I'm looking at doing some vintage speed mods to the stale-air 40HP motor (engine # 7159934) in my Karmann Ghia. Car is still just being stripped down now, so a year or two away from completion probably. However it can take a while to accumulate some of these bits.

Absolutely stock late '62 car ('63 model year) with 52000 original miles. I don't want to do anything that will risk breaking the case, as it is the original engine. I'm not particularly after a lot more power, it's more the look. I won't be driving it hard, gotta treat the old girl with a bit of respect!

After reading a few sites around the place, these are some of the changes I'd be looking at, would appreciate any comments. I want a reliable engine with a little more pep, but mainly just that old-school look. Only other change from stock I'd be looking at on the entire car is a set of BRMs or similar, and maybe an Empi VDM steering wheel. No lowering or any of that c**p.

- case assembly, blueprinted, balanced components. This early case probably does not have cam bearings, should they be fitted (can they be)? case savers? Should I be using one of the later 40HP cases instead?

- big-bore kit, 1385cc (83mm I think). I'm a bit reluctant to go there, my memory of these is that the cylinder wall is pretty thin and/or they tended to overheat. I'm in Brisbane so cooling needs to be good. Also I'd like to be able to convert it back to standard so major internal mods are probably not on.

- for converting back to standard, probably stick with standard cam

- dual carbs. Either an old kit if I can find one, make one up myself or Riechert in Germany make a very nice set-up. I understand the 28PCIs are better to use than the 28PICTs. I'm not sure if the decklid springs on a ghia get in the way of dual-carb air-cleaners, although plenty seem to have them

- I think just the standard single-port heads, possibly with larger valves. I believe the '65 40HP heads had larger valves, not sure if that is the case on Australian engines, we seemed to do everything different.

- repro abarth exhaust or similar

- possibly a Fram oil filter set-up as well

- distributor maybe change to an 010 or 019 - 019 is probably better for the very mild engine I'm thinking of. Not even sure a distributor change is required from standard.

Any comments on the wisdom or otherwise of any of the above welcomed, or any other suggestions.

Cheers

Carbies and exhaust will make it hum along even some 1.4 rockers as well

Thanks Dave

So no issue with no cam bearings? It will make life a lot easier for me as the engine is in good nick - no need to split the case. Everything would just be bolt-on in that case. Are the 28PCIs the carb to use?

Angus

Or you could take the route that I took about 40 years ago and fit a 1500 or 1600 motor and save the original,this conversion makes the little car very driveable,i fitted a VH44 brake booster,6" wheels with decent tyres and the car goes,stops and handles beautifully,it is a pleasure to drive.

Grumble

I'm not actually unhappy with the way it drives around with the 1200, it dawdles around OK for me.. I want to keep the original engine in it, there are so few completely original VWs left now after 40-50 yrs on the road. I'll get it back on the road with the engine stock, but I like the look of the old speed motors. I'm still even going to keep it 6V, everything still works fine.

Put a Judson on it, if you can find one.

Smiley

hey karman, i know that grumble still has the stock motor from his sitting under the bench at home ready to put in and put it back to stock.

Angus,

I read on the samba somewhere that WolfsburgWest will be doing the Okrasa kit for a 40hp as well:-

Smiley

A Judson would be great, but on a ghia you have to put in a fugly scoop in the decklid - no way I'm cutting a hole in that!

Matara, would be good if WW did the 40HP Okrasa, the 36HP one seems to be pretty good. Although those manifolds look tall, there's not a lot of height in a ghia engine bay.

I think I'll get the car finished with the stock engine, and see whats around like this at the time.

I'd looked at those WW kits before, but when I look at it more closely, they say it won't fit a Karmann Ghia or Beetle cabrio - first because of height, the second as you'd have to cut away the decklid raintray.

The photo shows a Riechert kit fitted to a beetle. Manifolds seem to be a lot shorter so I don't think there will be any problems with height or decklid springs on a ghia.