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What is the best configuration(bore, stroke, cam, ...) for a rebuilding an engine given the car will be driven fairly long distances on the weekends. 2 - 5 hour drives one way. I am looking for something that has more power than stock but I am not one to try to race. I got all that out of my system in high school in my Mustang GT. Just don't want an engine that is likely to overheat on a trip out of town. The car is a 68 Beetle and the engine case is an AK, single port. I had read that AK's were replacement cases.

Let me say not every weekend but every once and a while.

AK 0,000,001 - AK 0,239,364 would be a production `73 case for the US market. Potentially decent starting point. What kind of budget did you have in mind (guts, feathes, & the works - carburetion/exhaust/clutch/etc./etc.)?

How much cash u got????

id say a 1775 motor would b just dandy

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Fredy-
55 bug-
63 bug-
67-bug sunroof
68-bug

As for funds, I am trying to stay between $1000 - $1300

I'm with Fredy on the 1775 plan then; if you spend it wisely you'll have enough to finish it right. Better that than a bigger motor compromised by inadequate funds.
Next question I have, will you always-always buy Premium for it, or do you want something that's OK on cheap gas?

I would say regular to mid grade gas. Given I will not be driving it every day I might go for premium.

whos building it???

kustom 1 kit 300
carbs 300 +/-
cam&gear solid rocker shafts???
pushrods????
heads???
machine work???
full flow
bearings
exaust
more more more

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Fredy-
55 bug-
63 bug-
67-bug sunroof
68-bug

Don't have anyone picked out yet.

than ur gonna do it

we will all make u

u will b shown the way

use the force

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Fredy-
55 bug-
63 bug-
67-bug sunroof
68-bug

Yes, I may pick myself to do it.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Marc:
... will you always-always buy Premium for it...<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The reason I make such a big deal about that is that I've seen so many people who swore they'd always buy good fuel, then go back on their word when they didn't notice any problem running cheaper stuff the first time they tried it. An engine built for Premium will have a shorter life on Regular even if you don't seem to have any symptoms. For midrange gas with stockvalve heads and the kind of carburetion that'll fit your budget you should probably be thinking of a CR around 7.75:1. Don't overcam it as so many do (an Engle 110 is a bit much for such an engine IMO, I certainly wouldn't go any larger). If you want to be able to flog it a little now and then a counterweighted crank/lightened flywheel would be wise. You're going to want to get full dualport sheetmetal/fan & oil cooler, for everything but the cooler itself used OEM stuff is the best bet. Don't take a chance on a used cooler unless it comes off of an engine that's clean inside (no sign that it ever ate a rod bearing). I'd go further and stipulate a new cooler, but if you start adding up the stuff you'll need the budget's starting to get a little tight already (funny how that always happens when you write down the numbers).

Thanks for the posts. Good info to consider. I will start looking at parts and cash soon. Still have to get the paint job done now all the major body work is done.

For your situation, I'd go with a 1776cc. CW crank, Engle W100 cam, 3/8 Al pushrods, hi-rev single springs, Kadrons on your single port heads (If you can find the manifolds), 1 3/8 headers, Full flow filter & cooler, C/R about 7.5:1. If you find that stretching your budget, you could drop it to 1641cc, use 87mm slip in pistons, and save the cost of the machine work.

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If you can make black marks from the apex of one turn to the braking point of the next, you may have enough horsepower.

I'm looking to build about the same thing. About the same budget too.

Things I already have that I'd like to re-use.
009 dizzy, 1 3/8 extractor (so I can use my heater boxes), hide away muffler, stock engine tin, AE case, set of Kads, my 040 heads,and that's about it.

Ok, shoot it too me straight. I'm running this in my 71 vert so I want to run a 1776 to assure it doesn't run too hot. Live up in Wisconsin so I want some heat to extend the driving season.
I was thinking adding a Demello ccw crank, cima/mahle p/c, port job on the heads, W100 cam,and ????

What kind of performance can I expect if I build an engine like this? Please share the do's and don'ts on this project. Does it make more sense to buy an existing 1776 that needs freshening up?

This will be my first engine (other than new rings, bearings and heads on my Ghia) First semi-perfomance I guess...

Bedlamite, there isn't much for VW stuff much less perfomance around here (Sturgeon Bay) You got any leads on good used parts? blocks, pistons, etc.?


[This message has been edited by gleason (edited 02-08-2003).]