AirSpeed VW Community Forums
General Forums => Air Speed Lounge => Topic started by: 72vwtype2 on January 02, 2007, 11:16:53 PM
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It looks like I will be going ahead with rebuilding my type 4 1700 bus motor. The motor was running alright until I found good pea size chunks of magnesium (valve seat? Cam shaft?) while doing an oil change. I figure it was getting close to a rebuild anyways. I will be going stock right down to the annoying tempermental dual carb set-up. So here are some of my questions, any advice +/- is greatly appreciated:
What type of piston/cylinder kit? Mahle? Kolbenschmidt?
What type of cam & crankshaft bearings?
Where should I get heads done?
Where should I get any machining that is required done?
Where should I get my parts?
Thanks.
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let me start by saying that there are a ton of guys & gals here on the forum that have way more experience building engines than i do...but from what i've researched/read/heard....
What type of piston/cylinder kit? Mahle? Kolbenschmidt?
mahle
Where should I get heads done?
darren krewenchuk
Where should I get any machining that is required done?
dannyboy or cameron (local machinist gurus) may have good leads on quality machine shops
Where should I get my parts?
cb performance, gene berg...
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First of all, if you think that you will be able to properly rebuild your motor for cheap, then you may as well look for a used, running type 4/bus motor and slap that in.
Personally, I would not even attempt to rebuild 30+ year old heads that have most likely have detonation damage, cracks in the exhaust ports, and dropped (or incipient) valve seats. Get a new set of AMC castings prepped by Len Hoffman - www.haminc.biz.
If you are going to do the rebuilding yourself, i suggest you get a hold of the Bug Me videos Type 4 rebuild dvd.
Also check out the type 4 forum on shoptalkforums.com, and Raby's site at forums.aircooledtechnology.com. There is a wealth of information on the Type 4 motor and bus applications there.
Good luck! :rockon:
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The 1700 heads are the best used head you could start with, the 914 1.7s being the best. That engine usually doesn't melt down due to the EFI having never been maintained. K-roc just finished a set of those heads for a customer of mine. I did have the seats replaced with bigger though, as the engine is a 2270 going in a fastback.
I suggest that maybe you contact NW Conrod down here in Seattle as Jerry there does lots of T4 stuff locallya and he can supply you whatever you need/want. If you change cranks and rods to a 71mm stroke set (yours is 66mm), then buy the correct 2.0L bus pistons, you'll have a good torque generating engine. And all factory stock bits that willl work well together.
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Thanks for your suggestions.
As tempting as it may be to \"beef\" up my motor to a 2 litre. The reality is my bus, all 4500 lbs of it, will never go much beyond 60mph with the westy interior fully loaded up with kids and camping gear. So I will probably go with a stock rebuild to keep things simple.
I have rebuilt a T4 in the past and have plenty of manuals, dvd's and other resources to help me out. The one concern I also have is the rebuilding of my heads. I have heard mixed reviews. That's why I would like to find a good local outfit. So any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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You could save youself a shitload of time (and possibly money) from all of the previous suggestions (no offence guys) assuming you're not going to take it to the track and race it and just give it to Ed from the Bug shop. This guy's built more engines than you could imagine and does very good work. You don't stay in business for 20+ years repairing and building vw engines giving bullshit advice and screwing people over.
I've worked for Ed off and on since I got into VW's when I was 17 and I'm also a pretty good friend of his and the guys' standards are high. I know his shop looks like shit and his customer service ain't much better but I can promise you if you want a quality motor built don't mess around with guys in California like Gene Berg or CB or spending a million-dollars on cylinder heads.... it's complete overkill for your 1.7. Keep it stock and simple.
If you want to spend a shitload of money on an underpowered 1.7 with no warranty then go nuts and start sourcin' shit from all over the place and build it youself. If ya want a quality motor with a WARRANTY go see Eddy.
Don't get me wrong though... it's gonna cost ya but what's your time worth?