I am thinking of using a complete 2.1 for my drag engine and was wondering...
-How strong are the stock pistons, Similar to a mahle 94 in strength?

-What is the standard compression ratio?

-Is there enough meat in the heads for big valves and big portwork eg 48 by 40 and ports you can jump down?

-Can type 1 aftermarket rods be used?

-Will the flywheel fit in a type 1 bellhousing?

-Does a WBX crank need counterweighting?

I would be planning on making anywhere between 300 and 500 hp turboed so any opinions or ideas appreciated before I go out and buy a motor to start with.

[Edited on 17-8-2003 by shiftyvw]

Hey shifty, there is a dude in Wollongong who is selling a 1900 WBX engine already set up for a supercharger, with a lot of the things you will need to make a turboed drag engine.
Let me know and I will give you his phone number.

I'm halfway through turboing one, there's a few differences between 1.9 and 2.1L

1.9L is 8.5ish:1 and 2.1 is around 9.5:1 depending on which tech manual you read, i've read a few minor variations. the difference is only the crank throw, so the rods etc etc are the same between 2.1 and 1.9. pistons are different too though.

the rods are big and chunky and definately look pretty strong, and VW uses high quality stretch type rod bolts. use brand new ones and dont reuse them if you pull it apart later on.

camshaft, oil pump, rockers etc etc are all same as later type 1 beetle, and it's all interchangable.

my new pistons are mahle brand new anyway so no probs there!

there is loads of meat in the heads but the corrode like you wouldnt believe. forget trying to find good second hand ones, there arent any. they are around $1100 for a pair of complete brand new ones, which is not unreasonable in the scheme of things.

\the head studs WILL be corroded. replace them all and only use VW coolant with distilled water and you wont have a problem.

the ports are pretty big from stock, so I wouldnt bother doing port or valve work for a forced induction motor.

i'm yet to assemble and run mine, but this is what I have picked up along the way. I have had a wealth of good info from Ben Durie during this project, he'd be a good one to talk to about the motor itself for the specifics.