44X37 valves with HUGE ports on a little ol' 1914. It pulls from idle.

Buy the best heads you can afford. Go with at least a 42X37.5, with a "stage6" port job.

The cam will determine the power band more then the head size or carbs, exhaust, etc. They still need to work together.

here a proven combo, done by Hot VWs and repeated many times This is just the high lights-

94X82
K-8 cam( or web 86b)
Cb 044 heads 42X37 or 44 X 37. (Well ported, should flow over 190 cfm at 25 in on the intake)( CB CNC heads are a bargin)
1-5/8 merged header.
48 idf, DRLAs or IDAs. You want a 38-40mm vent.
CR 8.5-9.0.

Should kick out 160-180 hp, depending on the details and how well the heads are ported.

You will have excellent throttle response.

James2 · Post by **James2** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 7:28 pm

Stick with 120 cam if you're not willing to run ratio rockers. I sure wouldn't run the 130. Any thing over a 125 just sucks for throttle response when compared to the smaller cams.

I would encourage you to run ratio rockers, the valve train will last longer and you can gain quite a bit of hp with the k-8 over the 120.

dawireman · Post by **dawireman** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 9:00 pm

Ok I will stick with the 120 cam and get the 42x38 valves with a good p&p. I would go with the ratio rockers but this thing has already gone over budget by about 1400 bucks. I figure when I tear it down again at about 10k miles I may play with a different cam and or ratio rockers. Thanks for the help.

captCRUNCH · Post by **captCRUNCH** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 10:51 pm

didn't i just see a set of heads on type 1 forsale? 42X37 already drilled for 94's? might wanna check 'em out.