engine replacement

Pat at CB Performance is the best in the business, but he is not cheap.  Budget $8-10k for en engine this size with the proper exhaust and secondary external oil cooling.

If you live In the Los Angeles area, try Chico's Performance in Arcadia. He and Pat Downs work together of mutual projects on occasion. They are in competition with each other at the race track on occasion as well.......Bruce

@DWC  i had VW's in my youth...and was a semi-expert at all the basics of their operation (and not by choice)...so no offence to purists....go with a SUBARU....liquid cooled...no tinkering....turn key....either that or get educated or pay "otto-mechanic" for the usual AIRCOOLED semi headaches....just a word from the wise through experience

@jncspyder At $10k for air cooled, Subaru was my first thought too.  You can go with a used US or JDM engine that has 30k or so miles and just add the conversion pieces.  A Subaru engine especially complements a Coupe where you need AC/heat and perhaps less engine noise.   

Wonder what the 1700 cc engine is in the Coupe now?  Is it a 1600 cc with 88 pistons/cylinders (1679 cc)  or perhaps a stock T4 1.7L (same 1679 cc)?  The T4 can fairly easily be build up.  New P&C can boost to 2.4L  plus the bottom end is strong.

If you're not all that mechanically inclined, have no aircooled VW experience, don't have much in tools and the idea of learning/puttering around in the garage on a semi regular basis with valve adjustments, oil changes, removing and cleaning carburetor idle jets, maybe even learning how to remove the engine and replace the clutch before roaring around in your cool retro coupe really doesn't interest you then take @jncspyder's advice and look at converting the car you're looking at to Subaru power.  Type 1 (Beetle) aircooled engines (even heavily modified) are a little lot like old motorcycles- you always seem to be tinkering with something to keep it running properly, and if that really isn't your thing then the Subie will be the better option.

If, despite of all we've written, you're still game, maybe keep the engine that's in the car now, drive it for a while and learn how to take care of it and then maybe decide on something bigger?  Of course, if you know what you're doing and this doesn't apply to you then- never mind...

Btw- If I haven't said it yet- Welcome to the Madness!

And I 2nd what Carey said- a turnkey 2 liter + engine, done right is not cheap, and and be wary of anyone who tries to convince you otherwise.  Someone else to ask in the LA area- Gary Berg- 808 640 679nine

Hope this helps.  Al

OP seems to be in Bound Brook. NJ!

Paid less than $10k for my 200hp suby. And that included a new short block. Sings to 7000 rpms at the flick of your foot. And yes for the most part I’m a mechanical idiot. 3500 trouble free miles so far. Climb in and turn the key.

While it is true  you can buy a Suby motor for $10k or less, you would need to budget another 60-70% of that for everything else needed to convert your car properly...

@chines1 posted:

While it is true  you can buy a Suby motor for $10k or less, you would need to budget another 60-70% of that for everything else needed to convert your car properly...

I was just going to say that it's not the Suby motor that gets you, it's everything else you need to make it function properly.

guys: great feed back and advise, thanks. I had a 1969 VW, you jogged my memory on the maintenance.  Suby with EFI, ECM, no valve lash adjustment is more to my liking.  Looking at 2 coupes, one with VW aircooled and one with a Suby.  I have a better understanding of the price differential between them. Thinking that the Suby coupe is the better way to go, would prefer a more reliable daily driver type of car.

@chines1 @Robert M both you guys are correct & IMHO once sorted you can avoid all potential headaches that come along with "aircooled".... @DWC weight your options and make a smart decision....after all my sorting out ....my car is TURN KEY and has smiles for miles without living underneath it

For an engine swap from aircooled to suby...what would be the best shop to do the work? Anybody in Houston Tx by any chance ?

@zdouga our little replica cars are not BUGATTIS or F 35 RAPTORS.....just nutz & bolts and some electrical...try and find a HOT ROD guy that's seen & done it all... that's how i did some custom stuff on my car that was above my pay scale and had the proper tools & lift etc etc.....better to SAVE your DOUGH & HIRE a PRO....houston has lots i'm guessing

If you can get on their list, the guys at Special Edition (Beck) have done enough of them to know what to do and what not to do.  Unfortunately for you they are in northern Indiana and have more work than they can handle right now.  It may still be worth a call.