Engine Builders (Turnkey)

I understand where Stan is coming from, because I've suffered many of the same air cooled woes.

When I restored my IM in 2009 I seriously considered going water cooled, but chickened out because I didn't think I was capable of doing the conversion.

Instead I had what I thought was a capable shop build me a 2275 type 1 engine, with CB fuel injection.

The engine never ran properly.  I had serious fuel injection problems, overheating, and an oil leak at the flywheel which destroyed my clutch in 3000 miles.

In frustration, after a typical crappy drive, I pulled the engine.  Once again I seriously considered switching over to a water cooled engine, but after I long discussion with my new mechanic, who was a VW service rep and has worked on Porsches for many years, about converting to water cooled.  Even though he does a lot of work on WRX and WRX STi cars he recommended staying with an air cooled engine.

He's promised me he can work out the problems and get my car running properly.

We'll see.

My wife and I want to drive down to the Grand Canyon this year, but I won't go unless the car is dead reliable. If it's not I'm going to give up on air cooled engines....for good.

David promotes a Subie conversion and I mentioned to him a while back that the conversion may have been fairly straightforward for him, but that's because he has the skills to do the job.  Many of us don't, and if we have to have a shop do the conversion it can get expensive.  I think $10,000 to have a shop do the conversion would be on the low side.

 

 

Here's my .02 cents.  If you want a Type IV, go to FAT Performance in Orange.  As far as I'm concerned, they build the BEST Type IV on the market.   If you want Subaru, go see Lance Nist at Pantera EFI in Santa Ana.

Ted - car originally had a 1776. A friend gave me 1835 jugs (insert nasty joke here...) that I eventually installed. Dual Kadrons, 1.25 ratio rockers, A-1 Sidewinder, eternal oil-cooler w/thermostat fan. If the engine grenades, I'll replace with same! 

 

If I could afford it, I'd love to install 2.2 911S with velocity stacks & sport muffler! Love the sound of that engine...

I love the way that thing sounds. If I ever get the chance, I'll look into something like that.

 

There is a guy about 8 miles away who has 1835 Mahle Jugs and Pistons for $100.00... now I just need the rest of it.

 

One step at a time.

 

Ted

Hey Stan...if you are reading this still, no offense taken on your post...just good reading.  The internet is not a good place to convey "meaning" but really good at getting words on paper regardless of outcome.

 

Like yourself (as it sounds), I took the long way to get where I am at.  I grew up on a cattle ranch in the mountains of Colorado.  I learned how to fix anything using bailing wire and duct tape when the situation called for it.

 

Did the autoshop thing in school as well...barely graduated high school.  Only option for me was to be a Helo Mechaninc in the Marine Corp.  Have chewed more foreign dirt than anyone should have to in a life time but now I am also a licensed aircraft mechanic...you got a spare F18 or 747 lying around that needs work?

 

As I showed earlier in this thread, I also worked here www.aria-group.com. I have built everything under the sun that moves...to include the bobsled used in the last olympics...yes the 2014 Sochi one.  Most of the stuff we built from scratch or from a napkin sketch.  We went as far as cutting up a perfectly good BRAND NEW "donor" car in 1/2, stripping it down to bare frame, gut the wires, cut the front clip out and put everything back together and then threw a fiber glass or carbon fiber body onto it also from scratch.  Our machine shop made the tools for from straight CAD Data!!!

 

Got my MBA and then went into a cube...let the young guys cut cars up...my knees couldn't take the concrete floors anymore.

 

Now I am in that "cubical" working for the largest aerospace company in the world.

 

My point...really dont have one.  I just like the air cooled boxer type 1 engine...just because...cant explain why, even though I understand its like pushing the proverbial rock up a steep hill.  I do it just because at the end I can say "I did it".

 

Anyway...it is good to meet all you folks and I will need all your collective experience as I work through my build.  Today I decided to build it myself, in the garage, from the ground up, just so I can say "I did it!!!

 

Zulu

Sisyphus had a Type 1.

To Stan:

 

My apologies for being harsh.  You're a "good guy" who, at this stage of your life is entitled to your opinion.

 

On this, the birthday of Dr. Seuss (who lived but an hour from me in West Springfield, Mass. and whom most of us grew up with and learned much from) I give you one of his quotes:

 

"Be who you are and say what you feel,

because those who mind don't matter

and those who matter don't mind."

 

- Theodor Seuss Geisel

 

 

i love this group!!!

Any thoughts on using other motors outside of vw porsche subaru? I hear IM uses brand new audi engines. Would these be the final answer in terms of reliability ?

The problem with most 4 cylinder engines is they sit upright and raise the center of gravity in a speedster, which is not a good thing.

Would agree with Ron.  I have the VW/Audi watercooled in my IM.  

Pros-This is a crate engine.  Factory built with 0 miles.  Bullet proof.

Cons-Raises center of gravity.  Engine sits vertical not transverse as was intended by VW/Audi.  Very tight fit.  Lots of stress on motormounts.  

 

If Subaru engine good be sourced from the factory this would be ideal.  Flat 4 like God intended.

Stan, I am more like you than the cubicle guy. Plenty of room in here for everyone. I like Gordon's Dr. Seuss quote!

 

I like the smell of burning oil and unburned gas! I like having a car that is pretty friggin unique, a different drummer so to speak. Crank fire ignition, home made, and carbs. I like the dichotomy of it all, new tech working with no tech. A cooling system that "doesn't work". I like the fact that I have carbs that run damn near as well as any injection system. On a very old concept of an engine platform. More smiles per mile than any other car I've ever owned/driven/or worked on.

 

Twin plugs and crank fire? Party on Stan, I'm WITH YOU!

Danny, I don't know about burning oil and unburnt gas, but I love the smell of new tires.

Every time I go to Costco I visit the tire section.  I don't need tires-I just go for the smell.

 

Phil, while my IM was being restored Henry let me take out a new IM powered by an Audi turbo.  The car was very fast, but the drive by wire throttle was less than perfect.  Is yours drive by wire?  If so, how do you like it?

That's because your brain associates that smell with something pleasurable from your youth, & I'm not talking about burnouts ;-)

What rubber are you talking about?  

I believe he means latex, Ron.

I was touring a rubber molding factory a few months ago & told my colleague that the place smelled like my honeymoon.

 

Ron. Don't think mine is drive by wire. 115hp sohc 8v. Engine hasn't changed since 1993. But it's still a workhouse installed in all base jettas.

We haven't built T1 engines in years. We still build a ton of T4 engines and have a 13 month backlog at the present.

 

We have several months of backlog on the Suby side and achieve that with zero advertisement.

 

And of course modern Porsche engines have us swamped as well. Just wanted to clarify that.

I live in Oxnard Ca. at the coast,  about two miles from the beach , Santa Barbara twenty miles North, and Santa Monica forty miles south, soooooooo I have no problem with engine heat!!!.   However freeway driving in LA. for me would be a no-no !!!!    SEA-B-STU