Vintage Speedster Engine Quality POLL

Chris, I've had my car since new (almost a year now) and it is a little over 2,200 miles with a 1776 cc. I haven't had problems per se except for some oil leaking from the base of the alternator stand and some leakage from the exhaust donuts/clamps/gaskets that connect the exhaust system to the heater boxes. I've also got some oil leakage from the transaxle ever since I got the car; it seems to be leaking from a couple of places; the driveshaft oil seal (because it runs down to the engine block where it drips from; I can tell because it's clearer than the engine oil) and also drips from the right side plate.

Chris,

What a great idea. Now if you can get the owners to respond. I have a very small oil leak on the upper passenger's side of the engine. No ck yet. No engine problems at 553 miles this afternoon. jkl

John Legate:

What engine/trans setup to you have?

The more details the better. Helps us Newbees out!

Chris S.

Let me see if I've got this right. You are asking owners of new VS if their new VS engine is running good, knowing that most of the respondents have less than 1000 miles on their new engines, to validate whether you made a good buy or not? If it lasts then you can brag away... if it blows, then you got your poll results.

I have VS with a 1915 and a 3.88 rear end.I have only 800 miles on the car and so far the car has no problems at all,My only complaint is the power,the engine lags sometimes in first and second.When I bought the car Kirk warned me about the heating problems of the larger displcements and advised against it and I listened.I wish I knew about this forum site before I bought the car,I had know idea about the custom engine builders and went with the standard engine.Does anybody have any ideas on how to upgrade this engine without going to crazy.I had an original 58 speedster which had far less power,but I just want a little more power for this car.I have had John Steel upgrade the suspension and interior and the cars looks great,what can we do to the existing engine top help,Thanks very much,Mark

Chris,
A poll is merely a statistic and not going to tell you whether YOUR engine is going to blow or just suck (O:. If you're in doubt, why not just spend the extra money now and buy proven local quality (CB) that doesn't require any statistics or polls to quench your doubt?
Just my .02 Cruzeiros (Brazilian Currency)~R
PS: I don't think Kirk really minds either way.

Jim Ward:

My understanding is that some have lost engines early on (sub 3K miles). I'm just looking to see what I hear from a larger sample of the site users. My attempt is, by no means, a scientific process. I expect nothing concrete. But you know what? I think we will see a trend if enough people reply. Regardless, I think it is a worthwile topic.

The Abscence of a trend, may in itself, indicate a trend. Poll away. No Harm no foul.

Chris,

My VS is a 1915/3.88. jkl

Mark:

If you can post the specs of your "standard" 1915 engine (cam type, carb type and size, etc.), we might be able to possibly give you some tips on getting a little more sauce out of it. 1915's are usually pretty good engines, and it should perform well for you.

The 3.88 gearing is a "freeway flyer", isn't it?? That may explain the sluggishness in 1'st and 2'nd, but it may also be carb set-up or timing that's at issue. I would have Kirk's guys check (in this order) (1.) whether you have chokes (electric or otherwise) that are partially closed when then mightn't be, (2.) whether your timing is set properly for that engine. Make sure the total advance is 28 - 30 degrees BTDC at 3000 rpm if it has a centrifugal advance distributor (a "009"). Lastly, keep asking questions on this forum whenever it's appropriate and we'll help if we can.

Glad you are enjoying your VS - have fun this season and make sure you go to Knott's!

Gordon
One of the "Speedstah Guys" from Rhode Island

John; check to see if your leak on the passenger side comes from the base of the alternator stand as in mine.

Too bad ol' Kirk wouldn't let you peek in his big drawer of complaints! There's where your stats lie... I heard tell of a Vintage (Mexi-crate, Brazillian bombshell, whatever) engine with about a thousand miles on it going up in smoke on its second owner. Kirk's reply was was the previous owner beat on the car unmercifully.
The only beating that took place in this little historical anectdote was the attention to detail said first owner foist upon ol'Kirk during the build. It still didn't help.

That being said, Kirk did help the second owner get his engine back together, I'm told. But here's the rub...the first owner worried himself sick about the potential engine problem and didn't drive his car.
The second owner thought his 'low-mileage' shopping criteria had found him a sure thing and he took one in the ass.

"...Kirk said the big engines heat up."or words to that effect. I think a more appropriate question to Kirk might be, "What's your mark-up on these engines?" If it truly doesn't matter to him, why doesn't he just get good engines in the first place?

Oh yeah, Vintage 1776, single carb, 'Monza' extra-stifling exhaust system. I got a severe warning from a mechanic that it didn't look to promising if I did anything other than putt-putt to the grocery store. It was rebuilt top to bottom with about 1700 miles on it.

I just re-read thread, and I may be outside your search perameterby a few years.

Gordon,I do not have a clue as to what Kirk does with that engine.It is his standard 1915 with dual carbs.When I bought this car it was going to be for my wife to enjoy,I really did not pay attention to detail as I should have.Now I have had work done on the car and it's great except for the engine.Thanks for any help and I will be At Knotts on Saturday,Take care,Mark

I have a 2004 VS with a 1915cc engine, 3:88 trans, and dual carbs. I bought it last fall and only have 800 mi. on it. No problems and plenty of power.
Andi Marie

Mark:

When you get to Knott's, have someone drive it who has a similar engine (or you drive someone else's) to compare the two. If they don't drive the same or similarly, then you can start looking at things to change.

Andi:

You going to Carlisle? Want to join the Northeast Caravan???

Gordon

pucky?

as in Horse...

Modified the poll to include VS 2003 built speedsters.

Keep the replies coming!

I didn't know horses played hockey!

Horse pucky. A properly built and tuned large displacement street performance (as opposed to racing) type 1 VW engine should not have any overheating problems.

Twice this month I've agreed with George, must be sumptin' in the air!

And the month's not even a week old yet!

purchased in august 2004, 1915 cc have 1800 miles with no issues. good luck.

Mark, John, Andi, Chuck :

Thanks for the replies and nice cars!

Chuck:

I hope to see your car at Knotts. Is your car lowered?

Chris S.

Hi Chris,

My Vintage Speedster as built April of 2004. I bought it in December of 2004 with only 500 miles on it I have since put on over 1100 miles on it with no problems.

Mark

I am beginning to question this thread from the standpoint that without knowing how an owner drives/maintains his/her car, the information is worthless.
I will admit to being a fan of Kirks, (haven't started the fan club as yet)but some you drive these things like race cars....
I think if you have a heavy foot you need to open the pocketbook like GB did and get something other than a stock Vintage setup....

Vince Manto:

Great comment. I added "Driving Style" to the criteria list.

Keep the feedback and replies coming. Comments like Vince's only make this poll better.

There are various customer and product situations that will from time to time surface in any business venue.There is also the customer that cannot be satisfied no matter how long one stands on ones head!
We tend to be quick to jump on the band wagon to hear the less that perfect events but so often, the satisfied customer goes along quietly satisfied but unheard this is one of the "why's" a car dealer sends you those pain in the butt survey cards to be completed .
Kirk at Vintage Speedsters as well as all of the other speedster builders / manufactures consistantly go the extra mile above and beyond what would be considered necessary to satisfy the consumer....
A satisfied customer that conveys to others his or her confidence and satisfaction with a vendor is pricless vendor advertisement.

What an extended SO.com-Knotts-Carlisle family we all enjoy here !

Bought speedster in Feb 03 1776 dual carbs 3.88 .
At 1100 miles spun a cam bearing . Kirk picked up the car and 3
days later delivered it back to me with a new engine . Currently have 2200 miles on the car and so far so good.

Jim,
I'm with you, for a couple hundred more, why not go with a known vs a unknown. When I mentioned that I was looking at using a independent engine builder the guys at Beck said no problem, it sounds like Kirk is the same way. What is the big deal, have it built, then shipped to VS and pay for the install. Feel free to send me a email privately and I'll tell you a good story about my experience.

,Pat

Vince I am going to call you on this one. Yes, Kirk is a good customer guy, and yes, he is an honest, consistent, and reliable person.

But, you made a comment about the validity of the poll.... At first I was with you there.. as there are many varibles and this poll (or any other poll) does not factor in those variables.... But.

But, I drove my 1776 from VS like a lamb and did all of the things right, as far as maint. That cam gear sheared at less than 3700 rpms in 4th on gentle uphill stretch of expressway. In turn all that cast crap inside imploded, starting with the cam, down to the crank. That car had not even been stretched yet.. it had a 300 and 600 mile oil change and was maybe all of a month and a half old. MY local VW shop laughed their butts off when they split the case. There is still doubt as to where the cast parts started breaking... the cam was in half, and and at 65-70 miles per hour you can imagine waht happened to the rest of the engine.

After reading forums on VW engines, I found that this was not so uncommon with the Mexi-crates. In some forums you can find them listed right there with GEX as in; "look out! On this forum there are at LEAST 4-5 members that have posted with similar issues.. a blown VS Mexi-Crap engine in the first 1-4000 miles. My case had been split by Kirks engine folks and supposedly built to the 1776 (it started as a 1600 crate.).

We can poll all day long, and yeah those variables are out there.. variables like mine. This poll is no more valid than any other flippin poll you or I could create.

I did not spend an arm and a leg to get a good engine. Kirk gives a 2G credit.. I bought a solid 1776 with good parts from an independent builder... for 2400 bucks, incuding ICTs. I installed it and used that old Mexi-Crap as a spider web catcher at a local VW shop. Four hundred dollars to do it right.. when it could have been that way from the start. That is something I question.

I do see the positive side of this poll and any discussion about any product by any builder, etc....... in that maybe some will see that there is a degree of risk in having a 1776 crate... How big is that risk? I have no idea and I'm not about to poll anyone about it.

Are the bigger engines at VS better? Evidently so. I have not heard one complaint about anything but the 1776s.

I am not bashing here... I loved my VS and I drove it more miles in three years than many will put on theirs in a lifetime. Look back in 3 1/2 years of these threads and you will find many posts by me, bragging on my VS. I drove it to LA and back... but I am glad it wasn't with that soft anchor that came in it.

Pat.. thanks. And I will p-mail in the a.m. How's the car coming?

Jim; at least in my car,(built almost exactly a year ago) the block in the 1776 is Brazilian and the heads are Mexican; maybe things have improved.

The most valuable thing about this site is the information shared,
so I have no problem with this poll as long as driving styles are also considered, cause I know how most of us drive.......

My 2001 VS has a 1776 with 30K miles on it and is still running strong. Case from Brazil and no idea where the heads came from. I have had it less than a year and have no idea how the two prior owner drove it. I do know however that owner #1 used it as a daily driver.
Troy

Apples and Oranges Troy. Sounds like a good engine. I am talking about the crate engines from Mexico that VS used... cast crank, cast everything. The cases have not been the problem... heck, 90% of all new T-1 cases are imported, most from Brazil.

I thought, though, that VW Mexico also manufactured(s?) cases; it would seem only logical that crate engines from VW Mexico came equipped with VW Mexico cases. The presence of Brazilian cases suggests that Mexican crate engines are not being used; at least as of late.

Let's take a poll!

Good idea!

I've got a 1776!, but it isn't from VS, it's from JPS, but there's an "S" in both, so they have a lot more than the Mexican bodies in common!

My 1776 has a Brazilian case. Of course it was built in 2002, and it isn't a VS, and we wern't really talking about cases or my car- but HEY! it's a survey! I for one, am all for it! And the reason I am is because of those pesky Republicans! ... or is it those dog'gone Democrats? Heck, I don't know, I guess I'm against it after all. Bummer.

I've had noting but trouble free miles (all 4300 of 'em), except when it ran hot in the beginning, and GB helped me out with his 356 pulley secret that Jake say's doesn't work. I'll probably have to fix my temperature guage, cause it broke after the pulley install- it runs lower, and it can't be because of the pulley!

I only service the car once a year, not counting when I do stuff to it, just 'cause, but that can't count in the survey. Are you getting all this? Because I LOVE to be polled! It's how I know what's true, and what's not!

Put me down as a "yes", maybe.