New pistons for performance VW engines

For those of you contemplating a new type 1 engine John Connolly at air-cooled.net is selling custom super-swirl-crown pistons that can run high compression ratios on unleaded pump premium gasoline. They are not inexpensive, but if you're looking for performance, compression ratios of 10.5 to 12.0 to one can provide a substantial BHP increase. I'm going to try them in a new 86mm x 94mm 2,387cc engine but I probably won't have it up and running until early next spring as it's a bit exotic and I'm waiting on some custom parts (aftermarket case, titanium con rods, ceramic lifters, etc.). One racer is running these pistons in a turbo motor with good success, but he's using racing gasoline (which may not be necessary).

without delving into too much detail, I'm running them in 2 engines right now, a 1914 @ 11.2:1 and a 2332 @ 13:1, both on pump gas. I've advanced the ignition timing to 50 BTDC to try to get detonation, and it just ain't happening (believe it or not). Both engines pull HARD, and both can pull away from a stop in 3rd gear without any trouble.

Progress is marching on, and I guarantee that these things will revolutionize VW Performance, specifically by allowing pump gas on "high performance" engines. Their price will not drop (we make more $ on a set of Cimas, I'm not doing it for $), which puts them out of reach for most "budget" engine applications (they are $700/set which includes rings).

I'm currently designing 2 more pistons, one for the CE and superflo head, and another for the T-4 head. I actually think the T-4 design will work even better then the T-1 model does!

John
Aircooled.Net Inc.

I also had custom pistons made for my 2332TI engine dynoed at 220BHP, 12:1 on pump gas. I run 30 degrees full timing. It loves it.

Johns price is good on the pistons since I paid 600+ bucks for mine from JE at wholesale prices.

Hey Jake, which camshaft, heads, and valves did you use in the T1 220 BHP 2,332? What was the power/torque curve like, and where were the peaks?

Like Jake's gonna give the whole combo away 8). It's worth a try, but I kinda thinks he feels this level of detail is proprietary. Man, I'd like to be able to bolt it together, tune it, tweek it, dyno it. Then bolt a little different cam in, dyno and tune... play with all the moving pieces till I get the best set up. Then build em all that way.

George,
The heads were JC Eliminators from 1988, I have been saving them from now. They flowed 212CFM @ 28"

The cam was something myself and one other person has tried, it was a version of a Web 86C, it is nothing like the off the shelf cam.

Thats about all I can say as I plan on making this on one of my combos in the future....