Upgrades for a 3.2 -86 Engine

[hotvw55]

3.2 -86 930/21.

Hi guys... My name is Henrik and I'm from Sweden. It's time for a new project. I have bought me a 3.2 - 930/21 engine from 1986. I'm thinking of some upgrade but will not tear the engine apart at this moment. The engine will be used in a custom build VW bus and will not need cat or any other emulsion parts.. AC is out. Since the car is not used on the winter or in cold weather it will not have the heating system... I have bought a pair of OBX headers and looking for some additional upgrades. I would like to get some ideas on upgrades that will work all together and where to get them.. Filter, chip, "cams if there is any cams that could be used with stock pistons and if it's worth the change" Muffler will be a 2" full flow dual in and dual out. I know you guys have a lot of ideas...

Thanks
Henrik
Sweden

[MIK911]

1)filter--no gain
2)chip--Steve Wong chip (911chips.com)
3) search "964 cams" on this site

what are some good VWBus websites? I want to see some nice VW bus'

[hotvw55]

This is my bus with the current 911 engine configuration. http://www.garaget.org/?car=7551 another great VW site is http://www.thesamba.com .

I'll try to put it this way. Could someone that have the same engine 930/21 tell me if there are some recommended upgrades that will work great all together... I have been reading about the SW chip and it looks to be a good investment. How is this going to work with a OBX header and full flow exhaust. and a K&N filter? Is there any other things to be made to gain some overall performance to the engine instead of the chip etc?

[tonythetarga]

Henrik,
The chip is not off the shelf. Steve makes it custom to your engine and exhaust set up. Your 930/21 is a US base engine with 207 hp at the flywheel. Cams will help but the chip will need to be designed for the cam/exhaust profile or redesigned if you make the cam change after you install it with your current headers. Otherwise, for more HP you need to go to 3.2 Euro p/c's or bigger.

[jtratza]

That is awesome. I had a 1959 bus in the late 60's that couldn't make it up the hills in the east bay without dropping down to 2nd or 3rd. Bet that beast would make it fine. Great looking engine. I've got a 3.2 engine. Modifications external are mass flow (great drive ability and some added hp but cannot determine how much due to other mods) K&N filter (comes with the mass flow) modified muffler and 964 ground cams. Dyno average Jan 2006 was 215hp at the wheels and 217 lbs torque. Febuary 2007 Dyno (different place) was 218hp at the wheels and 229 pounds torque. The exhaust change was the only difference between the two tests along with the engine breaking used after the rebuild late 2005.

[DRACO A5OG]

Have you checked for full throttle? I assume you have the same linkage.

While the engine if off, have a helper depress the pedal all the way down then go to the throttle at the engine and see if it goes any further. If so adjust the linkage under the Bus near the transmission. Properly done, there is no side effects

[jpnovak]

Just put the weber 40s on the 3.2 and rejet. The cost for venturis and jets will be the same as the chip and you will have better throttle response and likely more power due to the ITB configuration compared with the common plenum. Gas mileage will not be so great but then again you are driving an old bus with a 6 cyl.

[hotvw55]

Originally Posted by jtratza

That is awesome. I had a 1959 bus in the late 60's that couldn't make it up the hills in the east bay without dropping down to 2nd or 3rd. Bet that beast would make it fine. Great looking engine. I've got a 3.2 engine. Modifications external are mass flow (great drive ability and some added hp but cannot determine how much due to other mods) K&N filter (comes with the mass flow) modified muffler and 964 ground cams. Dyno average Jan 2006 was 215hp at the wheels and 217 lbs torque. Febuary 2007 Dyno (different place) was 218hp at the wheels and 229 pounds torque. The exhaust change was the only difference between the two tests along with the engine breaking used after the rebuild late 2005.

Do you have the same engine as I have 930/21 - 207hp stock or the 231hp engine?... The current engine in the bus works just fine but it's not a "bus engine" its a little bit to wild to be a nice dayly driver, the 2,4 will probably go in to a future 356 roadster replica project. Will stock 964 cams work with stock pistons? or does it have to be reground with a small base or something? Is it possible to reground the -86 cams or does it needs to be billets?

Thanks Henrik

[jtratza]

Originally Posted by hotvw55

Do you have the same engine as I have 930/21 - 207hp stock or the 231hp engine?... The current engine in the bus works just fine but it's not a "bus engine" its a little bit to wild to be a nice dayly driver, the 2,4 will probably go in to a future 356 roadster replica project. Will stock 964 cams work with stock pistons? or does it have to be reground with a small base or something? Is it possible to reground the -86 cams or does it needs to be billets?

Thanks Henrik

I had my stock cams reground to 964 specs by John Daugherty who is located in California. Excellent turnaround and very happy with the results. I did not need to change the pistons. I have the US spec engine and not the ROW engine. If I did it over I would have upped the compression to match ROW or as close as possible without having to change pistons. Gas available in Texas is 93 octane.

Sounds like you're having some fun with the bus and a future hot rod 356 replica Wish Sweden was closer to see that bus.

[hotvw55]

Originally Posted by jtratza

I had my stock cams reground to 964 specs by John Daugherty who is located in California. Excellent turnaround and very happy with the results. I did not need to change the pistons. I have the US spec engine and not the ROW engine. If I did it over I would have upped the compression to match ROW or as close as possible without having to change pistons. Gas available in Texas is 93 octane.

Sounds like you're having some fun with the bus and a future hot rod 356 replica Wish Sweden was closer to see that bus.

Hehehe... yea the bus turns heads and its a lot fun to drive...its only 1340kg. The cams in the 2,4 engine are a set of E cams I bought from John Dogherty and I'm very happy with them.. I will send my cams to him for a 964 regrind if it's not to expensive, it might be cheaper to just buy a set from him. The gas in Sweden is great, 99octane and I might change the pistons to euro spec if I find a set. I will make the same operation as you have done to start with and hopefully i will get close to your numbers. 218hp on the wheels will make this bus fly compared to a stock one with 47engine hp. About the external air mass flow... what mods did you made or did you buy a aftermarket one?

[mjshira]

two words: Steve Wong

www.911chips.com

[jtratza]

Originally Posted by hotvw55

Hehehe... yea the bus turns heads and its a lot fun to drive...its only 1340kg. The cams in the 2,4 engine are a set of E cams I bought from John Dogherty and I'm very happy with them.. I will send my cams to him for a 964 regrind if it's not to expensive, it might be cheaper to just buy a set from him. The gas in Sweden is great, 99octane and I might change the pistons to euro spec if I find a set. I will make the same operation as you have done to start with and hopefully i will get close to your numbers. 218hp on the wheels will make this bus fly compared to a stock one with 47engine hp. About the external air mass flow... what mods did you made or did you buy a aftermarket one?

Post some pics of the bus. The mass flow was from autothority but I don't believe they make or sell one anymore. There are a couple of others. It came with a chip which I had redone about 8 years ago since I thought I was getting some knocking on acceleration during the extreme summer heat after sitting in traffic. Last year I was going to get a chip designed for the cams and exhaust change but Sam Shelela at ProTechnic in Houston said I'd get little if anything better than I was already getting based on dyno results at his shop. Air to fuel was spot on. Lots of debate on the value of mass flow due to its cost. I may not be getting much more than better throttle response and a cleaner exhaust but cannot tell if I'm getting b etter hp since It was installed 13 years ago and no before and after dyno runs were done.

[JV911SYDNEY]

Originally Posted by hotvw55

This is my bus with the current 911 engine configuration. http://www.garaget.org/?car=7551

COOL BUS!!!

upgrades - 964 cams, headers, muffler & steve wong chip to suit