To add to what Eric said, these lads supply rebuilt Soob engines with genuine Soob parts. http://www.ccrengines.com/id3.html at a very attractive price. Just add accessories and you're good to go. I thought the wiring harness was too daunting a task for my first go round so I avoided it by going with aftermarket electronic ignition and carb.
Nolan:
My car is as original as I can make it. Obviously, it is not a 1958 Porsche Speedster worth $100,000.00 +, but to me, it is the incarnation of that same vehicle.
I happen to like being true to the original nature of any vehicle that I own, and any car I have ever restored has been done as closely to original as possible.
You can point out a number of items on any 'replica' that are not original (obviously, a replica itself is not original), but my goal is to make my car as close to original as I can.
That's how I enjoy this hobby, and I assume you enjoy it in your way.
You'll note I said 'the originality aspect' of our cars, and that's what I was getting at.
To each his own, and I was not bashing Subie powered speedsters. That engine suits the car, and is a good alternative.
My car is as original as I can make it. Obviously, it is not a 1958 Porsche Speedster worth $100,000.00 +, but to me, it is the incarnation of that same vehicle.
I happen to like being true to the original nature of any vehicle that I own, and any car I have ever restored has been done as closely to original as possible.
You can point out a number of items on any 'replica' that are not original (obviously, a replica itself is not original), but my goal is to make my car as close to original as I can.
That's how I enjoy this hobby, and I assume you enjoy it in your way.
You'll note I said 'the originality aspect' of our cars, and that's what I was getting at.
To each his own, and I was not bashing Subie powered speedsters. That engine suits the car, and is a good alternative.
At the risk of sounding like a politician, I agree with almost everybody here.
We live in a post-mechanical age. Most of the guys who want these cars have never changed the oil in the lawn mower, so they're not likely to adjust their own valves or know what to do when the carb linkage goes out of sync. Given that as a baseline, a Subaru 4 makes a lot of sense. It's not the air-cooled age of Robert's youth-- most air-cooled shops are manned by old guys who stopped caring in 1980 or thieves and charlatans who have no native love for the hobby. Both are using parts "cast with pride" in some hut in southeast Asia. A Subaru eliminates all of this as an issue, is reliable, and costs 1/10 as much to build big power.
However, for me, the primary appeal/frustration of a plastic toy-car is that it connects me to a more mechanical time, when keeping a car in perfect tune took a bit of knowledge and effort. These cars are FAR from perfect-- they leak, they're noisy, they don't handle particularly well, and even with a 200 hp mill are not particularly fast. Any number of less expensive, more reliable, modern cars exist to scratch those itches. Nothing but an air-cooled mill scratches this particular itch for me.
Electronic ignition? For sure. EFI? Yeah, that's cool. Turbo? Why not? Everybody's got something that is the "essence" of the hobby. For most guys, it's the shape. For me, it's an air-cooled engine of any stripe. A pushrod 4 cylinder is cool. A Porsche 6 is very cool. A Polo 911/4 just about stops my heart.
We live in a post-mechanical age. Most of the guys who want these cars have never changed the oil in the lawn mower, so they're not likely to adjust their own valves or know what to do when the carb linkage goes out of sync. Given that as a baseline, a Subaru 4 makes a lot of sense. It's not the air-cooled age of Robert's youth-- most air-cooled shops are manned by old guys who stopped caring in 1980 or thieves and charlatans who have no native love for the hobby. Both are using parts "cast with pride" in some hut in southeast Asia. A Subaru eliminates all of this as an issue, is reliable, and costs 1/10 as much to build big power.
However, for me, the primary appeal/frustration of a plastic toy-car is that it connects me to a more mechanical time, when keeping a car in perfect tune took a bit of knowledge and effort. These cars are FAR from perfect-- they leak, they're noisy, they don't handle particularly well, and even with a 200 hp mill are not particularly fast. Any number of less expensive, more reliable, modern cars exist to scratch those itches. Nothing but an air-cooled mill scratches this particular itch for me.
Electronic ignition? For sure. EFI? Yeah, that's cool. Turbo? Why not? Everybody's got something that is the "essence" of the hobby. For most guys, it's the shape. For me, it's an air-cooled engine of any stripe. A pushrod 4 cylinder is cool. A Porsche 6 is very cool. A Polo 911/4 just about stops my heart.
That's the beauty of these cars; not being original examples, an owner can outfit it any way he pleases and no one (even the purists!)can say what's right or wrong. Trim/no trim? Wheels and tires? Original shape or flared? Aircooled or ?? for power? Beetle pan and suspension or custom? We're only limited by our imaginations!
Colin- I sent you an email.
Colin- I sent you an email.
Hard to believe, but I, too, agree with most everybody here, but thought I would add something that came to my attention just this week.
Pearl's Pro-Street transmission is slowly dying. It started to growl quietly after about 5 thousand miles and the growl has continued to get worse, no matter what I've done to remedy it, so it's time to open it up and do a rebuild. Too bad, too, as it shifts like a dream but growls a little in 2'nd and 3'rd.
I don't have the special tools and jigs needed to do a first-class job (and I want it fully gone-through) so I started looking for the few guys left in New England who used to work on VW trannies. All of them are somewhat older than me, and all of them no longer work on VW's (or are dead, but that's another story).
So I asked around via email of the original and replica Porsche crowd. Found one guy on the Samba up in NH, bbut he only does stock. Found one guy in CT that does Porsche but doesn't work on VW. Why? Because he's booked out over 1 year and doesn't have the time. He couldn't recommend anybody in NE whom he thought could do a decent job. Even if you have a "new" tranny or engine, there are precious few people left who competently work on them (with Competent being the watchword, here).
So, What'sa Speedstah Guy to do? Well, it's gonna get pulled, drained, plastic bagged, crated and shipped back to Sam at Rancho, all the way to the other coast. On the one hand I'm really OK with that, as it goes back to where it was built in the first place and I know they'll do a great job on a rebuild. On the other hand, we're getting fewer and fewer local places to go to (no matter WHERE you live) who can work on the air-cooled stuff, and THAT, my friends, is why servicing these cars costs at least twice what it should. Nothing wrong with that, but you all should be aware of it as part of your 'Total Cost of Ownership'.
The Speedstahguy from Grafton
Pearl's Pro-Street transmission is slowly dying. It started to growl quietly after about 5 thousand miles and the growl has continued to get worse, no matter what I've done to remedy it, so it's time to open it up and do a rebuild. Too bad, too, as it shifts like a dream but growls a little in 2'nd and 3'rd.
I don't have the special tools and jigs needed to do a first-class job (and I want it fully gone-through) so I started looking for the few guys left in New England who used to work on VW trannies. All of them are somewhat older than me, and all of them no longer work on VW's (or are dead, but that's another story).
So I asked around via email of the original and replica Porsche crowd. Found one guy on the Samba up in NH, bbut he only does stock. Found one guy in CT that does Porsche but doesn't work on VW. Why? Because he's booked out over 1 year and doesn't have the time. He couldn't recommend anybody in NE whom he thought could do a decent job. Even if you have a "new" tranny or engine, there are precious few people left who competently work on them (with Competent being the watchword, here).
So, What'sa Speedstah Guy to do? Well, it's gonna get pulled, drained, plastic bagged, crated and shipped back to Sam at Rancho, all the way to the other coast. On the one hand I'm really OK with that, as it goes back to where it was built in the first place and I know they'll do a great job on a rebuild. On the other hand, we're getting fewer and fewer local places to go to (no matter WHERE you live) who can work on the air-cooled stuff, and THAT, my friends, is why servicing these cars costs at least twice what it should. Nothing wrong with that, but you all should be aware of it as part of your 'Total Cost of Ownership'.
The Speedstahguy from Grafton
Stan and Gordon, great posts. The only thing I'll add is it's getting harder and harder to find good quality parts for our air cooled engines. There's a lot of crap out there and it's really frustrating when one has to pull and rebuild the engine because a low quality part failed.
Ron
Ron
^ x100
Except that I don't even try to find local help or parts. The major air-cooled frustration (for even a do-it-yourself guy) is parts. Basic items that should (and do) cost $4 are a week away (if you are lucky), and $17.99 in shipping and handling. My spares pile is huge. It's hard to say when you'll need another alternator stand, long-reach crank bolt, or some such bit of unobtainium.
Honestly, it's what makes a Polo 911/4 so appealing. There will always be quality spares available locally for early 911s.
There hasn't been a new air-cooled VW sold in this country in 33 years, and the parts/shops stream is just starting to dry up now. Subaru parts support is great now. I wonder how it'll be in 15 years, as they were never collectable or widely modified cars.
Except that I don't even try to find local help or parts. The major air-cooled frustration (for even a do-it-yourself guy) is parts. Basic items that should (and do) cost $4 are a week away (if you are lucky), and $17.99 in shipping and handling. My spares pile is huge. It's hard to say when you'll need another alternator stand, long-reach crank bolt, or some such bit of unobtainium.
Honestly, it's what makes a Polo 911/4 so appealing. There will always be quality spares available locally for early 911s.
There hasn't been a new air-cooled VW sold in this country in 33 years, and the parts/shops stream is just starting to dry up now. Subaru parts support is great now. I wonder how it'll be in 15 years, as they were never collectable or widely modified cars.
There's a lot of pleasure/pain when I read thoughtful posts like those above. For many of us, who are lucky enough to have survived our tumultuous youth a few decades ago, air-cooled engines harken us back to an era when things were, at least seemingly, much different indeed.
I had a series of old veedubs back when I was fumbling around with cars, school, and girls, not necessarily in that order. So, like many of us, air-cooled has a connection to those times when I was in my prime, so to speak.
But the world has changed, hasn't it? Low quality, offshore parts, a dwindling cadre of caregivers, and the advent of a growing number of young Subi advocates has caused me to change over to the water-cooled side.
I will always have fond memories of my VW days, even though a lot of it wasn't fun at all. Still, when I think back to those years long gone, there's usually a bug somewhere in the picture.
I think that's why so many of us have strong feelings about air cooled now. For whatever time we have left, we're under this big tent together. Thanks for letting me wander around with you guys and gals. I don't always agree, but it's a great place to be.
I had a series of old veedubs back when I was fumbling around with cars, school, and girls, not necessarily in that order. So, like many of us, air-cooled has a connection to those times when I was in my prime, so to speak.
But the world has changed, hasn't it? Low quality, offshore parts, a dwindling cadre of caregivers, and the advent of a growing number of young Subi advocates has caused me to change over to the water-cooled side.
I will always have fond memories of my VW days, even though a lot of it wasn't fun at all. Still, when I think back to those years long gone, there's usually a bug somewhere in the picture.
I think that's why so many of us have strong feelings about air cooled now. For whatever time we have left, we're under this big tent together. Thanks for letting me wander around with you guys and gals. I don't always agree, but it's a great place to be.
Well I see there are no sore toes to apologize for. As with the hand crank starters and spark advance thingies, I'm sad to say VW bug engines are headed for near extinction. When a restored Beetle sells for 10 to 20 times the price I paid for an original 1963 VW Cabriolet ($1500) I realize parts are getting scarce. My 1950 Split Window 25hp Bug would probably be worth more than my VW Tourareg and Jetta put together. I have rebuilt and modified Type Is and Type IVs until parts started getting as pricey as precious metal. After building 2 kits I'm slowly beginning realize the challenge to prove myself no longer exists. Some hit their 40s wondering about their lives and look for things to prove they still have what they had in their 20s. After hitting 50 the mind still says you can but the body begins to protest. After hitting 60s the mind says I used to be able to do that but why bother. Now in my 70s I look at my Retro 356 and smile knowing how comfortable it rides, cruises with the automatic transmission and cruise control, cool the hottest days with A/C or warms me up with the hot water heater. Do I miss the aircooled era? Maybe a little, memories of high school, first dates and Beetles always bring a smile to my face. I'd love to be able build another kit with a Raby Type IV but my knees cry out after sitting for 10 minutes, let alone kneeling on them for hours tuning or syncing the carbs. I'll leave all that fun stuff for you young tigers, I'm ready for the pasture and life of comfort.
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..they leak, they're noisy, they don't handle particularly well, and even with a 200 hp mill are not particularly fast."
And those are their good points!lol Sorry guys, couldn't resist!
And those are their good points!lol Sorry guys, couldn't resist!
Everyone - Thanks for the info. Especially Ed. I think you've pushed me over the edge.
I just met with John Steele for an hour or so and it looks like I'm gonna go with an EJ22, maybe an EJ25. For what I want out of the car, it's the best choice for me for so many reasons. More reliable, less maintenance, plenty of power, plus I can add a decent ac/heater if I want to. But maybe the most glaring reason of all is accessibility of parts as well as mechanics, and both coming at acceptable prices.
I'm 28 years old. This means two things. One, it means I'm gonna be around for many years still. I don't know that decent/fairly priced aircooled parts will be and I certainly don't know that a local mechanic who knows what he's doing will either. Two, it means I have no emotional connection to aircooled engines. I grew up driving Buicks. My friends had Camrys and Civics and Tahoes. I think aircooled engines are awesome, they sound better etc etc but these things are vastly outweighed (for me) by all the benefits of a Subaru. As of right now I've owned exactly one aircooled engine in my life and it died in a couple thousand miles, left me with a nightmare towing bill and it's still in Vegas which means I've gotta spend more money to get it back to LA. Forgive me for not chomping at the bit to spend several thousand dollars on another one that would have less power than a comparably priced Subaru engine.
As far as authenticity and originality is concerned. I have a gold wide body sitting on Fuchs with a Carrera badge on the back, a 911 hood emblem, three point seatbelts, an amplifier under the trunk and a stereo that's so new it doesn't even play CDs, only mp3s from my ipod. If you want to tell me it's an abomination you'd better do it quickly because as soon as my cell phone rings the bluetooth is gonna kick in and the phone conversation will be broadcast through my car speakers, both front and back pairs, and I won't be able to hear you. You were saying something about not putting a Subaru engine in this car why? =)
All jokes aside, the last ten or so posts have been really cool. Part of me wishes I was born a few decades earlier. I know I'll never look back at the cars I grew up around with any sort of romantic attachment. Thanks.
I just met with John Steele for an hour or so and it looks like I'm gonna go with an EJ22, maybe an EJ25. For what I want out of the car, it's the best choice for me for so many reasons. More reliable, less maintenance, plenty of power, plus I can add a decent ac/heater if I want to. But maybe the most glaring reason of all is accessibility of parts as well as mechanics, and both coming at acceptable prices.
I'm 28 years old. This means two things. One, it means I'm gonna be around for many years still. I don't know that decent/fairly priced aircooled parts will be and I certainly don't know that a local mechanic who knows what he's doing will either. Two, it means I have no emotional connection to aircooled engines. I grew up driving Buicks. My friends had Camrys and Civics and Tahoes. I think aircooled engines are awesome, they sound better etc etc but these things are vastly outweighed (for me) by all the benefits of a Subaru. As of right now I've owned exactly one aircooled engine in my life and it died in a couple thousand miles, left me with a nightmare towing bill and it's still in Vegas which means I've gotta spend more money to get it back to LA. Forgive me for not chomping at the bit to spend several thousand dollars on another one that would have less power than a comparably priced Subaru engine.
As far as authenticity and originality is concerned. I have a gold wide body sitting on Fuchs with a Carrera badge on the back, a 911 hood emblem, three point seatbelts, an amplifier under the trunk and a stereo that's so new it doesn't even play CDs, only mp3s from my ipod. If you want to tell me it's an abomination you'd better do it quickly because as soon as my cell phone rings the bluetooth is gonna kick in and the phone conversation will be broadcast through my car speakers, both front and back pairs, and I won't be able to hear you. You were saying something about not putting a Subaru engine in this car why? =)
All jokes aside, the last ten or so posts have been really cool. Part of me wishes I was born a few decades earlier. I know I'll never look back at the cars I grew up around with any sort of romantic attachment. Thanks.
Colin: good luck on this (re) build and please tell us all you do and learn on the engine swap. I'm looking to do one into my TD (air cooled now, but never was as original (nor rear-engined, for that matter!)).
Gordon: I know your post is all about how it's hard to find knowledgable transmission help up in NE, and I hear good things about Rancho. But, really: a HiPo tranny and it's sounding grumpy like that in 5,000 miles? That doesn't sound right--particularly as these boxes routinely went 100k+ trouble-free in stock form, usually with two or three kids learning to drive a stick on them . . .
Assuming you're not banging the hell out of your gears for some reason, please tell me Rancho is going to do the right thing for you.
Gordon: I know your post is all about how it's hard to find knowledgable transmission help up in NE, and I hear good things about Rancho. But, really: a HiPo tranny and it's sounding grumpy like that in 5,000 miles? That doesn't sound right--particularly as these boxes routinely went 100k+ trouble-free in stock form, usually with two or three kids learning to drive a stick on them . . .
Assuming you're not banging the hell out of your gears for some reason, please tell me Rancho is going to do the right thing for you.
Neither me nor Sam at Rancho will know what is going on until it gets opened up, but you're right - it should have lasted a lot longer than this w/o problems and Sam is going to look at it.
Gn
Gn
Colin,
Two words of advice:
1) before you buy a Subaru engine first do a complete parts list with prices. You might find it is way more then your barginning for. I have done quite a few Subi builds and there is a ton of stuff to make the conversion.
2) Biuld your trans up, atleast a rancho pro-street. Your going to want to call them and have them set up the gearing so that when your in forth going down the freeway, the engine RPM sits at 2200 RPM + or - 100 rpm. Otherwise two things are going to happen, your trans will have a very short life after the conversion, or the motor will melt down on a long drive. You can always contact me and I will go over all the things that have to be done to make this a lasting conversion.....
Two words of advice:
1) before you buy a Subaru engine first do a complete parts list with prices. You might find it is way more then your barginning for. I have done quite a few Subi builds and there is a ton of stuff to make the conversion.
2) Biuld your trans up, atleast a rancho pro-street. Your going to want to call them and have them set up the gearing so that when your in forth going down the freeway, the engine RPM sits at 2200 RPM + or - 100 rpm. Otherwise two things are going to happen, your trans will have a very short life after the conversion, or the motor will melt down on a long drive. You can always contact me and I will go over all the things that have to be done to make this a lasting conversion.....
Many threads on this forum are informative and thoughtful. This one is especially good.
Many threads on this forum are informative and thoughtful. This one is especially good.
See, I liked it so much I posted twice.
Damn slow internet. I hit the post button and waited and waited. Nothing, so I exit the reply box and come back in to try again. This time it goes through, but now I have two posts. Slow internet-one of the drawbacks to living up in the mountains.
Ron
See, I liked it so much I posted twice.
Damn slow internet. I hit the post button and waited and waited. Nothing, so I exit the reply box and come back in to try again. This time it goes through, but now I have two posts. Slow internet-one of the drawbacks to living up in the mountains.
Ron
Talk about parts getting rare and expensive while someone posts a link to 'reasonably priced' remanufactured Subaru engines costing $3K and up and without question containing many new chinese made parts from the same dirt floored factories that make VW aircooled parts?
I had an '87 GL wagon, a Subaru that carried my mountain 60 mile a day commute for 280+thousand miles. Except it blew it's cam seals while in warranty, then blew them again and after repair there was a horrific loud knocking from time to time right up to the day that engine blew a piston at 95K miles. I guess the noise was pistons rocking - the one thing you can't do with Subarus is let the oil varnish in the cylinders it seems. That's apparently what happened when the dealer was so slow in making good their original cam seal repair.
But..Subarus were reasonable then. Very reasonable when the original engine broke a piston I was able to locate a Japan domestic market engine pulled out at 37K by law for $175. and an independent who installed it for me for a total cost of $415.
When that one lost compression from a broken valve at 210,000 miles I bought another Japan pullout, but that one cost a little less than twice as much as the first one did. The same guy in Santa Cruz, cA installed the second engine at a price almost as low as his first time. I hope that guy is well and prosperous - he was a goldmine to me.
Now I'm to pay more for a refurb suby engine than a longblock from aircooled.net, hunt up a radiator that'll fit somewhere at the expense of something else in my already space impaired vehicle, run the weird long tubing carrying hot coolant the length of the car no doubt subject to every road hazard that my aircooled sump faces each day, and fiddle with make-do injection or bizarre carb linkage in a world little educated for and offering limited resources for Subaru transplanting, a world that can't compare to the extensive knowledge base that's been building all along during my years since VW bus nirvana and college just so I can call myself happy for being able to loaf along at cadillac rpms in my replica car of now huge expense.
Thanks. If I want a watercooled Porsche I'll buy myself a Porsche cabriolet or even a Boxster. Meantime I'll keep whizzing around in this super fun and nearly carefree little fiberglass car that's every bit as reliable as any of the three subaru cars I've owned. As long as there are reputable people in the VW industry I won't worry much over the quality of my parts because those good VW folks won't be selling them, but I fully expect and accept that they may rise in price since so does everything else.
Rising prices?? When I got back from Vietnam I went to buy the 911 I'd decided was the perfect car while in the service. But the price was $6450. and that's all I had so I demurred in my Scotch Irish cheapness and bought a used Triumph instead. A consolation prize. Well now $6450. is not all I have and I've lost a lot of the 'cheap' obsession over the years. Being cheap isn't acceptable to wives or children so I'm retrained in that, I think. So where's my $6450 new 911? You say it's now $90K? Hmmm, OK. I guess that's not so bad considering that I used to by my gas for twenty-nine cents a gallon and look at me now!
I had an '87 GL wagon, a Subaru that carried my mountain 60 mile a day commute for 280+thousand miles. Except it blew it's cam seals while in warranty, then blew them again and after repair there was a horrific loud knocking from time to time right up to the day that engine blew a piston at 95K miles. I guess the noise was pistons rocking - the one thing you can't do with Subarus is let the oil varnish in the cylinders it seems. That's apparently what happened when the dealer was so slow in making good their original cam seal repair.
But..Subarus were reasonable then. Very reasonable when the original engine broke a piston I was able to locate a Japan domestic market engine pulled out at 37K by law for $175. and an independent who installed it for me for a total cost of $415.
When that one lost compression from a broken valve at 210,000 miles I bought another Japan pullout, but that one cost a little less than twice as much as the first one did. The same guy in Santa Cruz, cA installed the second engine at a price almost as low as his first time. I hope that guy is well and prosperous - he was a goldmine to me.
Now I'm to pay more for a refurb suby engine than a longblock from aircooled.net, hunt up a radiator that'll fit somewhere at the expense of something else in my already space impaired vehicle, run the weird long tubing carrying hot coolant the length of the car no doubt subject to every road hazard that my aircooled sump faces each day, and fiddle with make-do injection or bizarre carb linkage in a world little educated for and offering limited resources for Subaru transplanting, a world that can't compare to the extensive knowledge base that's been building all along during my years since VW bus nirvana and college just so I can call myself happy for being able to loaf along at cadillac rpms in my replica car of now huge expense.
Thanks. If I want a watercooled Porsche I'll buy myself a Porsche cabriolet or even a Boxster. Meantime I'll keep whizzing around in this super fun and nearly carefree little fiberglass car that's every bit as reliable as any of the three subaru cars I've owned. As long as there are reputable people in the VW industry I won't worry much over the quality of my parts because those good VW folks won't be selling them, but I fully expect and accept that they may rise in price since so does everything else.
Rising prices?? When I got back from Vietnam I went to buy the 911 I'd decided was the perfect car while in the service. But the price was $6450. and that's all I had so I demurred in my Scotch Irish cheapness and bought a used Triumph instead. A consolation prize. Well now $6450. is not all I have and I've lost a lot of the 'cheap' obsession over the years. Being cheap isn't acceptable to wives or children so I'm retrained in that, I think. So where's my $6450 new 911? You say it's now $90K? Hmmm, OK. I guess that's not so bad considering that I used to by my gas for twenty-nine cents a gallon and look at me now!
Don't work Ken, John Steele has similar prices to that website except drop a zero.
And Stan, I'll have you know I did my due diligence. The Polo 911/4 will run me about $32,000 before ignition boxes and exhaust. Next time.
And Stan, I'll have you know I did my due diligence. The Polo 911/4 will run me about $32,000 before ignition boxes and exhaust. Next time.
Oh, well, if money IS an object go to your local vintage race and talk your way into the pits to make a deal with one of the 356 guys for whom money is NO object for their last season ACE engine. Shouldn't have to spend more than $10K and it'll bolt right in. Nice little 1700 making around 140 hp at 7000 rpm.
Or find the second place or third runnerup and compliment him on his great driving during the race. You want to be able to lead naturally into telling him that you're sure he'd have won if his motor just had a little more for him. The right guy (one born every minute)won't be able to contain his perception of the need for a new engine and you're in.
Make a day of it and you could score a leaking but repairable oil cooler and other neat stuff to keep cool next time you make a trip to Vegas to refill the coffers and clean up the pipes.
Or find the second place or third runnerup and compliment him on his great driving during the race. You want to be able to lead naturally into telling him that you're sure he'd have won if his motor just had a little more for him. The right guy (one born every minute)won't be able to contain his perception of the need for a new engine and you're in.
Make a day of it and you could score a leaking but repairable oil cooler and other neat stuff to keep cool next time you make a trip to Vegas to refill the coffers and clean up the pipes.
Colin, I would still recommend John at Powerhaus if you decide to go new, not just because he builds a great motor but also because his service is top notch...very conscience fellow
Dave, that Sooby meltdown Kevin's talking about? 'Cause of having the wrong gears? Was that your experience down there in the FL Keys?
No problem with 95 deg anywhere with the engine or tranny. A couple of odd burps with the cooling system but now with the extra bleed hose going from a high part on the rad connection running all the way back to the reservoir, all looks good. Peter Venuti showed me how to do it. I could use taller gears for highway cruising though. Most highway runs were done at 63-65 mph at around 3,500 rpm. I used to drive my old Volvos at 3,800 rpm all day with no problems.
oooh, maybe you do need taller gears, if only to save your eardrums.
I'm only 3000 or so at 60 mph and 3500 gets me to 70.
I'm only 3000 or so at 60 mph and 3500 gets me to 70.
3500 gets me to 76 mph with a 4.120 R/p and .821 4th.