Chico Performance Engines

Has anyone purchased an engine and/or trans from Chico Performance? I know, I know this thread may start another debate about who has the best engines but........I've noticed their ad on the Samba site....Looks like some pretty good deals! Anyone know how their stuff stacks up against CB Performance, Gene Berg, and Scat?

I believe someone on the Technical General Forum on the thread named Bad VS 1915 just installed a Chico engine. Maybe too early for an accurate critique, but it might be a good start.

Yes Michael; as Bill has said look for the "Bad VS 1915" thread. Jake Raby says that he's seen their work and that they really know what they're doing. Coming from Jake I take it as a compliment. From what I've seen it looks like they've got their act together.

Look up the vendor review section on thesamba.com They seem to have a good reputation. Serrano's is another one that keeps coming up as a reputable builder. I'm doing the same search...

So far i have been impressed with my new motor. I have not been able to hammer on it just yet, As it has about 150 miles on it. But with the torque and HP numbers in the midrange i don't need to rev it to high levels. Short shift and go.
Everyone can see the build and my alaska trip at my web page. http://homepage.mac.com/k12lt
i see that some of the captions at my page are out of order. I'm sure no one will be overly critical about that. will edit it later.

Just checked on a espar gas air heater. the gas model is b1lc rated at 7,000 btu. They have a larger one. b3lc at 14,000 btu. The b1lc is 742.00 $u.s.
measures 14"L x 5"w x 5.25"h 6 lbs. Looks like it would fit nicely into the area between the fire wall and rear interior wall. Just put a tee in the fuel line. add a y junction from the heater to route hot air to both ducts going to the front. My plan is to put fiberglass insulation where to ducts travel along the rocker panels. Then inclose it with an aluminum panel. It will not only provide more heat but look much cleaner.

regards
jerry

Jerry, your engine looks badass! I hope it runs as good as it looks. Definitely show quality. The "gas er up" picture says it all.

Jerry, That engine has got to make you smile!.....REALY BIG!! Does it pull good all the way from the bottom of the RPM range or does it come on at about 25 to 3000 RPM and go crazy? How about your transmission? Is it stock? I'm looking forward to hearing more about how you feel about your motor....Was it worth the cost to upgrade? Thanks, Michael

Chico is trying very hard to build a strong customer base similar to what I did when I worked with TI engines.

He is a reputable guy that loves this work just like I do and thats a trait that any decent engine builder in this industry must possess.

Chico and I are working on some things and I may be providing my TI DTM to him for use on most of his engines, also I'm thinking about selling him some of my old TI combos that work really bitchin that I have no use for any longer...

Michael: The motor pulls real hard. But it does not have many miles on it. So i am still not hammering it. I want to wait untill the first oil change and valve adjustment before i start showing off. I am running a stock 3.88 tranny. I will have to refrain from side stepping the clutch and how hard i shift. I will install a new tranny this spring. To give you an idea of the difference. There is a hill i have to go up from a stop. With the old motor i could just hit fourth gear. Then i would loose speed. down to third foot to the floor and barely maintain 45 MPH in a 55 zone. With the Chico motor in fourth i still gain speed. So much so that i have to back out of it. By the top of the hill i hit 75 and still gaining speed. And that is with short shifting to keep the break in revs down. So all in all i am very pleased with my motor.
And of course the compliment from Mr. Raby about Chico is high praise indeed. We all know how obsessive he is about his builds and attention to detail.

regards
jerry

Jake , a compliment of praise from you about Chico says alot about you. It's great to hear a respected type IV engine builder like yourself give another engine builder a sincere compliment. You just don't see that much. Most guys are to insecure to even give someone else any credit at all. Keep up the great work! I here that you build some of the best stuff out there!

Hey Tony - Where is the event the first Saturday of January? Do you mean the first friday at Findlays?

Mark

What I gather is that a local guy here has one of Chico's turn-key engines and he is very happy with it. I can not remember the specs or exact details but hopefully I will see him the first Friday of January when the local VW dealer sponsors a vintage VW club get together. As the perfectionist that Jake is, his input has merit.

Yup, Mark, you're right it is Friday at Findlay's! How have you been? We gotta chat soon! How's your car doing? It was great doing that get together, the pics came out nice!

Michael, I try my best.... Fact is that each year as my development gets more and more in depth and the amount of engines I build gets smaller and smaller, but MUCH more exotic it creates a huge void for the typical person that wants a solid engine that makes power.

I have no desire to build a huge amount of engines, I do have a desire to build a few engines with my name on them that are astonishing and as things get more specialized I get that opportunity more and more and appreciate it.

Fact is the industry needs a guy like Chico- Chico is a guy just like I was some 10 years ago that built a good engine for a fair price and stands behind his work the same way. I did not wish to follow that same route so I started expending time and money to make more ultimate engines because standardization to me become monotany and soon I lose my drive a bit...

Anytime I see someone that has the drive that chico does, they need a chance and I'm ore than happy to refer people his way. I send quite a few to Chico since I no longer build TI based engines and haven't for a couple of years.

Hey Tony - You planning on going to Findlays this Friday? The weather is supposed to be O.K. If you are, we can meet up somewhere and cruise in together. Any other Las Vegas speedster owners out there want to crash the V.W. event?

Mark,
I might be able to make it, I'll let you know by Friday. Shoot me an email or call me.

Jerry, It's been a few months or so now.....so how's the Chico engine doing? Are you still happy? Would you do anything different? What size motor did Chico build for you? Mike

As they say...no good news is good news; I guess.

So far so good. The only issue i have had was the jetting problems i have encounterd. Chico bolted on the webbers as they were shipped. Turns out that the float levels were not even close. Very low float level. carbs were acting lean even though they had 165 mains and 175 air jets at 4000 ft. elevation. Way to rich. So much so that i was getting 12 MPG. After adjusting floats and rejetting. 140 mains/200 air/ 50 idle. it runs better, transititions to the various circuits very smoothly and gets 23 MPG now. (Kudo's to john at aircooled.net for pointing me in the right direction.) The motor pulls like a freight train. It's a 2387, 171 H.P. 173 LBFT. torque.

Chico sent me a nice email and said that adjusting the floats will be part of EVERY webber carb installation. If i ever need another motor built chico will build it.

How's the Chico Performance engine running now?

I'm interested in a turnkey engine from CPR, but I've sent a couple of emails to the address on their website, and heard nothing back. Anyone know if they're still in business?

I'm looking for a bigger engine and thought CPR were the right source.

As far as I know they're alive and kicking; probably haven't replied to your email because they're too busy....