CB's engine builder is Pat Downs. If you go through them for a build it'll be his work and that is a good thing. I have almost 10 years and around 46,000 miles on mine and it's still going strong. Just go to http://www.cbperformance.com to get phone numbers and stuff.
For a Rancho transaxle go to http://ranchotransaxles.com. I also have one of their transaxles and it's been flawless. Sorry, but I don't have a contact name there.
Thank you Lane, will look into this.
You can't beat a Pat Downs CBPerformance engine. I have had two of them, and they are as strong and reliable as anything.
Julio/blasco-
as suggested by others, it's all about lots of research so you know what you are getting into.
I got a very very clean car with neusence only issues by the time my VS was delivered to Seattle. But I did visit VS in LA several times during the build/after completion/before shipment to shake it out using the list provided by Gordon... Glad I did... Car was completed first week of July, but not shipped till Sept. Kirk was Awesome.
the stock 1915cc continues to run strong- ~15,000 miles later... I drive daily when the sun is out, and from Seattle have driven the speedy to Lake Tahoe, central Oregon , and Revelstoke BC - Canada with nothing but a flat tire and a clutch cable replacement. ( well ... And some carb tuning to adjust for altitude changes)
I'm only considering a new CB because I'm craving more power.... There are other great builders out there, but Pat has been awesome educating me/answering questions and he's the guy I will go to when I'm ready for my new dream engine.
im happy to answer any Qs... But as said by others it's all about education and understanding that your buying into a lifestyle that includes a AAA Pluss membership with up to 4 annual free tows a year, and making friends with other vintage car lovers who are willing to teach you how to work on your car/ or work on it for you to keep it road worthy.
its like owning a classic, but better because you can drive it anywhere ;-)
The go-to guys at Rancho are Sam (Shackleford) or Dave. Both good guys.
samshack3804@aol.com
(800) 304-8726
Hi everybody,
Question for Lane and Bob
What cc are your CB engines. I'm just wondering if Pat Downs 1915cc is a little longer
lasting than the bigger ones.
Thanks Speedsters.
Blasco.
Mine is a 1915, but it has the fancy heads (can't remember how they are fancy), hot cam, big carbs, etc. and supposedly puts out 120-130hp. Some folks have bigger, faster motors, but I've always been pleased with mine.
Mine was a 2332 c.c., around 165 hp. It really pulled nicely.
If an engine is built properly, it will last as long as you will need it.
Gordon, thanks for the info on Rancho.
@Luis, I am with you. All are part of the reasons why I decided to go with this vehicle option as opposed to another mass produced German late model of whatever BMW/Mercedes etc. I kept one of my cars from old, its a BMW 7 that I can use as a daily driver after it comes back from 100K service. But since my daily commute is so short, I would like to have the speedy wide take its place with A/C and a hard top summer/ top down fall.winter would be my preferred ride. I have a young son and just got a house with a backyard, so weekends will probably be more for playing around with him than for taking joy rides on the soon to be attention grabber. I'm going to have the CB engine quoted and see how it compares against VS 1915 stock engine. It seems to me that after completion, I would have to leave the car in California while it is being fine tuned, Idon't mind that as long as I can get a nuisance free car out of the box, even if someone else puts the first 150 test miles on it.
Thanks for all the knowledge. Much appreciated.
JB
"I'm just wondering if Pat Downs 1915cc is a little longer lasting than the bigger ones."
If an engine is a reasonable street combo, built properly with good parts, the stock thermostat and flaps are included, it's well maintained, fed the proper octane fuel, allowed to warm up properly and not beat on constantly from the moment it's started to the moment it's shut down, fed adequate air intake into the engine compartment so oil and head temps never exceed normal operating parameters (it's never overheated), there's no reason a larger VW aircooled engine shouldn't have a (somewhat) close to stock lifespan. Heads may have to come off once (maybe even twice) for maintenance, and if built with 94's, the pistons and cylinders may need replacing at about the 50,000 mile mark. With most owners putting on somewhere around 5,000 miles a year, if properly planned, these major maintenance tasks would happen during winter down time and not interfere with the driving season (for all but owners in the most southern climates). You would also be driving for years at a time with only valve adjustments and oil changes being required once or twice a year.
Costs for a stroker engine don't differ much to 2276cc's; above this displacement and the build gets a little more involved (and the labor cost for the build goes up), although the statements in the previous paragraph still apply. Al
White on white on white.... This Beck popped up on ebay at $45K but the top needs to be replaced with only 600miles on it. Oddball color combo but to each its own. Figures I'd share it. All white? Huh???
If boss hogg owned a speedster...
TRP posted:If boss hogg owned a speedster...
You owe me a new keyboard... I just spit coffee all over mine.
I made another Boss Hogg comment the other day at work. One of the Millennials I manage didn't get it. I said "It's okay, it's a reference to "The Dukes of Hazard..."
Naturally she sneered and said "Oh, I never saw that movie..."
*sigh*
I wonder if the old episodes are available on YouTube, Amazon, Hulu, or Netflix? She could 'Binge watch them' and be ready for next week. That or she could invite her unmarried romantic partner over to "Netflix and chill".
I weep for our future.
Unfortunately, the future is already here... 
She probably wears or has worn Daisy Dukes and doesn't even know where the tag comes from.
ohhh Daisy...
Maybe a white on white on white Speedster might be just the thing for Johnny Winter.
But then, your millennial friends probably won't get THAT one, either (sigh...)
His brother only comes out at night.
Still sticking with Daisy.
A different daisy... but a GREAT song!
Dukes got pulled off the air last year cuz The General Lee wears the stars & bars on its roof. I don't know if they ever went back on the air.
Jeez, how PC can you get????
BLASCO / JULIO:
Let me elaborate a little about Pat Downs..Pat lives 30 minutes South of me.. I have been lucky enough to have been Introduced to him by my best friend Anand. Both Anand and I have become very close friends with Pat and we have introduced him to a few of our local SOC'rs here in Fresno. Pat is an exceptionally talented engine builder. He is in demand and receives calls from all over the world.
Robert M had a few minor issues with his car, While Pat was at my home helping with my SUPER SECRET engine build. He had no problem looking at Roberts car and giving him a few suggestions to improve performance. Needless to say, Robert and I went for a drive and believe me his cars performance has improved dramatically..
I will be posting the outcome of my engine build in a separate blog.. I have over 700 miles on the new engine and it is one strong motor, and not one drop of oil on the ground since!!!
Many times I have visited Pat at CB and have listened to him advise people on an engine build, most go with him, but there are a few whom use him for advise and have another build there engine for less money... But as I say "A penny saved is a dollar spent"
Pat has been in the VW engine business a long time. He is the inventor of a lot of the engine mods CB has to offer, and has a passion for quality and durability..
OH and he makes a great pizza too!!
Tebs
PS LOL LOL
Pat and I have lunch at a little diner in Farmersville called "BOSS HOGGS" its filled with Dukes of hazard memorabilia!!! and that's no BS!!
Tebs, that's a great story and great insight on Pat from CB Performance. I've decided to go all in with the experience and complete the research by going to Carlisle.
So I'll refrain from the annoying newbie questions you all have been so gracious and kind to answer in the multiple threads, and save them for the fair grounds. After that I most certainly will leave the show with a locked in builder (for all key parts) and the perfect car in mind for me which will include some form of flare, A/C and a hard top. Everything else TBD.
Thanks again!
Good luck finding an affordable hardtop!
OK Robert. I sure hope you like yellow, because that's what Nancy wants.
Hey Julio, I'll buy you a beer in Carlisle! 
See you in May.
Thanks Lane, the second round will be on me, for all to toast.
" Good luck finding an affordable hardtop! " IM makes a real nice hardtop which is what I originally was going to get .... but... I find myself living in an area where the season is not very long and top down driving is so nice that when fall hits and it is really wet there is barely enough time to use the hardtop so I opted out of getting one.
Never mind storing it in the summer when it's not being used, (IM provides a nice case for storage) But I love the look of Phil's hardtop and there is a Japanese IM owner who has a real nice car which is close to my colour and also has overiders...
Ray 
Ray, I know I'm going to have to dish out the extra cash for the hard top, but I live in Miami Beach where come mid April and all through October the HEAT is on at 96F average. Plus I think it completes the look that I am aiming for. VS is making a semi hard top now (side windows are still mesh) but it looks good. If I had seasons here I wouldn't get it as probably wouldn't drive the car in the winter. 
Appreciate the input. IMs are a little out of my league for now. At least well equipped as I am thinking. That is a really beautiful car on the photos you posted. Thanks!
Julio, I never realized you were in the heat wave area. When it is that hot you need something to cover up in the heat of the day and GOOD AC, like vintage air to keep the cabin cool for sure. By the way, that hard top looks nice on the car you posted. Ray
Luis (LFEPARDO) has one of Kirk's hardtops and seems to like it a lot.
He lives in Seattle and drives it in the rain a lot. He had plexiglass side curtains made up for it which give better visibility out, look a lot better, and would be a lot easier to live with for daily use than soft ones, I would guess.
Here's a link to a long thread with more photos.
Julio, that Super-wide with HT is the bomb! I did not know VS made a HT, how much are they?
@Ray: Yes, Miami can be a tad hot for all year round top down action. Thanks, the photo is of the 'look' I am aiming for. Also the under dash valance for the A/C a la IM.
@Mitch: Thank you for the photos of Luis's car, it is a beautiful silver bullet. Looks great with the plexi windows.
@Bill: VS quoted the hardtop at $2500, best to order with the car build v aftermarket.
Glasspar is another option but rather have a one stop shop and then maybe hire someone to help me with the post build adjustments before I ship the car home to Miami so it rides as perfect as can be. I also have to look into a local shop that can work on this car properly here in Miami.
Looking forward to the next couple of months.
Remember, It's just an old Volkswagen...that's who you want working on your car, an old Dubber. There are somethings that you must educate yourself on though, the basic and simple maintenance.
Does anyone know anything about the history of this super wide? Wondering why they are selling it with just 400 miles...?
It was used as a demo and they're building another, thus the low miles. You'd better jump on this if the Superwide is what you're looking for...
Yes. He had it built by Vintage based on one that I sold several months ago. I answered emails from him for several weeks while he instructed Kirk on his build. He never mentioned that he was planning to resell it.
crhemi (Bill) posted:It was used as a demo and they're building another, thus the low miles. You'd better jump on this if the Superwide is what you're looking for...
Bill. Where did you here that it was "used as a demo?" In the 28 emails that I received from Steven (the owner), he always said this was his 3rd Vintage Speedster and he was "planning to keep this one."
Troy Sloan posted:crhemi (Bill) posted:It was used as a demo and they're building another, thus the low miles. You'd better jump on this if the Superwide is what you're looking for...
Bill. Where did you here that it was "used as a demo?" In the 28 emails that I received from Steven (the owner), he always said this was his 3rd Vintage Speedster and he was "planning to keep this one."
He states demo right in his ad.. unless thats his name for it....Or you can purchase “Our Vintage Speedster” Viper Red “demo” -
