Ive got a 1958 1200 in my splitbus and want to pick up some extra herbs for safer road life. I would like a stock appearance engine so a bigger unit is out except up to a 1500. Im not really concerned about high speeds but acceleration would be nice. People are not so happy with cars that dont keep up with the traffic. I was wondering how livable a 1200 Formula vee engine would be on the road in a bus? Anyone ever tried to live with one of these on the road? Any of the parts well woth it in a classic rebuild? Comments please. Cheers

I think the power would be the same as a 1500, probably even with less pull. You could always go for a 1500 single port and get some slide in 1640 barrels and pistons, from there some head work and overall balancing should make a nice stock looking meatier engine.... and this way you could dry store your original motor instead of slowly wearing it out.

Depending on your budget, I'd possibly even put bigger barrels on it - I assume you can flycut 1500 single port heads up to 94mm same as 1600 TP ? 94mm would give you 1915cc.

I realise it would never be a barnstormer, but if you rejetted a 34 pict carby I imagine it would be quite torquey and happy for a kombi ?

Thanks fellas a 1500 looks the go at the moment so we'll see what happens. Cheers

I had a single port 1640 with 1300 heads on it. It was actually more torquey than my dual port 1640.

Hey
I didnt see this post.
FV engines are largely bone stock apart from some port work and (now) 38cc heads. (previously 43cc)
The camshaft is supplied by Wade but is a stock 1200 cam ground off an approved profile.

The Vee engines are usually set up with wide bearing clearances to allow them to rev a bit.
Up until the introduction of a new controlled inlet manifold, best horsepower from a $5000 second hand engine is about 44 Hp a. t. w's.
This power is up in the 4 to 4500 rev range which is useless for a road wagon.

Dont waste your time M8 with a FV engine as the horsepower you need is simply not there and you will pay a real shitload for a decent engine with significantly less power than you could achieve with some intelligent frigging around with your stock clobber.

L8tr
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because of the single port heads........my single port 1600 on my baja is way more torquey than my 1600 twin port engine in the super bug.

So why does the restriction of the induction (and exhaust - so I've read) make for better torque? (at the expense of top end I presume)

I believe its something to do with the intake velocity......