Cost of a large VW engine?

CB Perfomance is a respected a/c VW engine builder.  Cost of a new 2+l engine is $6k+.  VW never built a 5-sp tranny to my knowledge.  Gene Berg experimented with one in the 60's, but never marketed it, since it had so many problems.  Guys have adapted a Porsche 5-speed, but it's pricey.  Same with Subi 5-speed.

2109 "turn-key" @ 140 hp is starting at $6200 + shipping.

Jim's close- 160-170hp count on 6-$6500 turnkey. Can be done with a 2276, relatively easy to build and will rev to 6,000 or thereabouts with power. 180-200hp- $8,000+

And Jim's right; VW never put a 5 speed in any bug, ghia, type 3 or 4. Berg has a working 5 speed; I believe they've made 2 different production runs (there's an early and a late version; not much difference between them). The kit is $1600 and change. Count on it costing 3500-$4,000 when finished. Is it worth it? Imagine having fantastic acceleration from the gearing into 4th (close gears have to be driven to be appreciated), and then a highway cruising 5th. Oh, yeah... 

I know guys with many thousands of miles on their Berg 5 speeds. Al

Craig, you'll be surprised at how much $$$ you can put into these little engines.

I've put over $8,000 into my 2275 engine. 

It all starts to add up.....

I am absolutely flabbergasted by those numbers.  It’s only a VW engine!  I’m glad now I got a running 1600 with my car.  That’s half the price I paid for the entire car.  Maybe I’ll just be happy with 55MPH.

Thanks everyone for the input.  That is not where my money is going.

craig

But Craig; when you're faster than just about everything else on the road..

Stay thirsty, Craig.

Craig - Relatively inexpensive upgrades to consider; Dual Kadron carbs, 1.25 ratio lifters, full flow external oil-cooler (with spin-off oil filter) and a A-1 Performance muffler will do your 1600 well. Cruise at highway speeds all day (75mph+), 25-30 mpg, and peppy enough to zip around town.

Low maintenance, high reliability!

If it ever 'grenades', you won't have to re-finance your home for repair/replacement!  

Jim's advice is solid. If I starting with a 1600 that is what I would consider doing. Adds zip but doesn't break the bank.

"The most interesting man in the world" does not bat an eye at an 8K VW engine.  In fact, there is a line of pretty ladies just waiting to write the check for him.........

Please keep slower traffic to the right. 

Having hung out with him in South Beach a few months ago, I agree!.  

I have a Berg 5 in Penny. I've put 25,000 miles on the tranny with no problems.

When I was contemplating having my car built 10+ years ago I asked this forum what would be better, a big engine or a 5 speed? The general consensus was a big engine. 

I put 20,000 miles on the big engine (2110) and was less than impressed. Torque is fine but the gear spread made the engine work hard, especially on twisty, climbing roads.

The Berg 5 was the best money I've spent on the car. 

Terry- Do you remember what gears (and r&p) you used?

I like the quick short gears in 2nd and third.

As I keep saying: Once you get above 100 hp or so, there is absolutely NOTHING cheap about an air-cooled flat four.

Forewarned is forearmed.

PS: I'd LOVE to have only $8K in my engine.

The most interesting man in the world once drove his Speedster coast to coast twice in one day.  In reverse.

Gary Berg is building a Berg 5 for me right now. Total cost with all Weddle gears and all the good stuff is right at $6,500 bucks.

R/P 3.88

!st  3.75

2nd 2.25

3rd 1.58

4th 1.21

5th 0.89

My earlier guesstimate of a finished Berg 5 was a little low. I stand corrected...

Swingaxle or irs?  What housing? Superdiff, ZF or Quaife?

Sounds like going full Subbie (Subbie 5 spd with costly reverse gears) would cost less if starting from no engine/trans.

NOS mag rino case from the 80's, super diff and swing axle. the Quaife is another $1,450 which I may have to do because he can't find a properly machined super diff. I don't need a Quaife because I'm only into fast cruising After market transmission parts are just like after market engine parts, everything needs work before you can use it. So with a Quaife you can hit 8 grand. You know what they say, you either want it or you don't. I figure a Berg 5 with all the good stuff is a lifetime investment unless your some kind of maniac and than nothing will last you very long...

Aside from no swing axle with Subbie I think your looking at about the same outlay in cash when you figure every last nut and bolt. My other car is a WRX(love them flat motors), they have a sweet shifting 5 speed.

The thing with the Subaru trans is you put in the reverse R & P, disable the 4wd, and you're done. No other internal work is needed as they can handle 300hp stock. It's the way to go if you have an IRS car and are going Subaru with the motor also. Gearing is already perfect, drop it in and go! Well not drop it in, but you get the picture.

I agree with Danny-a Subie tranny is the way to go, but I bet buying the tranny and getting it installed would cost somewhere in the $6000-$6500 range.

I bet coolrydes would know.

I'll have to see how my 901 gearbox works out.  My mechanic says that if I don't like the 5th gear rpm he can switch it for another ratio.  5th gear can be changed with the tranny in the car.

As for engine horsepower, it's addictive.  The more you have the more you want.

Heck, after a while I even thought my V8 powered Miata was too slow.

Question: I am looking at an early 2000s Suby for use in the Sierra mountains, but am concerned with a few customer reviews that dissed the car because of head gasket failure history for Subarus. Many people rave about the car, but others whine about gasket and other failures.

Any owners wish to chime in?

Thanks

The head gasket problem was many years ago and due to a bad batch. I just sold my 2009 wrx and ordered a 2015. If you put a stage 2 tune in your turbocharged Subbie and drive it like a maniac you could loose a ring land. Mine was stage 1 for almost 40,000 miles and all I did was change the oil every 3,500. Most dependable car I ever owned...

dsrtfox, a friend of mine just bought a 2015 WRX.  She took me for a drive and I said I'd gladly do some track instruction, if she ever became so inclined.

I had consumed a few glasses of wine when we went for a drive, so I declined driving it myself.  Even sitting in the passenger seat I was impressed.

I wonder if she'd let me borrow it for a track day...I mean leisurely weekend cruise.

Ron,

   I thought my 09 was the be all end all till I test drove a 15. It's as quick as my 09 was at stage1. I think stage1 on the new one is gonna be a monster.

   For general info the steelership offered me $14,500 for the 09 so I went down the street to CarMax and 45 minutes later left with a check for $19,000. I got the 15 at invoice. Ya I know it's not really invoice, dealers buy the cars at wholesale. 2 grand off of the sticker was good enough for me...

Here's my A coupe boys...

So, you've got that and a new WRX.....lucky bugger!

Just counting my blessings 

That A coupe is NICE!! Nicely appointed. 

Thank you Jim, I appreciate that.

Curt...

Someone say Subi Conversion, or large displacement VW with a real five speed trans. Naw I know tons about doing this stuff because we do it every week. Email or call me DSRTFOX.

Thanks Ron

Thanks Ron,

   Some day I'm gonna take a ride over to Diego and pop in on you guys.

Curt... 

You and anyone else that wants to come by are always welcome, well except a couple un-named guys on here.....

I refinanced my home so I could buy my car...

^ OK, THAT was funny!!