DIY 1915cc Engine Help

Alright so after doing some research I think I am going to rebuild my engine into a 1915. I was thinking about the 2110 but it seems like that may require a lot more upgrades.(I may be wrong) Anyways I need some help. My dad is a mechanic so he will be helping me, it also sounds like fun. I am looking for some advice on parts you guys would reccomend for the upgrade like valves, pistons, crankshaft and what parts if any I would be able to reuse. I know I could drop thousands on the best stuff but that is not what I am looking for. I want to keep costs as low as possible. Thanks for your help guys this place is a wealth of information.

As for my driving needs it will be more cruising and freeway not so much racing.

Giday, Mat. I decided on a 1915 engine too and I'm quite happy with it. Just finished a 5,030 cruise across the USA and up to Ottawa, Canada with it. Mine has a c35 cam, mild heads with 40 x 35 valves and an easy to tune single carb...a Weber Progressive. I have the infamous 009 distributor to which I added an electronic module. You can eliminate the flat spot on acceleration with jetting, but you must let it warm up throroughly before takeoff to avoid the flat spot altogether. There are many mods and ideas out there but this was the best choice for me. Mild yet with enough torque, quite driveable and very economical. I recently learned that the rocker shafts with the bolts on the end rather than spring clips is a good addition. David Stroud

Just went through this, collecting the bits and pieces for the engine build, have yet to find the time to completely finish it off/bench run it. I hope that the combination works . . .

I ended up with this:

Dual relief case opened up for 94mm barrels, case savers with 8mm head studs. Didn't need a line bore, close, but I heard that it's a bad idea anyway on an old case.

Stock crank drilled for eight dowel pins. (Decided to save the stroker for the 92mm case.)

Stock balanced (I hope) rods.

Teflon buttons. (Scared of the clips.)

Older heads opened up for 94mm barrels, 35/40 valves with the ridge "softened" where the squelch area meets the combustion pocket. Ported exhaust only. Match ported intake and exhaust manifolds.

Engle 110 cam and cut lube-a-lobe lifters.

Straight cut steel/steel timing gears. (I only did it for the noise.)

German bearings throughout.

Melling oil pump with an oil filter/oil pump cover. The pump cover then has an adapter to bring the oil to a remote filter, a cooler, and back to the pump. This is just 'cause I'm cheap, a full flow system is what you really want.

Mini sump/tuna can oil sump extension.

Lightened eight dowel flywheel.

Kennedy clutch and pressure plate. (Just 'cause I had them.)

Solid rocker shafts, stock rockers, finned and vented covers.

Single Weber DCOE side draft carb.

Mallory distributor, Compu-fire coil, Taylor wires.

JayCee pulleys, block off plates, fittings, etc.

Holley blue pump and regulator.

CB Performance breather tower with remote racing kart breather can.

And that's about it I guess. Still wondering if I did good, but nothing seems at all radical so it ought to run like a good stocker with a smidge more power for passing. Nothing special, but fun I'm hoping.

Luck,

TC

Do you guys mind posting what ballpark costs are for the setup?

I'm a bad example, being that this is a hobby and I decided a while ago that I'd make it a very cheap one to be involved in, and I enjoy the "Yankee Trader" aspect of it, I doubt that I have more than $400 in the engine, cash money.

It bothers some folks and friends that I'm always in the middle of trying to turn trash into treasure, that everything that I have needed work to function, but I really enjoy myself. Misplaced industry? Maybe. Wasted time? Mine to waste. Could be driving the car rather than still building it? My Mustang will out-drive anything that I could EVER build, and it's in the driveway right now.

Have some fun with it, you know?

TC

Fun is the reason most of us have these cars. I was just curious if there are places people get stuff cheap from or an idea of what I am going to have to spend on certain parts.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=829625

What do you guys think about this kit? Some things are interchangeable would you upgrade any parts?

http://www.kustom1warehouse.net/1914cc_Engine_Rebuild_Kits_for_VW_Volkswagen_p/enginekit1914.htm

What about this one I just found looks kinda interesting. I called on the samba ad and the pistons are not Mahle they are AA at that price.

Brothers is a VERY good shop, they do great work, and have a good reputation. AA piston kits are pretty darn good these days. Early on, they had abnormalities that made them questionable, but the word out is that they are dependable now.

Mike

I just today ordered a set of AA 94mm pistons and barrels w/rings, pins and clips. A set of AA 92mm pistons and barrels w/rings, pins and clips. Plus two sets of steel-on-steel timing gears from Kona, off of The Samba.

I checked around and he seems to be one of the good guys. He does a lot of selling and trading, so there is BOUND to be some bad feedback, but mostly high praise.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=60388&highlight=kona

I checked prices everywhere and he had the best on what I wanted and even threw in free shipping for a first time customer.

TC