Advice on buying a speedster in (hot) Houston, TX

Looking for any advice on 1) which engines/options are best suited for Houston hot weather and 2) best local mechanics for maintenance. I am not hands on and will depend on a reliable dealer / mechanic.
Any experiences to share? Thanks

I have always heard the 1915 is a very reliable engine with good power.

Thanks - I am in favor of a bigger engine something with 140 HP +

I have a 1915 in mine and its great.....but I will be adding a cooler before next summer. The summer here in TX is brutal the oil temp was running real close to red line all summer.

Jay

Jay - thanks for the tip -

try this.......

http://www.roadhaus.com/shops.php

140+ legitimate hp in a Type I engine is begining to push the technology toward the ragged edge....thus requiring more tuning, more service, and keeping everything in good order. If you are not mechanically inclined you should stay with a Miata or something similar. I say that not to be unkind, but these cars require maintance..... and there are very few places that have a core compentency in type I VW engines, much less hot rod versions, around here.

On the other hand, there is nothing about a type I engine to fear, but tuning dual Webers in 44 or 48 mm sizes, changing plugs, changing oil, setting valve gaps, and the like are all frequently required, if I can do them, so can you....but if you are not so adventuresome then your ownership is likely to be less than satisfactory...

Ask your builder about a Subaru engine if you want the Miata level service requirements that a dealer can handle for you. I believe Beck does Suby powered Speedsters and SAS in Knoxville, TN does also. Jake aby has launched a new division dealing in Suby engines; www.aircooledtechnology

A Type IV engine (think Porsche 914 or late model bus) requires standard maintenance like a Type I does but with this engine 140 hp is close to stock HP so the engine isn't stressed like a high hp Type I, as I have read.

Lots of plusses with the Suby if you don't care about the Speedster / Spyder aircooled tradition.

Good luck with your quest.

Though I have not driven my Speedy, I have added a spin on filter and oil cooler. I had a '97 IM raodster that had a stockish engine that ran too hot. I sold it and am re-building an '82 IM with a larger engine and am skeptical as to the heat thing as I am a @())# and do require A/C. This forum has helped me decide to over engineer. I am not a maintenance mechanic, but being poor, i am not prepared to do the Suby thing. I guess that I will see what happens.
Jim in Magnolia has mush experience in our climate and shares readily...my hero ;-()))). I am in Kemah and travel in Houston alot.
The site will help you.

Regards,

GG

If you have to have the power? Get the turbo subaroo version out of Tennisee flair or classic cabs no back seat but 2 trunks.


if your a hardcore bug intusiast like me well its hard to go big and have it live.Im more into the economy of the little cars

Thanks for all the advice

I will probably go with an aircooled engine - just for the driving experience - i found the sound quite amazing, reminding me of my early motorcycles.

I will just follow guidelines to the letter - i have found an aircooled specialist about 5 miles away

Will keep you guys posted

Zdouda

You might want to speak with Lane Anderson I think he has spec"s on his engine you might want to duplicate.

Sadly I have never gotten all the internal specs from the engine builder (Pat Downs at CB Performance). What I can tell you is:

1. 1915cc
2. Wedge-ported heads (whatever that means) that he also did some unspecified custom work on
3. Weber 44IDF carbs
4. A1 Sidewinder exhaust (owner added)
5. Pertronix Billet Flamethrower II distributor (owner added)
6. Flow-flow case with external filter and Setrab oil cooler with thermostatically-controlled fan. Internal oil cooler still in place as well.

It's pretty quick, and it averages ~25mpg in mixed spirited driving. A bit more on long highway trips. It was sold to me as having roughly 125bhp. I figure the exhaust and ignition mods have added a few, so I say 130 when asked. I have never had overheating problems in Charleston, a climate darn near as hot a Houston. I can speak from experience there as I lived in Houston for 3 years back in the late 70's. I gets just about as hot an humid here, but it doesn't last quite as long.

internal + external oil cooler seems to be a must.
Thanks