Again with the engine thing..... I know, I know

Well, being that all the sissy-mary, fair weather Speedster folks packed it up before I got to Carlisle I didn

Oh yea, does anyone have any idea what the engine was in that JPS Blue Carrera he had at Carlisle? That was a beautiful car!

John was chatting with someone so I didn't bother him and the boys from Special Edition were packing up and I didn't have the heart to hold them up with a bunch of questions, I would imagine it was a pretty exhausting weekend with the crappy weather.

If it's a JPS it's probably a CB Performance engine; if I had to choose between those two builders I'd go with CB Performance; and definitely a 2110.

Bernie builds a decent engine. I know a lot of people with his engine and each is still happy that they made the purchase. I can't blame you for not wanting to spend a lot of money on a Raby engine especially since some customers have been having quality issues. Chico also has a spotted reputation, some swear by him and others swear at him. One of our members on the spyderclub has gone through 4 of his engines. CB seems to be the most consistent with the Spyder crowd and rightfully so, Pat Downs at CB puts out a great engine.

Remember the larger the engine, the more heat you have to contend with. I've always liked the 2110 cc engine. It's reliable, has good torque and is easy to build.

In any case, when you have the engine built, do a lot of research and have it built right the first time. Use quality parts such as rods, crank,cylinder heads, case etc etc. Don't forget to have the case cut for a full flow oil system so you can easily add a remote filter and cooler.

Sounds like you may be interested in the "C4 DTM" that I am developing now (and have been since this time last year) and will complete by mid-2009.

This system integrates Carrera dual inlet fan styling, with the effectiveness of DTM design and internal design.

As always, effectiveness and design will trump cosmetics, no engine component should ever be purchased for cosmetics only.

But this unit won't be cheap as it uses all USA made parts and will have hundreds of hours of R&D into it before the first unit leaves my facility.

You also might look into my Replicar engine program, recently I expanded to create some standardized engine packages for Special Edition based on the Type 1 platform. These engines go through the same processes as my TIV engines and if you have an engine built that I can "mix" with a run for Special Edition you can expect a better price.

I am also finishing up development of a new series of TI engines that will lead up to the "Carrera appeal" that will be topped off with the new cooling system. These utilize twin plug ignition and etc and are available as small as 1915cc.
Not everything we create is one off/custom today. For the past few years I focused on that but found a huge hole in the TI industry that needed to be filled, with the support of caompanies like Bug Pack and Special Edition I have been able to create the new program that will offer solutions to the age of problem of real performance and its required cost.

"As always, effectiveness and design will trump cosmetics, no engine component should ever be purchased for cosmetics only."


D#mn&d ! And I was just about to score a genuine 356 generator nut.

Oh! Like you all don't know what I'm talkin' about . . .

Mickey, sorry you missed us, and we missed you.

It's too bad you weren't around on Saturday. My car was never parked for more than about five minutes. I gave rides/drives for as much of the day as possible. I have a 2165 type1 from Jake, and love it. The 2165 is the perfect size for a Spyder. It has almost 11K on it now. Yes, it wasn't cheap, but you get what you pay for. I will let others comment on it's performance, but suffice to say, I am more than satisfied, to quote Joe Pesci.

I also think Jake's customer service is second to none. Take a five year old engine with 8K miles on it, and some mushroomed pushrods. I did not contact Jake, he heard about it via the forums, and had me send back my pushrods on his dime. He then cut me a new set and mailed them to me inside of a week, no charge. Who does that? That is on a five year old engine with NO warranty.

The fact that Jake is working with the parts people and Carey is a good thing for all of us end users, it can only mean better parts at a better price for all of us. I would buy another one if in the market for a new motor, but I don't have to.

Danny's 2165 type 1 from Jake is just unreal! On Saturday before dinner, Danny asked me if I had ever driven a Spyder I had not and didn't hesitate a second to accept his offer to hit the road.
The 2165 type 1 motor winds up quickly and smoothly without and hesitation Danny has the Spyder's suspension tuned to near perfection, I felt very much at easy pushing the motor even to have the rev limiter out vote. I had to recall a bit of Skip Barber's School of Racing and I think Danny was glad I did too.
This drive is right up there with my Olympic bobsled and NASCAR ride drive experiences .......again thanks Danny ! ~Alan

I got a ride too and agree with Alan.

It's really hard to argue with performance as strong as what danny has in his Spyder... And that engine is 6 years old and has been "Superseded" quite a few times..

Anyone that has driven that package will admit that its the usable power that it creates, and the RPM that it is created at that is so astonishing..... The benefits of true engines design, R&D and experience :-)

Danny has put more miles on that engine that 95% of replicas see in 3X as much service time..

Danny was/ has been an exceptional customer- why wouldn't I take care of him with a few replacement parts?? (The old units shouldn't have worn out anyway! even in 10 years of service!!)

For a daily driver living in the NE ???
I would be out of the aircooled market so fast...

see
http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewforum.php?f=19

Now I'm really bummed I didn't get to drive Danny's Spyder.
I spoke with Pat at CB today. Very nice guy and very helpful. He recommends a 2005cc he feels is perfect for what I'm looking to get out of a new engine, though he refuses to put a 911 shroud on it, which I respect. So I guess I'm gonna have to bail on the hopes of a Carrera-looking engine. I'm smart enough to know to listen to the professionals when it comes to that stuff. Jake reaffirms it with his statement about function over form.
I also spoke with Carey today about some trim stuff. I gotta say he's a first class guy, very accommidating and willing to help me out.
I really wish I could go all out and do a Raby engine in a Spyder but my situation (where the car gets parked and $) isn't condusive to it just yet. I think it'll be the next move I make after the Speedster re-do.

The 911 shroud won't make the engine look more like a Carrera, it'll make it look like a 911 at the sacrifice of effectiveness. My Carrea DTM will solve this.

You might want to inquire with me about costs, if I can "batch" your engine with some of Carey's engines the price might suprise you.

Never assume anything, asking questions doesn't obligate you to a purchase!

Thanks Jake. I know the 911 Shroud isn't the same as the Carrera but it's closer looking than the stock VW. And even though it may look nice the most important thing to me is to have the engine cool properly.
I actually tried to email you a week or so ago. I filled out the questionare on your site and for whatever reason it wouldn't let me submit? Is there another way to contact you?

i just put a bergmann 2387 in my VS and couldnt be more happy. starts right up, idles perfect, perfect throttle response, plenty of power and torque. have a stock tranny so i dont put my foot in it very often. one caveat is that i only have 1000 miles(and smiles) and longevity is unknown. could have bought any motor in this price range and decided to go for it with the 2387, anything less id always be thinking "what if i got the 2387".
last 2 tanks i average 25mpg with normal driving habits with occasional teenage bursts of WFO. i love it.

Sorry I missed you, Mickey. I know I promised you some stick time, but we tried (unsuccessfully) to beat the second biblical flood.

I have a Pat Downs 1915 (044 heads, 44 IDF Webers, and a few other goodies), and am quite pleased with the performance and value, but, after driving Danny's Spyder, I can tell you that there is a significant difference between it and a 2165 T4 (as well there $hould be). WOO-FREAKIN'-HOO, that thing is a hoot!

Lane, Danny's engine is a Raby Type 1, not a Type 4 :-) When he bought it, it wasn't the cheapest thing available, but it's outlsated many others with 1/10 the mileage on them at 1/3 the output :-)

Mickey,
If you'd like to chat, email me directly at jake@aircooledtechnology.com

Mickey, I think we should talk. Call me 561 301 7885. I am in the East so time is same as yours untill June 3rd. I have a motor you might like.

Let's put it this way. Danny and I get along great, and I believe all of what he says, but I was pretty skeptical when he was describing his car on Thursday night over a couple of glasses of his homebrew as "motorcycle quick". I should mention that the homebrew was not only very tasty, but pretty strong - so I took that into consideration surmising that perhaps it was sort of the beer talking. I mean, I'm used to really fast cars, and I have yet to drive a Speedster or Spyder that was what I consider really fast.

Fast forward to Saturday afternoon, when he flipped me the keys and said, "take it for a spin!" So, I drove it.

I'd like to publicly apologize to Danny for not taking his word as 100% correct. It's by a considerable margin the quickest Speedster or Spyder I've driven, and it felt fast from the drivers' seat - which means if you add the 50HP passenger seat conversion, it's downright ridiculous.

Well done, Danny. I really feel bad about doubting you now. Beers are on me next time for being a skeptic jerk.

I too was wondering just how quick this spyder might be? Then, I got to drive it with Danny in the shot gun seat.
What a drive that was.... When I returned to the Ramada I was grin'n like a kid ! ~Alan

Damn Danny,
what a "Rolling advertisement" you have created for our work!!! Guys like you are what keep me backlogged!

I HAVE to make it to carlisle next year, but I am REALLY hard on equipment and if danny throws me those keys I'll drive the car as hard as he will allow!! If I break it, I'll fix it :-)

Jake, we've been trying to get you to Carlisle for years! Only we want you to bring YOUR favorite "rolling advertisement" for, I dunno, maybe a little ride out the back gate. ;)

~WB

Uh Huh! I told youze guize last year I got scared in that thing! Now you KNOW!
http://www.theta.net/~nichols/speedster/carlisle07/target95.html

~WB

Yeah.. BUT it's the same weekend as my Wife's birthday, most years and this is the busiest time of year we have.. I also love to do test work in the Spring, stable temperaturesand dense air too!

I certainly do want to attend!

Wellll then you're all set. Surprise her with a birthday get-away weekend at a quaint Bed & Breakfast that just happens to be in the rolling hills of PA. Add in all the fun...there ya go!

We'll even have a B'Day cake for her at the Saturday night Awards Dinner !

Jake, since you're in the Atlanta area (that IS correct, isn't it?), you can join Leon Chupp (Gainesville, GA) and the rest of us in the Southeast Caravan. Your wife will enjoy the whole gathering, and you'll certainly add to your backlog.

"BUT it's the same weekend as my Wife's birthday"
I feel your pain. Laguna/Pebble weekend falls on my anniversary, and it is strictly a "boys" weekend, so it's only about every 3 years that the wifes says "just f'n go" and MEANS it.
We WILL get you out to Carlisle on of these years. And you have NO excuse for missing a Dragon run (nor do I)

To get somewhat back on subject, Mickey, have you ever considered EFI? I was really impressed with both CB and Jake's EFI set-up, and we are working on an ITB set-up for the ACVW stuff now too. Beautiful alumnium extruded throttle bodies and fuel rails... performance AND eye candy in one package.

Jake, we need a couple more "car girls" to add to the mix.

Beth has to at least tolerate some car meets, why not on her b-day?

If we can get Angela there next year, and I promise to bring my Jen, I know the ladies will have fun.http://www.theta.net/~nichols/speedster/carlisle07/target133.html

Once again, thanks for designing/building a well balanced torquebeast for me. Sorry for messing with it, but it seems to like the little tweaks I've done(death to dizzys)

Carey, I like the look of those TBs!!!!

Lets see, injection and twin plugs ought to make it even faster.

Winding it just a bit tighter........

Danny....Any tighter and you would break light speed on acceleration....I already know your answer..."SO?"

Mickey,
I asked John where that engine shroud came from, he had no idea. Does anyone know where the owner bought this?
Paul

Mickey, Trust me, I will build you a 2005cc engine that will be reliable yet put out power that most builders claim to make on much larger engines. All CB parts, not Empi crap. Don't fall for the golden tongue sales pitch by other builders. I have built engines for these cars for 21 years and know what works and what doesn't. Looking forward to hearing from you. Pat Downs

Pat, the sheer number of Speedsters and Spyders that are powered by the engines you have created proves your abilities.

At the same time, there are many others with similar skills and some with even more advanced skills that can create similar offerings.

This is America, thank God that any purchaser has the ability to purchase any engine from anyone they desire. We all have different strengths and weaknesses and some people make their selections based on a vast number of variables, some that we as builders can't comprehend.

That said, anyone purchasing anything from either Pat, or myself can rest assured that they are receiving a ton of dedication, enthusiasm and experience in the composition of their engine. Thats how he and I both are and thats why the results speak for themselves with our reputations.

Buying an engine is like buying underwear- its a personal decision.

Mickey:

The decision also has to include where you live.

Look at the experiences that everyone on here has with their cars and/or engines. Everybody seems to be dealing with some sort of issues, some minor and some major. Something to consider is whether you have competent service available in your area for either the car or the engine. If you think it may be only so-so, then you might consider an engine builder that is closer, such that repair shipping costs may be less.

If it helps to cloud your decision, I bought a Bernie Bergman 2,110cc longblock and it was assembled with a crushed #4 crankshaft bearing. Bernie offered to rebuild it free if I paid the shipping, but I ended up tearing it down and re-building it myself to the cost of a new crank bearing set and probably saved three or four hundred bucks on shipping from coast to coast, twice. To his credit, when I tore it down it had everything in it that I asked for and the part quality was top rate. That was back in 1997 or so, and I can't comment on what he's been doing since he left SoCal a few years ago.

Gordon

P.S.: You might inquire if Cory's Wrench could build a reliable 2,110 street engine for you and what HIS cost would be, too. I've heard that he's pretty good, as is the builder Karl Macklin used in Virginia or Maryland or someplace over there. HIs phone number is on the other site under "Speedster Building and Maintaining sites"

P.P.S.: I'm running a Rancho Transaxles "Pro-Street" tranny that one of Sam's guys built up. All the usual stuff inside (Super-dif, yadda yadda). I'm running stock gearing and a 3:73 differential ratio. Works well for me. Sam takes your old tranny in trade, too.

I don't know if Cory is recommending his "wrench" for anything anymore.

Jake, More advanced skills on the type-1 engine, I don't think so. Type-1 street engines, no one can touch me, period. I don't talk a big game, I don't need to. My work proves itself. Just like it proved itself in the "Engine Builders Challange" last year. No one could touch me. I didn't even bring my "A" game.
I have helped CB design some of the best products in the VW industry. I do not invest my time helping other company's product development. I invest my time making our product, including our engines the best out there. Who ever purchases an engine from CB gets an engine built by me. Our machine shop employees have a combined 30 plus years of employment at CB. They know what they are doing, I know what I am doing, the customer knows what he is getting. The parts being used by other builders have actually been offered to Cb before they made it to market. We reject Chineese parts on a weekly bassis. There is a stack of "crap" that we keep in the corner that most builders out there are using today. I don't blame builders for using these parts, they have to keep cost down to compete. I do not because we manufacture our parts. A CB engine is a CB engine, gauranteed.

Pat,
My statement concerning advanced skills was general and certainly not directed toward anyone.

It's always nice to see another builder with confidence and enthusiasm that rivals my own.

Mickey, Gordon makes a good point as to where you live in relation to the builder.
These are two east coast shops you could check out and are close if you encounter any problems.
Kurt Metzger(sp?) at Vintage Performance in Clayton DE. They're just north of Dover.
...or you could call Sean at Peek Performance in MD. I think Sean did Karl's work and Cory had some work done there also.



http://www.peekperformance.com/shop/index.php

http://www.vintageperformance.net/

~WB