Water cooled heads

mharney · Post by **mharney** » Mon Dec 09, 2002 6:46 pm

This is mostly a conversion topic, I guess, so I am posting it here.

I've done some searching around about water cooled heads for a Type I and got a little information, but I am really pretty unclear on it.

Here's what I am thinking about - it's obvious that it's hard to get continuous high horsepower out of a Type I engine, and consequently the require high fan speeds (stock pulley ratios) and a lower geared transmission to keep the load down, or things get hotter. I understand that some years back people were doing water cooled head conversions, and wonder about the feasibility of bringing the concept back into play, since technology is capable of much more (look at all the products that are out there now that were not, say, 20 years ago.

What made people stop trying it? Was it not a solid solution?

Additionally, can anyone give me details or point me in a direction on doing it? I understand certain waterboxer heads were candidates, but know nothing about which, and what bolt pattern issues exist, and performance considerations.

I realize there are some hurdles in terms of radiator and pump/thermostat/plumbing, but feel confident that those are small issues that I can work out. I just don't know what people were using to do this, and if anyone is even doing it anymore.

I do not want a full water cooled solution.. just heads. Thanks guys.

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mharney · Post by **mharney** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 7:50 am

chirp... chirp... chirp...

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goatmaster187 · Post by **goatmaster187** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 8:55 am

I believe that the bore spacing and stud pattern is the same on t-I heads as on the waterboxer ones. You could probably bolt em on and run a water pump off the crank pulley. You'd have to build a bracket to mount the pump to. There might be a little trouble getting the cylinders to seal to the head, but a little bit of milling could take care of that.

goatmaster187 · Post by **goatmaster187** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 6:31 pm

Ok so I went back and looked at the head designs side by side and they are not the same, but pretty close. There are a few problems to be resolved but nothing too complicated. The holes in the case need to be drilled off center and inserts or some sort of plug need to be added. The water jackets on the case side of the head need to welded up. And a few fins may need to be clearanced on the cylinders. I haven't figured out how the air cooling portion of the engine will be kept. There may be some real clearance problems on that.

mharney · Post by **mharney** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 7:13 pm

I have too much invested in my engine to fiddle with these on it. I'll have to wait until I get together some parts for experimenting. I'm not interested in relocating studs in my brand new case, and don't want to de-fin any part of my birals.

Thanks much for the information- I will give it a shot on the next build, which will be a 1914.

Thanks guys!

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TIMBERWOLF · Post by **TIMBERWOLF** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 11:12 pm

Unfortunately the bore stud spacings are NOT the same as either type one or four. Do a search on 'OXYBOXER' this gives info on this matter and some solutions. One guy in the UK put Scooby heads on a type I, blew it and got 500hp, and no it wasn't easy!!!

Bobtail · Post by **Bobtail** » Tue Dec 10, 2002 11:28 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TIMBERWOLF:
Unfortunately the bore stud spacings are NOT the same as either type one or four. Do a search on 'OXYBOXER' this gives info on this matter and some solutions. One guy in the UK put Scooby heads on a type I, blew it and got 500hp, and no it wasn't easy!!!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Who was that ?

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Paul_S · Post by **Paul_S** » Wed Dec 11, 2002 1:52 am

My father saw some water cooled heads for a Beetle a couple of years back at a local Beetle shop.

They were built for Beetle racing and cost about $ 1800 per head.
$3600 just for heads is a bit much for my pocket.

Unfortunately I don't have any useful info on the heads.

Paul

goatmaster187 · Post by **goatmaster187** » Wed Dec 11, 2002 8:24 am

I have access to some junk cases and water-cooled heads. If I get a few projects out of the way I'll tackle this one. I'll get all the critical dimensions and such and post em. I'm pretty sure that it can be done for less than a couple grand.

TIMBERWOLF · Post by **TIMBERWOLF** » Wed Dec 11, 2002 12:19 pm

Can't remember his name just now, he ran it 4WD in UK autocross, kind of tarmac and gravel circuit racing. Bobtail posted some time back about him selling it. Maybe do a search.

Bobtail · Post by **Bobtail** » Wed Dec 11, 2002 12:49 pm

Of course Peter Harrold!!
Thats still for sale aswell