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Originally Posted by Accordion
I have some questions regarding engine options... I am currently working on a 71 non-super beetle (convertible) and I was looking into buying a later model super.
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All Beetle convertibles starting with the 1971 model year are Super Beetles. They all have the MacPherson strut suspension up front. (The only possible exception would be if a previous owner literally chopped the top completely off of a standard Beetle to make a homemade convertible.)
I am going to assume this is not the case. It is common for people to think Super Beetles only came with a curved windshield. This is true beginning in the 1973 model year. However, 1971 and 1972 convertibles are Supers.
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Originally Posted by Accordion
Can a convertible withstand the torque of a bigger engine or an engine conversion? I see very few convertible's with bigger engines on this site.
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No reason it can't. Convertibles had a sort of extra layer to the pan section (poorly described ... sorry) to make up for some body stiffness lost to not having a top. All Supers benefit from strut tower braces, anti-sway bars and strut packages which are widely available.
As for the seldom scene, convertibles are rarer and command more money. Not everyone has the funds to get one to modify. Some that were previously modified either were driven into the ground, became victims of rust or were poorly converted -- all of which make their current numbers even fewer.
If that's what you want to do, don't let the scarcity deter you.
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Originally Posted by Accordion
Also, for a daily driver, would a suby engine swap be better than a t4? I want performance and more importantly, reliability. What type of transmission would be recommended for a suby swap? I was even considering building a rorty tube chassis, but I am unsure if the advantage outweighs the amount of time spent building one.
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Better? By what definition and by whom? This has been debated without any resolution.
The only thing I will say is there are good reasons to go in either direction. There is a lot of information on both conversions. There are those here at this site that have done one or the other. You will not be alone here. Study up and figure out which conversion is a better fit for you.
And please keep us posted.
