Surveys on couples who lived together before getting married, show 75% divorce rate. Yep, guess that is the modern route to follow ???
As least, those who barely sleep around only have 50% chance of divorce. Christians and all , it's still about 50%.
Can I suggest the thinking on what cheap cost large engine to buy for anyone's speedster change slightly. I suggest, based on 90,000 miles of use and many of these built and abused and still running, instead of the low cost 1915cc, go with the 1904cc. Could read 1903cc, but all in how you build the engine, that one cc does not matter. It uses the 74mm stroked crank and you get more low end torque with any crankshaft with a longer stroke. And, on the bore, uses the super long lasting and lighter weight 90.5mm, and there are many good brands available. The rods can remain stock length, as you are only adding 5mm to the stroke.
So, compare the 1915cc to any well built 1904cc and you will find you have more torque, more horsepower and a much longer lasting engine with the 1904mm. It's not that I am against using 94mm pistons, but one really needs to spend a ton of money to get quality parts and as the larger piston has more ring surface, there will be more chance of blow-bye, past the rings. More friction and more surfaces to keep cool.
There used to be the popular cheap 1835mm which had the stock crankshaft and 92mm bore kit. They were terrible in lasting very long, over heated and were cheap, so everyone bought them. More forward to about year 2000 and the hot ticket is the low cost 1915cc, as they are cheap to build.
Even if you do have to spend a few more dollars on the 1904cc, due to the 74mm crankshaft, often no clearance problem occur in the stock case or anyone can use a small rotary device and remove the very little case material . It does not require major surgery to the case. I would also suggest the strong and dependable 1776cc, but put in a nice cam and spend money on the heads and dual carbs and you again will have a longer lasting engine with more horsepower than the 1915cc.
I will not build the 1915cc. I have build engines using quality 94mm's but they are expensive to get those right. The better combinations use a larger stroke and the 90.5mm for a longer lasting engine. I think one speedster owner posted a picture of how much the heads need to be cut to put in the 94mm cylinders. Now, just common sense would tell all that is border line on machine work.
People make up for leaking 94mm cylinders to heads, using copper gaskets in the heads, but copper gaskets crush and are only suggested by the professional engine builders in turbo only engines. Most turbo engines see very little street use or running time. Unless you plan to re-torque your VW engine heads, which someone put in those copper head gaskets, you will certainly find in a rather few miles, the heads will be leaking past those copper head gaskets.
I am trying to save everyone money by using what I know are longer lasting combinations on engine sizes. If you shop by price only, buy the 1915cc and good luck ! I drive my air cooled engine vehicle about 10,000 miles/ year, so I want it to last, in all kinds of weather and temperatures.
Your engine builder may be careful in building your 1915cc engine, but by design, you will not have the best combination.
Other than the 1904cc, I suggested, if you have the money go for any engine using 90.5mm cylinders and something with over two liter in displacement. It should run great ! Plenty of torque and plenty of horsepower. ---George K. ---
You know George, guys routinely get 50,000-60,000 miles out of a set of 94's, and in a Speedster (or any VW based car) that only gets driven 2-5,000 miles a year, the extra torque that comes from the extra displacement is pretty hard to turn up since it really doesn't cost any more and it will be any where from 8-12 (or longer) years before you're rebuilding again. And the 94's don't have the sealing/overheating problems that the old thin-wall 92's did. Along with shorter rods for a 74 (or even 78)mm crank you get a really nice, torquey engine. Al
PS- George- could you delete one of the double posts directly above?
PPS- Do some reading here; there's lots of evidence (here as well as on the Samba) that Bernie builds sh*t. Maybe not all the time, but often enough....
Bernie build good engines. They are not cheap. His products he makes are excellent. I visited the GEX factory in CA. and while they try to produce a low cost engine, as that is what all seem to want, you get a low cost engine, with recycled parts, machine work done, just enough to get the engine together. So, to produce the low cost stock engines, someone wants, and they mostly do stock engines, you can expect you get what you paid for the engine. They do warranty their engines. Most buyers do not break in the engine properly, which leads to a short term engine.
On my expensive race engine, the new Engle cam was manufactured wrong and went flat on two lobes in five minutes, on the test stand. Engle replaced it , for free. Required the complete tear down to replace it. Sometimes, even good companies mess up in their production of parts.
There are many good VW engine builders. Some might compromise when the customer tells them to only spend the least amount of money . I tell the customer to go find another VW engine builder as if they want cheap parts, I point them in the direction of the door. I have a good reputation for 31 years of full time VW repair work and often get in modified engines, built by some "expert" and am amazed how needy they must have been to build some cheap engine. Then, the customer drives the car, like it is a $100,000 Porsche, so things go bad, fast. They get upset with the past engine builder and I get the rebuild on the blow up engine. I will only put in quality parts and do it right, so if they do not want it right, it's out the door to some "expert" engine builder, they find, whom will do exactly what the customer wants. Build another low cost engine, so they can buy beer and smokes and drugs and have fun. I left out the wild women, but perhaps they are married ? Then, the wife rules the money situation and husband and/or boyfriend can only spend XXX amount on his toys. I hear this all the time, like " I have to ask the little lady how much we can spend on this engine" ? What ??? I guess they ask permission to use the bathroom , also. One needs a wife or girlfriend who appreciates nice running speedsters. It they have a problem with the wind blowing their hair, I pity you. You have more serious problem than a bad 1915cc engine.
Okay, here come the emails. I liked being married for 26 years, but wrong person I was married to. I am a slow learner. My cars never let me down. Here is one more funny story. The wife came out into my home garage and told me " You love that car more than you love me". I was quiet and thinking about what to reply. After about 10 minutes to get the words right ( is this possible?) I went inside the house and said " You only have a problem with my love for my car, if I figure out how to have sex with it ." She was quiet about my working in our home garage, where she can see where her husband is ( not in some beer joint) and for weeks, I heard no negative comments from her. I do not suggest you use those words, if you like living. That was a long time ago, when women were less likely to poison or kill their boyfriend or husband. Times have changed !
On my expensive race engine, the new Engle cam was manufactured wrong and went flat on two lobes in five minutes, on the test stand. Engle replaced it , for free. Required the complete tear down to replace it. Sometimes, even good companies mess up in their production of parts.
There are many good VW engine builders. Some might compromise when the customer tells them to only spend the least amount of money . I tell the customer to go find another VW engine builder as if they want cheap parts, I point them in the direction of the door. I have a good reputation for 31 years of full time VW repair work and often get in modified engines, built by some "expert" and am amazed how needy they must have been to build some cheap engine. Then, the customer drives the car, like it is a $100,000 Porsche, so things go bad, fast. They get upset with the past engine builder and I get the rebuild on the blow up engine. I will only put in quality parts and do it right, so if they do not want it right, it's out the door to some "expert" engine builder, they find, whom will do exactly what the customer wants. Build another low cost engine, so they can buy beer and smokes and drugs and have fun. I left out the wild women, but perhaps they are married ? Then, the wife rules the money situation and husband and/or boyfriend can only spend XXX amount on his toys. I hear this all the time, like " I have to ask the little lady how much we can spend on this engine" ? What ??? I guess they ask permission to use the bathroom , also. One needs a wife or girlfriend who appreciates nice running speedsters. It they have a problem with the wind blowing their hair, I pity you. You have more serious problem than a bad 1915cc engine.
Okay, here come the emails. I liked being married for 26 years, but wrong person I was married to. I am a slow learner. My cars never let me down. Here is one more funny story. The wife came out into my home garage and told me " You love that car more than you love me". I was quiet and thinking about what to reply. After about 10 minutes to get the words right ( is this possible?) I went inside the house and said " You only have a problem with my love for my car, if I figure out how to have sex with it ." She was quiet about my working in our home garage, where she can see where her husband is ( not in some beer joint) and for weeks, I heard no negative comments from her. I do not suggest you use those words, if you like living. That was a long time ago, when women were less likely to poison or kill their boyfriend or husband. Times have changed !
ALB = smart person. !
I just see the opposite with any engine with 94's. Maybe, it is too hot in Texas or some other factor I am missing. Average speeds on the highways in Houston seem to be 70-75 mph in 95 degree heat. Maybe, they bought some low cost 1915's and you guys are getting better quality engines, than the ones I see blown up.
I said, I am not against using 94mm bore kits, but I would use a super case with moved head studs and full flow oil system and plenty of cooling of the engine heads and oil. I wrote I rebuilt a 2387cc and you know that had 94's. The "expert" engine builder on that engine put in copper head gaskets, one of their many mistakes. The pistons/cylinder were nice forged Mahle's made in Brazil. So, it had some good parts. I was not thrilled with the Scat crankshaft, but it was top of the line and wedge mated. Serious engine with at least 150hp, I am sure. The rod bolts were barely torqued to stock specs, instead of 50 ft. lbs. I also use a stretch gage on the ARP rod bolts. I doubt you get all this good quality work on a low priced 1915cc. That is my point. Now, customer told me the engine runs better than it ever did, since new. Wow, I guess I got lucky ?
I said, I am not against using 94mm bore kits, but I would use a super case with moved head studs and full flow oil system and plenty of cooling of the engine heads and oil. I wrote I rebuilt a 2387cc and you know that had 94's. The "expert" engine builder on that engine put in copper head gaskets, one of their many mistakes. The pistons/cylinder were nice forged Mahle's made in Brazil. So, it had some good parts. I was not thrilled with the Scat crankshaft, but it was top of the line and wedge mated. Serious engine with at least 150hp, I am sure. The rod bolts were barely torqued to stock specs, instead of 50 ft. lbs. I also use a stretch gage on the ARP rod bolts. I doubt you get all this good quality work on a low priced 1915cc. That is my point. Now, customer told me the engine runs better than it ever did, since new. Wow, I guess I got lucky ?
Originally Posted by Will Hesch:
I think instead of two options: kit or turn-key, Kirk should offer 3: kit, turn-key and rolling chassis without motor.
Look, if I were doing this again in 2015 instead of 2005, I'd probably have a more difficult time spending what it would take to get what I've got. Now that I have it, I'd NEVER trade my IM for something else-- but I'm not sure I'd be able to afford a new one. If I could afford it, I'd do it all again.
If I couldn't: what Will is suggesting is EXACTLY what I would do, and what I've counseled guys off-forum to do. JPS and VS make really nice looking cars. The mechanicals have been WAY to spotty for me to recommend. For every Jim Ignacio, there are 5 Wills.
A turn-key with a transaxle supplied by the owner (it's got to have one, since Kirk builds swing-axle cars), and "less engine" is where the smart money is.
Will is a smart guy. He's proving it to me every single day on this site.
I'm rooting for you, Will.
Is there any new information on this?