Engine Size?

I am soon to pick up my unfinished CMC car which has a '65 motor which I have realized is just going to be underpowered for performance driving. It seems that at 2110 motor might just be the best bang for the buck. Is this displacement working well for others? How set up? I also have 2 vanagon 5 speed transmissions. Is a 5 speed desireable in these cars? Thanks!

The 2110 is definitely a great combo for power and longevity on the street. Can't answer your question about transaxles, though.

I wasn't aware the Vanagon's came 5spd! I bet the ratios would need to be changed since the Vanagon weights 2x as much and is probably a handful over 80 MPH. 1st would be probably useless unless you were pulling stumps out. Plus wouldn't you need a different flywheel (other than the T1) to mesh with it? I like 5spd shifting but conversion tend to be costly plus the fear of overheating and air colled engine have kept me from doing it (oh and time).

The VW Vanagon 094 transaxle is a 5 speed but with the current gear ratio's you're not achieving anything other than having a compound 1st gear. I believe it's a side shifter and I'm sure gears are available but 5th gear is basically the same as 4th gear on a 4 speed transaxle.

Type 094 094 094 094 094 094
ID character DV, 7D 8H, 8F ABL DW, 8D 8E, 3P ABN, ABM
For engine 1.9L 1.9L 1.9L 1.9L 1.9L 1.9L
Power 44 kW 44 kW 44 kW 57 kW 57-66 kW 57-66 kW
Year < 83.11 > 83.12 > 84.8 < 83.11 > 83.12 > 84.8

1. gear 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.11 4.11
2. gear 2.33 2.33 2.33 2.33 2.33 2.33
3. gear 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48 1.48
4. gear 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02 1.02
5. gear 0.77 0.82 0.82 0.77 0.82 0.82
Revers 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67 3.67
Transaxle 4.86 4.86 4.83 4.86 4.86 4.83

James wrote: "Is this displacement working well for others? How set up?"

This has been covered a LOT on this site, so try doing a search on 2,110 or something and see what turns up. In the meantime, 2,110's are probably the most sought-after for decent performance and longevity. Mine has an Engle 120 cam (hot street, supposedly) but still is well-mannered. I'm also running a counter-balanced crankshaft, Mahle pistons and a pair of 40mm Dellorto carbs. Cooling is stock, German VW from a 1971 with a super-beetle cooling tower plus external oil cooler, too.

My transmission is a stock ratio Sedan IRS transmission with the usual .89 overdrive 4'th and a "Super Diff" differential, welded 3'rd and 4'th gears.

Good luck!

gn