Engine build: Which way to go?

Ollie · 2010-06-18T09:44:32+00:00

It has been roughly two months since parting with my dear beetle, and of course I need another one. The plan this time is to find a clean body and build up a strong reliable daily 1916cc- with some extra boot for novice hillclimbing 🙂 Now, I'm tossing up between Wayne Penrose or pobjob. I've called pobjoy (and subsequently have no phone credit left) and have gotten a Price on a standard 1916cc that will produce around 70bhp. Penrose has (roughly) quoted me a grand and a half more than pobjoy to build a 1916 with around 100-110bhp. Now I know that horsepower isn't everything, and I'm not trying to start arguments against the credibility of vw builders, but would people recommend spending that little bit more for that 30+ bhp? Is anyone running the standard 1916 from pobjob? Or Any references for wayne? I understand that pobjob is well established in the 1916 field and would love to hear of some experience from some fellow dubbers! Cheers, Ollie

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 19 Jun 2010, 6:58 pm

#785784

is that at the wheels or flywheel? regarding Hp

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 19 Jun 2010, 7:18 pm

#785790

vlad01 wrote:is that at the wheels or flywheel? regarding Hp

Thats where alot of people are crossing wires in this thread

the figures Ian mentioned were all at the wheels so to give you a fair comparison a stock healthy 1600 twinport is generally goood for 42-45 hp at the wheels

power to weight is a huge bonus in a bug, it really doesnt take much to get the moving

the engine in mine was 142hp stock, would have a little more now with the exhaust and intake so is probably aroung 105-110hp at the wheels and its enough to emabarrase anything N/A 6 cylinder and probably even keep up easily with a V8
its doing 0-100 in 6.5 which is only half a sec slower than a current VE SS but with that much power you seriously need to think about brakes and suspension upgrades

vlad01 Compulsive Aussie Vee Dubber

4,270 posts · joined Jun 2010 · 19 Jun 2010, 7:54 pm

#785803

ah at the wheels. I always take my specs at the flywheel. no wonder all these numbers looks so small to me.

71 notchback,
Past owner of, 70 NB, 73 SB and 72 FB TLE

PAZZAN Wolfsburg Wizard

592 posts · joined Jan 2008 · 20 Jun 2010, 8:10 am

#785849

serious high hp bottom end 4sale

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fish26 Fahrvergnugen

903 posts · joined Jul 2007 · 20 Jun 2010, 10:41 am

#785868

That is a pretty hardcore bottom end from Pazzan, I would think long and hard about paying 6K for 1915 with 65-70 hp or 7.5K for 100 hp, another way to go about it is talk to deluxe66 about a T4 conversion or get yourself a T4 engine kit from Jake Raby and have someone local put it together eg. find a 2L case, get a set of 96mm K/B pistons, a nice trick cam and lifter combo, good set of heads, exhaust, dells, Sharpbuilt, Cali or DTM upright kit and go have fun............just some more food for thought.

bitten by the bug..........several times

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 20 Jun 2010, 10:53 am

#785872

100 hp at the wheels is 'relatively' easy to get, the issue is, making it last street/daily use at the same time....that's where the $$$ come into it.

I've recently built two 78mm stroker engines, with the mildest of cams, both are over 100 rwhp and both get better economy than their previous engine that were only 1600cc, one even had the stock carb !!!

The thing is with this forum, (and I'm not complaining here) is that the readers aren't getting the full story due to the posts only being able to be positive...or they get deleted, therefore many truths of who or where to get your engine built or of issues people have experienced may not be fully disclosed publicly.

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

fish26 Fahrvergnugen

903 posts · joined Jul 2007 · 20 Jun 2010, 7:18 pm

#785960

Matt, thats being diplomatic to say the least. There is a lot of misinformation all over the place, some people don't know what they are talking about and some people I wouldn't trust to change my oil let alone build my engines not including the two parties mentioned.

Too many building too tame an engine........................if you build it, build it once and with a bit of balls and then just tone it down.

bitten by the bug..........several times

cnfabo Custom Title Time!

1,353 posts · joined Apr 2008 · 20 Jun 2010, 9:48 pm

#785994

just get a damn pobjoy base engine..will be fun,fun,fun....and realy reliable....

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 20 Jun 2010, 10:25 pm

#785999

cnfabo wrote:just get a damn pobjoy base engine..will be fun,fun,fun....and realy reliable....

Why Chris, didn't your engine come from Rodney?
Have you had a Pobjoy base engine too?

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

cnfabo Custom Title Time!

1,353 posts · joined Apr 2008 · 20 Jun 2010, 10:31 pm

#786001

i wanted more power thats all...if i wanted a fun engine that would run no probs for ten years i would of went a base for sure..

na havent owned one, but have been in one and a steroid many years age...the base was great.and well what can i say about the steroids....loved it....