If you're going for a 1600, you might consider one with a 1776 kit. More power & it drops right in. I did that with the last bug I owned, along with a decent balance job & it ran like a top with plenty of power for freeway driving.

Not a drop in, you have the machine the case and heads for oversize 90.5 P&C's.
The 1641cc kit is a drop-in that's somewhat OK and there is one slightly larger but it is pure china junk.

Rimco is still there, but they have changed hands.

Volkwagen Parts & Machining - RIMCO VW

Why not just remove the engine ( a fifteen minute job) and take it to a local machine shop? If the car is in or near Weatherford, go to
Precision Engine Services
1413 East Main Street, Weatherford, OK 73096-5722
(580) 772-6255 ‎

Go on theSamba.com and find the parts. This way you keep the original engine with the car. It is a 64 and other than converting it to a 12V they are getting very hard to find with the original 1300 engines intact. If for reasons that I don't understand you find a way to talk your Aunt into getting rid of her car send me a PM, I am certainly a buyer of a complete 64 with the original engine in it, no matter what shape it's in.

How much $$$ are we talking to rebuild this motor, vs drop in a crate motor? Parts wise anyways?

Good to know. The shop was closed for awhile, that I know. I wonder if the machine shop manager is still the same guy. Knew his shc!t.

Was it Brad?

Mark, Pm your thoughts on the car if you are really interested in buying... Make an offer ;)

Honestly, the car is a great start for a resto, but my aunt and uncle aren't willing to pay for a resto, aren't going to do it themselves, and I don't have the time to work on my own projects. It's been converted to 12v at some point in the past, and my dad and I replaced the starter last winter. A few weeks ago the carb stuck open and it had a bit of a runaway, hence the knock. The body is straight, albeit shoddily painted, and I've not seen rest in my dealings with the car.

Here are a few pics, if you will ignore the people... I had the car for prom a few years back, it matched my dates dress... :rolleyes:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318830676.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1318830695.jpg

Hey, I think those pop-out rear windows are a very desirable option. Haven't had anything to do with VWs iin decades though, so I might be wrong.

wanna killa engine? FAT RACING!


umpteen gazzillion SCORE 1/2-1600's and class 5's can attest to their Q.C.

Same as FAT performance? Last time I talked to them they wuz slowly getting out of the air-cooled bidness and focusing more on water pumpers.
They sure was proud of their work though, as evidenced on the bottom of the invoice.

I know they're good but not sure if ANYONE can be that good :rolleyes:

yes FAT PERFORMANCE. ya get what ya pay for.

Don't think a tricked out motor is the answer for this bug. Like I said, it's a pretty tired car.

It's sweet. Very classic. I think a hot rod motor would ruin the whole vibe.

The FAT shop is about three miles from da house, been there many times over the decades.
So was the Berg's shop, dan know iffn it's still there or not after Gene passed.
I got what I paid for from the Berg's.

When I was in high school my DD was a primer gray 67 bug with centerlines and surf racks.
My dial in at the bug-ins was 14.4 and I was bagging at least 1/2 second.
Dem wuz the good ole days, I miss OCIR.