ideas for my new 1776!!

[Phat73VW]

ok well it finally happened. my 1600cc used engine i bought for $300 went south.(3 years later) it lasted a long time considering it was suppose to be a temporary motor. i decided on going with a 1776cc this time around because i have had one before but it was just a stock 1776 which ran well but the case had a crack in it and everything went wrong. so i bought the used 1600 and now i am here. what i would like to know is what should i use to get the most bang for the buck for this engine. i want to be able to drive it daily, run at decent temps and be able to stomp the occasional ricer here and there! can you give me some suggestions on the type of cam, heads, rocker arms, flywheel, clutch, and whatever other parts will make this engine last and rock at the same time. i am already planning on balancing everything, port and polish, full flowing it, traction bar, and using my dual kadrons carbs on it. if anyone can give me some nice specs or ideas on what to use or what they have used or are currently using i'd greatly appreciate it.

[samcat]

Lol, sounds like you want a T4 engine ;)
Go get a stocker from a scrapyard, get a dtm setup from Jake and enjoy :D

You wont look back. I havent.

CYa,
Sam C

[TitoRay]

I have a 1776 as well and have been pondering the same thing. Although I have Kadrons as well, Webers might help, lightened flywheel of course, Kennedy stage 2 pressure plate, upgraded clutch maybe, lightened this and that. Ask an experienced engine builder or shop owner for advice on rockers, CR, camshaft, etc. There has gotta be a generic formula for a bada$$ 1776. I remember a guy came to the forums here and said he had 1776 built by Jake Raby that had "stepped to the plate against a few 5.0's and Camaros." Anyway, its possible. I suppose if you asked the person you'd be buying your parts from they would be more help.

Have you thought about turbocharging? Since you are technically building the engine from the ground up, I am sure you could make some modifications to make it lasteven under the pressure of the turbo. Its what I have been thinking. Hmmm.

So, anyone else have any ideas...besides a type 4 engine, of course?

[Eurolook71]

Hey, Phat73vw!!

If you are building from the ground up, get a new case. forged 69 c/w crank.
Stick with Webcams, a #119 would be great for a 1776. Dual Kads would be good, but to add some dual 40difs would let it shine, of course you would need them suited for THIS engine.

If you still want heat, you may run the 1 3/8" and your KADs, and you would have a good combo, but if you change the exhaust, to say, a 1 1/2" merged header (and lose your heat), you would be putting to big of an exhaust on an engine that doesnt have the intake, unless you swapped to dual40s. This works visa-versa as well. Dual KADs can be pretty worked to run great even large displacement engines, A. J. Simms is the man to talk to over at lowbugget.com for KAD work!

OF course head work would help determine you exhaust, and intake expectations. port/polish, a 3 angle valve job, matched with som 40X35.5 valves wil have that baby screamin!

A couple good readings would be the VW BEETLE PERFORMANCE HANDBOOK, and the ENGINE INTERCHANGE MANUAL, both by Keith Seume

That bug of yours will be just as awesome as always, but faster!!!!!!!! Best of both worlds!! Good Luck getting it all going!!

BTW, I got another BUG! It needs some work, (bit more than the last one!) but has new brakes, and I'm working on getting parts together for the motor, (no motor when I bought it, but it was $300, I'm not arguing!) Hope to have it runnning in a month or so!