rebuild vs. long block

I have an old 1500 in a 71 bug that's been sitting in my garage for way too
long. It ran fairly well a couple years ago when I last turned it over.
I'm considering breaking it open and picking up a rebuild kit to freshen
everything up, but I have a couple concerns. With my luck, chances are that
something has worn beyond tolerances of a rebuild kit, and something on the
case might need machining, which isn't available in Juneau. The other issue
is that this engine is a single port and I'd like to maybe get a little more
juice into this car, which means new heads. If switching to DP heads is the
only way to get a little more scoot out of this car, I'm probably better off
just buying a long block and starting from there.

Opinoins?

Ken
71 Bug (Barron Von Finetush)

Here's the deal.. First, heads cost alot. Cheap ones suck. I would buy
cheap ones, and the engine that I built sucked.. Second, do you know
how to do the proper CC, and cylinder head shims?? To set proper
ratio?? I didn't.. that is why my engine sucked. In all reality one
cylinder may have been 8to1 compression, the other.. different, etc..
It didn't idle worth a crap.

So here is my proctnosis..

If you are going to build a good engine, with good parts, and expect it
to last.. then do alot of research!! So you don't waist money.

If you are going to get junky cheap parts, some used cheap parts, then
go ahead and have some cheap fun!!

If you want a good engine.. research the seller.. ask compression
ratios, etc.. and buy a longblock. Serrano sells rebuilt longblocks,
like the 1914cc for just $695. + core + shipping.. Now think about it..
how much is your rebuild kit? New bearings, P&C's, heads.. etc.. ??
Compare that to a Longblock.

Don't think the longblock is a sure fire way to an easy engine.. You
still will have to assemble the rest. Set valves, set carburetor.. all
inwich if you do wrong, may eventually burn a valve, etc.. I had fun,
but a fairly bad experience rebuilding an engine before. It cost me a
whole lot of money, and never idled right. I had to sell the entire
vehicle for much less than the parts.

Here is my theory.. unless I can build it, having alot of fun, for less
than $1000.. Then, I'll live with the imperfections. or I will be
buying a near new turnkey 1914cc for just $2800. Then selling my
current stock turnkey for around $800 instead. My engine currently runs
great though, I just want something bigger.





JuneauBug wrote:
> I have an old 1500 in a 71 bug that's been sitting in my garage for way too
> long. It ran fairly well a couple years ago when I last turned it over.
> I'm considering breaking it open and picking up a rebuild kit to freshen
> everything up, but I have a couple concerns. With my luck, chances are that
> something has worn beyond tolerances of a rebuild kit, and something on the
> case might need machining, which isn't available in Juneau. The other issue
> is that this engine is a single port and I'd like to maybe get a little more
> juice into this car, which means new heads. If switching to DP heads is the
> only way to get a little more scoot out of this car, I'm probably better off
> just buying a long block and starting from there.
>
> Opinoins?
>
> Ken
> 71 Bug (Barron Von Finetush)

JMHO
your current engine should run even after sitting for 8-10 years. mine has
& will!
use the current engine, get that Bug moving and find an engine that you
really want.

some are using Type 2/4 or Porsche 914 engines in their Bugs and enjoying
them.
I am thinking about doing that with my '70 T1 one year. lol

just curious but have you seen any late model fuel-injected Beetle
Convertibles up your way? I should know of one there and was wondering how
it was doing.

--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

"JuneauBug" > wrote in message
...
>I have an old 1500 in a 71 bug that's been sitting in my garage for way too
>long. It ran fairly well a couple years ago when I last turned it over.
>I'm considering breaking it open and picking up a rebuild kit to freshen
>everything up, but I have a couple concerns. With my luck, chances are
>that something has worn beyond tolerances of a rebuild kit, and something
>on the case might need machining, which isn't available in Juneau. The
>other issue is that this engine is a single port and I'd like to maybe get
>a little more juice into this car, which means new heads. If switching to
>DP heads is the only way to get a little more scoot out of this car, I'm
>probably better off just buying a long block and starting from there.
>
> Opinoins?
>
> Ken
> 71 Bug (Barron Von Finetush)
>

There used to be a white mid-70's I think, but it wasn't FI. I think
there's also a red convertible here in Juneau, but I haven't seen it in
forever. It's been raining to beat the band here. 24 days straight on this
stretch, and we only had about 6 days in July that didn't rain.

Ken
71 Bug (Barron Von Finetush)


"One out of many Daves" > wrote in message
. com...
> JMHO
> your current engine should run even after sitting for 8-10 years. mine
> has & will!
> use the current engine, get that Bug moving and find an engine that you
> really want.
>
> some are using Type 2/4 or Porsche 914 engines in their Bugs and enjoying
> them.
> I am thinking about doing that with my '70 T1 one year. lol
>
> just curious but have you seen any late model fuel-injected Beetle
> Convertibles up your way? I should know of one there and was wondering
> how it was doing.
>
> --
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)
>
> "JuneauBug" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I have an old 1500 in a 71 bug that's been sitting in my garage for way
>>too long. It ran fairly well a couple years ago when I last turned it
>>over. I'm considering breaking it open and picking up a rebuild kit to
>>freshen everything up, but I have a couple concerns. With my luck,
>>chances are that something has worn beyond tolerances of a rebuild kit,
>>and something on the case might need machining, which isn't available in
>>Juneau. The other issue is that this engine is a single port and I'd like
>>to maybe get a little more juice into this car, which means new heads. If
>>switching to DP heads is the only way to get a little more scoot out of
>>this car, I'm probably better off just buying a long block and starting
>>from there.
>>
>> Opinoins?
>>
>> Ken
>> 71 Bug (Barron Von Finetush)
>>
>
>

thanks! I have forgotten what color it was since it has been a couple of
years since I have seen it. It was purchased in St Louis and made a stop
over in Chicago before making it to it's new home in Alaska.

BTW you can send some rain over to Chicago, IL. ;-)

let us know what you decide on with the engine.
I have taken a single port engine and changed the cyl head studs and heads
and also the oil cooler to make it a dual port. I forgot what else I had to
do to it. ;-)
--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


"JuneauBug" > wrote in message
...
> There used to be a white mid-70's I think, but it wasn't FI. I think
> there's also a red convertible here in Juneau, but I haven't seen it in
> forever. It's been raining to beat the band here. 24 days straight on
> this stretch, and we only had about 6 days in July that didn't rain.
>
> Ken
> 71 Bug (Barron Von Finetush)
>