Porsche 912 motor in a Beetle

[cgarr]

I have a couple of extra 912 motors and want to put one in my 72 super beetle anyone ever done this or know of anyone who has? I assume it should be pretty straight hook up, I know a lot of people put vw motors in old 912's which seems like more work because you have to support the rear of the motor in the 912.

I know it would be very cheap to rebuild my old vw motor but I want to do something different.

[KaptKaos]

See this:

Cal-Look Delete: Porsche-Swapped 1957 VW Beetle

Not a Super, but you get the picture.

[bell]

I have a client with a dual carbed 912 engine in his orange Beetle. .... is a little hot rod, can't say the same about the brakes lol
Came to me already swapped with a washer in one of the cylinders from the builder. .... lol

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

See this:

Cal-Look Delete: Porsche-Swapped 1957 VW Beetle

Not a Super, but you get the picture.

PERFECT!!! Wouldn't change a thing...'cept maybe throw some 356 hubcaps on it...

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by KaptKaos

Cal-Look Delete: Porsche-Swapped 1957 VW Beetle.

What is the appeal or benefit to a 1.5L Porsche 4 cylinder over a 1.6L VW engine? Seems to me a dual port 1.6 has more hp potential on less money.

[Tobra]

If you want a hot rod, put a type IV motor in it; flip the R&P in a 914 drive train and you have a very good starting point. A nice progressive spring and some good shocks you can make a super beetle handle plenty well. You will want to swap the drums for some disk brakes on the front, no skinny front tires either. I can't imagine it would be that hard to do with a 912 motor

[targa911S]

i had one about 25 years ago. you will have to grind a bit off the inside of the bell housing or the fingers on the pressure plate will scrape. Mine had a 356 N in it. 912 is pretty much the same set up.

[Racerbvd]

What Tobra said, you can't get the same HP out of the 356 engine as you can a built VW, for less $$$

[HarryD]

would guess the real answer to a built VW motor vs a stock 912 is what is different.

To get 90 hp out of the 1600 cc motor, Porsche had to do something different than what VW did in their 46 hp 1600 cc motors while making motors that would last 100,000 miles plus.

While I am no expert, I am thinking the extra power came from differences in fuel induction, head design, exhaust design, compression ratio and cam. Longevity for the higher hp comes from better material selections and improved cooling.

If you look at the cost of building a high hp vw motor, I would think you come close to the cost of rebuilding a stock 912 motor.

What do the experts think?

[ckissick]

Because of parts availablilty and cost, it's much better to hotrod a VW type IV motor than it is to hot rod a 912 motor. That is the conventional wisdom.

[HarryD]

Originally Posted by ckissick

Because of parts availablilty and cost, it's much better to hotrod a VW type IV motor than it is to hot rod a 912 motor. That is the conventional wisdom.

True but if you think about it, the 912 motor is a hot rod VW motor..

My question was is it more cost effective to use a stock 912 motor or hot rod a type 1 VW motor.

[Embraer]

I wouldn't even mess with the 912 motor (after owning several of them). the 912 isn't a hot rod vw motor...there are some big differences between the two.

it is way more cost effective to use a hot vw motor over a stock 912 motor. just start pricing components. the solexes will probably be a pain to adjust, or you'll be chasing issues trying to get it to run right. go for webers and price skyrockets, etc, etc, etc.

[Joe Bob]

A type IV VW motor is the better choice, use the sale of the 912/356 motors to fund it. Use the proper 180 or 200mm flywheel for the easy bolt in.

They make 180 flywheels with a 200mm clutch cut. Talk to Kennedy Engineering in Palmdale CA.

[yetibone]

Originally Posted by Tobra

If you want a hot rod, put a type IV motor in it; flip the R&P in a 914 drive train and you have a very good starting point. A nice progressive spring and some good shocks you can make a super beetle handle plenty well. You will want to swap the drums for some disk brakes on the front, no skinny front tires either. I can't imagine it would be that hard to do with a 912 motor

I am a Superbeetle owner and I approve this message.

A fella could build one strong running type IV for the price of a 616 motor.

[wdfifteen]

Take a look a the torque and power bands for a 912 vs a VW and you'll see the transmission gearing isn't the best for a 912. A low speed, high torque engine is better matched to the VW trans. I would go for the most cubic inches per dollar - probably a big bore, dual port type 1 engine cammed and carbed for torque, not RPM.

[Mark Henry]

Originally Posted by Tobra

If you want a hot rod, put a type IV motor in it; flip the R&P in a 914 drive train and you have a very good starting point. A nice progressive spring and some good shocks you can make a super beetle handle plenty well. You will want to swap the drums for some disk brakes on the front, no skinny front tires either. I can't imagine it would be that hard to do with a 912 motor

Originally Posted by yetibone

I am a Superbeetle owner and I approve this message.

A fella could build one strong running type IV for the price of a 616 motor.

I'm a 1967 bug owner and I've done this message
...oh... but I went a bit overboard both in cost and power...160+hp in a 1750lbs bug.
Check my signature.

[sammyg2]

I know which way I'd go ......

[cgarr]

Oh! I have a boner!