Hi Guys
I have been lurking around for the last few weeks immersing myself in this forum and the knowledge here is amazing.

I have just purchased a 1962 beetle that I intend to be a Street/Strip car. Not a daily drive, but on the odd weekend when the weather is good. Maybe drag it a few times a year. I would also like to do this with some reliability. : >

I am starting with a blank sheet of paper so to speak and I am not sure which way to go. I have a fairly good budget for the engine around $8k – 10k.

I think these are my best options:

1. Type 1 Engine: 2332cc with Fuel Injection and around 200hp and N/A.

2. Type 4 Engine and go from there to a 2700cc – 2900cc and N/A.

3. Maybe installing the turbo kit by CB performance and bringing the power up to around 300 - 350hp.

GEARBOX

4. Rough budget of $3500 - $4500. Should I start with a Kombi box or stay with the type 1?

5. What is the difficulty/problems/cost, with installing a kombi gearbox?

6. I have been reading about all the problems (ie: blowing to bits!) associated with a type 1 gearbox and a turbo engine when it comes on full boost. Is this less of a problem if the engine is N/A?


I am unsure of which way to begin and would really appreciate your advice on the possible combination's available for my budget (Total $ 13000 - $14,000). I do not want to put in a WRX or Rotary as I’d like him to be ‘old skool’.

Cheers

Mark Bilson
Perth WA.

Are you planning on registering this beast??

You may have problems with a 2.7L street registered beetle - let alone turbo

If you have the $$$ - Type 4 is good

Yes 'Vincent' is already registered........
Cheers

Mark

Hi Aiki,
i will only comment on the kombi box, i am planning on building a vehicle with a supercharged type 1 engine but the gearbox is an issue, a kombi box with a gene berge 5 speed conversion can be made to fit so you can keep the engine in the correct position in the engine bay, they are not cheap but they are available from the states from rancho trans, you can get the gear ratios to suit your application, keep in mind that the turbo and NA engine will require different ratio's to get the best from them, the big advantage over the larger porsche box is you do not have to cut out the torsion bar housing and surrounding pan with all of the strength that is assosiated with it, my engineer won't certify my car if i cut the torsion bar housing even if it has been reforced, as for a type 1 gear box blowing up some people can break a crowbar in a sand box, just depends on your driving style, mechanicaly sympathetic treatment of the box of just plain abuse.

ring richard or pete at vforce and have a chat to them, they are rebuilding the greenie ( 2.7 t4 bug atm)

You may be pushing your engine budget. IF you are getting a "drive in drive out" engine and all parts are new, I would think you may be pushing into the low teens. But it depends on who does it, exaclty what you get, how reliable you want it and how much power you are after and how much you do yourself. Depending on the dollar heads could be 1k to 3k, block 500 to 1k, FI >1k, Crank, barrels plus all the little bits.

Based on my last engine I got built about 3 years ago (drive in and out) I would double your budget if you want to go type 1.

If you find the right person you may able to get the power you want for you budget....

yeah you will blow your budget real quick.
The main thing is to keep the little car on the road and going until you get ALL your stuff sorted .Cause things happen.
there must be 1000s of vw that people pull apart and run out of money and just end up with boxes of bits.
yOU may want to save one of these.

eg http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=81219 

eg http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=81157 

eg http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=80968 

eg http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=81086 
Good Luck

Budget is a concern with the fruit your wanting, either combo works.

Thanks for the info VW060 I'll check it out as suggested.

Ian, I've built 2 Beetles (both 2074cc with webbers etc) before so, all things being equal, it won't end up as a 'pile of bits'. I'm hoping to receive some advice on type 1 or type 4 with a rough budget and advice on a gearbox.......As with all things a budget is always flexible and I shan't be driving in/out as I'm comfortable putting it together myself. Look forward to receiving some positive input.

Cheers Mark

Hi Mark,
My engine will be based around a type 1custom scat flanged crank, 88mm x 92 mm thick walled aluminium
barrels with nicosil bores, case bored for 94mm index http://www.lnengineering.com/index.html 
check out this site
with the dollar the way that it is it is about half the cost landed here so if you build it yourself you can buy better quality gear, the custom scat crank is about US $1500,the custom aluminium barrels/forged pistons/rings gudgens and head studs to siute are US $3000, i will be going to the states in june to make all the purchases for my car, my aim is to make about 350HP out of a supercharged / injected set up running through the 5 speed kombi box, the best money you can spend is to get Craig Brown at chankshaft engineering in Brisbane to blue print your engine before you assemble it, this will add to the reliablity of it, Craig is a real source of information on all things vw engines and his advice has been gained through years of experence