gene berg 307 cam with 1.25 rockers instead of 1.4

[advinnie]

Hi all I have a change to fit a  gene berg 307 cam that is ment to be run with 1.4 ratio rockers but I dont have them but I do have 1.25 ratio rockers would it be ok and would the engine work if I use the 1.25 rockers instead. The cam details are cam lift-.341 duration 278 degrees

[dragvw2180]

Will it start and run, absolutely . This is the quote from BERG website,
For 1600cc-up and at least 1-2 barrel or dual single barrel carbs such as GB 484 or GB 477A. GB 271 with singe barrel carbs and GB 273A if dual, dual throat carburetion such as GB 479U is used. Idle to 5000 RPM. 278 duration, 0.341" lift at cam.

You will be giving up about .050 " lift but I am guessing this is a small street engine with limited carburation so all out performance may not be as important to you. It should still be fun and run pretty well and later when you get the cash you can upgrade the rockers to 1.4s . Have fun, Mike McCarthy

[advinnie]

Cheers mate thanks for the reply I just cant understand why they say the cam is designed to use 1.4 rockers only

[dragvw2180]

Actually these cams are designed to work best with ratio rockers to utilise all the benifits from it, but at the end of the day it is a camshaft and you could use a 1.1 rocker and it would still start and run , but just would not perform as well as it would with a 1.4 or 1.5 rockers. There are many many differant ratio rockers out there besides the common 1.1, 1.25, 1.4 , 1.5 rockers and they can get crazy lifts. My Berg 1.4 rockers actually lift 1.5 with my head and valve combination so you do have to check your actual lift with a dial indicator and check for coil bind along with piston to valve clearance . Sometimes people who have valve train issues use lower ratio rockers, say when they coil bind using a 1.5 rocker they may use a 1.4 to gain a little clearance between the spring coils or even your 1.25s . I personally have not used them because I usually have an engine combination pre planned and my parts already laid out before assembly, sometimes taking years to save money to complete so I do understand . Some of the 1.4 rockers ( SCAT/ CB ) are a pretty good product for the money . I hope you have fun and good luck. Mike McCarthy

[advinnie]

Hi there you seem to know what your talking about so do you mind if I ask you a question. If I was to fit a 74mm crank will the engine width increase and is it worth it. The engine will be a 1776 with a stock 69mm crank and a 1905 with a 74mm crank but I dont want the hassle if the engine width will increase. Basically will a 1776 be enough for a vw beetle as a daily driver?

[dragvw2180]

I have had more than 1 1776 engine and they are plenty enough power to do just about anything you could ask of a daily driver. One my own Speedster kit car I had a 1776 with a 110 cam and dual 44 webers on it along with MSD ignition , it was absolutely driveable in the city and had enough power to lift the front tire on this light car. Here is a pic of the engine and car,






These pics were taken when I had the BABY DELLS on the 1776 which ran great also and got excellent fuel milage . Mike McCarthy

[advinnie]

Mate thats a lovely looking car and your engine bay WOW its clean. How long do you think you can keep it that clean . So a stock crank it is then its going to be interesting to see what this cam is like it seems to be a mix of a engle w100 and a engle 110 cam by that I mean with 1.25 ratio rockers I get the lift of a engle w100 but the duration is closer to a 110. Do you think that dual empi 34 carbs are going to be to small. Do you think dual Dellorto DLRA 36s might be better or can you recommend any others? I take it you aren't in the UK cause I would really love to see that car.

[dragvw2180]

That picture was taken after 2 years of driving it part time for fun, I actually drove it to a race , entered the show car section and raced it too and won best of show. I sealed the crankshaft with a CB bolt in sand seal kit and fabricated a large crankcase vent system so it did not leak any oil and I kept it inside my garage whenever I was not driving it. I would use the 34's if you have them but if I had to buy some I would probably buy a pair of dual 40's. I had great luck with the 44 Webers but also have had great experiances with the last 2 sets of EMPI dual 44's I have purchased for customers. No I am in North Carolina, USA . I would love to see my old Speedster also but someone saw it and bought it from me . He flew in from Florida , paid me and drove it home . He was so happy with it that he bought another one and brought it to me to put it together for him. I miss that car alot. Since you liked that car you might like this one also, my car is the red one .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJZrEFElU24
Mike McCarthy

[advinnie]

sweet thats one quick car so what size engine is in it a 1600cc or is it 1800cc must have at less 105BHP HA HA HA . but no that is a wicked car you must have to much money I would love to get into building drag cars or high performance bugs but I stuck in my aircraft technical inspectors job. that would cost a bomb here in the UK for a stock bug £10,000 would only get you the body work welded and painted and the interior done. the engine well its about £1,200 for a basic 1641cc engine and about £3,000 for a 2275cc.

[dragvw2180]

The engine is a 2387 cc (86x94) and it was dynoed at 366 rwhp. No I do not have alot of money, I just save up , buy a part , buy another part and when I have enough parts to put any section of it together I do until I finish the project. Some engines have taken me years to complete. I am very lucky that I am an automobile tech plus I did restorations for ten years in a body shop , so I can do most of my own work which makes more things possible. My advice is to plan out exactly what you want , make a list of all the parts and buy them in an order that allows you to assemble it a little at a time. If I can help or advise you contact me either here or at my email , [email protected] and I will help you any way I can. My best advice is to set a reasonable goal that you can achieve without bankrupting yourself , pick the best parts for the money that will do the job and most of all have fun doing all of it . I sold that Speedster for 10,500.00 USD just like you saw it to fund the race car project . I usually build something , use it until I want something else then sell it to fund the next project and start all over again. I just sold the red race car to fund my latest project a 66 bug that my wife and I wanted. This will be my last build , I am 61 years old , and I hope the new car will be my best. I kept the turbo engine and transmission from the red race car for the new car so that part is done. My point is this , we all have limitations on what we can do , just enjoy doing whatever you decide to do. Mike McCarthy

[advinnie]

61 and still at it I take my hat off to you mate. Ive sent you an email to that address you gave me hooe you dont mind its just say what my goal is and what ive got yo achieve it.

[madmike]

Not to highjack but, ,, Mike & I Think alike on ,saving and Building, selling ect,, must be the age thing or ex-Michigander ,,too funny,59yrs young,madmike