What to do with my '79 engine advice plse
-
Bert
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 1:01 am
What to do with my \'79 engine advice plse
Hello again guys , well we made it back from our trip to Ontario the bus worked well except that it was running as high as 250` accross the prairies in 42`C heat halfway along the trip I realized that it had no thermostat cable and no flaps. It has also started to leak from various places . So I've decided that this fall after the insurance expires I'll pull the engine and re-seal / re-build it. It is a '79 w/California emissions, I have access to a pair of '76 1800 heads, What should I do? I am thinking of putting on new pistons and jugs before the trip my compression went from 115-125 , I see California imports gas CIMA pistons in a 2160 ? size I think thats it ,they seem to be cheaper than the stock pistons and jugs , i'd like a bit more power but want to retain hyd lifters,and fuel injection, I'd also replace the exhaust if I go with the 1800 heads, I also have an 02 sensor so would have to weld in a nut , all in all I want it to breath better and produce a little more power. I'm not sure if all this is do-able by a newby volks tinkerer but I'll have all winter to muck around, Any comments or advice are always appreciated
-
germansupplyscott
- Posts: 887
- Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2001 12:01 am
What to do with my \'79 engine advice plse
bert,
your situation is the same as mine was, a year and a half ago, pretty much including the newbie part.
you can do it.
you are going in the right direction. heads are key. if you are using unknown heads you may want to have them rebuilt. the 76 1800 heads are a good start, they will mean changing the exhaust, but you need to do that anyway, as the '79 cal spec is a bear. i changed to a liestritz 72-74 spec muffler and stock 72-74 heat exchangers and it all fits and works perfectly. you need to dance around a bit on the 02 sensor, but it's do-able.
you have to be careful increasing the bore on a bus engine, they will get hot. you are better to increase the stoke, but this is more difficult for a so-called newbie. if you can afford an engine kit from jake raby, you can build a sweet motor. if you stay stock, you can do it yourself, use the best parts everywhere, have the engine parts balanced, and you'll end up with a great end product, better than most anything out in the market. cam selection will be another area, use only web cam and their lifters, this is very important.
you MUST have the flaps, they direct cooling air to the oil cooler, for one thing. you are fortunate to have not had a mishap without the cooling system in order.
you have time, and inclination, and this forum can provide lots of help.
go for it!
scott lyons
your situation is the same as mine was, a year and a half ago, pretty much including the newbie part.
you can do it.
you are going in the right direction. heads are key. if you are using unknown heads you may want to have them rebuilt. the 76 1800 heads are a good start, they will mean changing the exhaust, but you need to do that anyway, as the '79 cal spec is a bear. i changed to a liestritz 72-74 spec muffler and stock 72-74 heat exchangers and it all fits and works perfectly. you need to dance around a bit on the 02 sensor, but it's do-able.
you have to be careful increasing the bore on a bus engine, they will get hot. you are better to increase the stoke, but this is more difficult for a so-called newbie. if you can afford an engine kit from jake raby, you can build a sweet motor. if you stay stock, you can do it yourself, use the best parts everywhere, have the engine parts balanced, and you'll end up with a great end product, better than most anything out in the market. cam selection will be another area, use only web cam and their lifters, this is very important.
you MUST have the flaps, they direct cooling air to the oil cooler, for one thing. you are fortunate to have not had a mishap without the cooling system in order.
you have time, and inclination, and this forum can provide lots of help.
go for it!
scott lyons
-
Bert
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Thu May 02, 2002 1:01 am
What to do with my \'79 engine advice plse
Thanks Scott, expect to hear a lot from me after the middle of Oct, til then I'm going to start gathering some parts any suggestions ? Heads.. what about piston kits any recomondations ? I wish I could afford one of Jakes Kits but with the exchange rate from Canuck buck to US dollar I feel almost like a poor Mexican counting my pesos....oh well