67 beetle

[mfgriggs]

Hi
I have a 1967 VW beetle completely stock. I am considering putting a 2.0L 914 engine in the car. Any Opinions?? Which engine is best suited for this purpose? Should I keep the FI or go dual carbs.

Thanks

Mark G.
Anyone want to trade a 914 for a beetle let me know.

[halbl]

TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT ISSUE OF VW TRENDS FOR AN EXAMPLE FEATURED FROM EUROPE. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO PUT A TYPE IV IN A VW "THING". HE MADE AN ENGINE DECAL THAT READS "ITS A SPEED THING". HIS MAJOR PROBLEM WAS ENGINE HEAT IN THE SMALL COMPARTMENT AND I THINK HE IS GOING TO AN AUXILIARY OIL COOLER. GOOD LUCK.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

I guess the first question is, why are you doing that? You can bump up the displacement on a Type I and get pretty close to the power of a stock 914 engine pretty cheaply. Check places like CB Performance.

If you need *more* power, then you're looking at a "built" Type IV. That will get you more power than just about any Type I. If you are having the motor "built", then it doesn't matter much which engine you start with. The cases are all the same, except the early 1.7 cases ('W' engine code, and maybe not even all of them) do not have the bosses for the "windage tray".

To get an idea of what you can do to a Type IV, check with places like Mark Stephens High Performance, FAT Performance (in Orange, CA), etc.

Several outfits sell upright fans that help a Type IV fit into a Type I. Oregon Performance Products is one such place. I did a web-search on volkswagen AND "type IV" and found a few sources on-line.

You'll need to go to carbs or aftermarket EFI, as the upright fan interferes with the stock 914 FI components. You'd need to do that anyway for a "built" motor.

Good luck! Let us know what you find out and what you decide.

--DD

[mfgriggs]

The reason I want to do this is because my current engine is 32 years old and needs replacing. I have been talking with Joe Cali of Next Gen performance. He insists that there are many advantages to the type 4 conversion. My stock engine only has 38 HP. I am thinking that a stock 914 would more than double this. It seems that I could have twice the power without straining the engine. Joe says that with "his" upright converstion the motor runs VERY cool. My goal is not to have a rocket, just a reliable 100 or so HP engine that I can drive everyday. Would like to get at least 100000 miles out of it.
I really would like to hear more opinions on this.

regards

Mark

[Patrick]

Go for it. I will be doing the same thing with my Ghia (If I can ever finish the 914). A reliable 90 - 100hp is a lot cheaper and more reliable than its Type I counterpart. Let us know which upright conversion kit you choose. One problem that you may run into is the exhaust, especially if you want heat. There is no off-the-shelf exhaust currently available. Most people end up with combinations of bus, 411/412 and custom components. I would be interested to see what Joe recommended for an exhaust.

[JP Noonan]

What I have seen:

A superbettle (early 70's I guess) built by a friend with a 68 396 SS Chevelle, a Moster (44" mudders) 79 F-150 with a tricked out 351 Cleveland, and a funky International Harvester Scout with a big V-8 from a tractor. ( without saying he was a speed freak)

He went through the stock Beetle engine in short order, then stepped up to a 1832 (from what I hear this is a good economy/power type option) which he blew up. Then he bought a 2.0L 914 motor (note: this is much more powerful than a bus or sedan 2.0L) after spending $3000 on the rebuild he put it in the Beetle with some home made adaptors/brackets. The sucker poped wheelies!!!! Unfortunately he also twisted half shafts. So then came the custom mounting for a bus trans. Then came the oil coolers. Then came the broken chassis mounts, then then muffler that caught on fire.... What I'm saying is in the long run talk to CB or Fats. Both have put T-IV's into Beetles and sand rails for competition, which (weather you admit it or not) is where you are haeded.

In My Honest Opinion, you can get the power you want from a T-I motor with fewer headaches. Yes a T-4 will fit in a beetle or a Ghia/ or a Thing (yes it has been done) but it is very hard to get more than 30,000 (Once again in my humble opinion) from such a "hot rod" motor.

As an aside, beside the upright, 911 type, fan there is also a vertical fiberglass fan that eliminates the fan housing (dropping 22 lbs from a T-4) and still cools the motors (if you use carbs).

[Wayne 962]

The magnesium cases of the Type I motors, and the head designs are more than enough incentive to upgrade to the Type IV. The later style motors are indeed very, very much an upgrade from the earlier style motors. There are a bunch of other improvements like better cooling, and also the cranks are much stronger from what I hear. There are still the typical overheat problems like the exhaust valves on #3, but these are indeed lessened by the other improvements of the Type IV.

-Wayne