time to start thinking about a motor. my mind is set on aircooled. theres so many options it frys my brain.
my setup so far 112" wb 4 seater, 3 rib, 30" tires. my main purpose is going to be trail riding but i do drink so it will get a beating everyonce in awhile. ive heard a 1915 is a good combo but i have to replace my crank and block anyways so i couldnt see going with a stock stroke plus im a bit on the heavy side.

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If it ain't broke ill fix that

Well since your replacing block and crank anyways I'd stroke it.what heads are you planning on running? No need to build bigger than your heads and carb will feed unless you plan to upgrade them as well.build a motor as a complete package so to get the most out of it as possible.but the saying goes,no replacement for displacement.since your running a 3 rib maybe a 2276 w/ a 110 cam and then you don't have to have monster heads and burn lots of fuel and still have great power with out stressing the 3 rib so bad.just a thought. Chad

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NOW GAS IT!!!!!

Something with a radiator would look nice.

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Water Cooled Consortium, Chairman of the Build (Former AC purist)

A good low cost Reliable engine is an 1835. I ran mine for years with no problems. Works great with a 3 rib.

I finally upgraded to a 2276 and a 6 rib trans. A lot more power but a lot more money.

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Woodsbuggy forum is now on the Tapatalk Mobile app... (iPhone, iPad and Android devices)

your right a honda v6 would make a great trash pump if my basement floods but the "KISS" theory has always done me well (keep it simple stupid) and theres nothing simpler than a vw motor.

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If it ain't broke ill fix that

2165. Reno ran one for awhile. He said it did good. Now he's got a 6rib

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IF YA CAN'T RUN WITH IT....RUN FROM IT

Well the great part about a honda engine is the reliability factor, no matter the use. I have spent more money on AC engines than I even want to think about. I will bet I have spent north of $30,000 on VW t1 and t4 builds. I been running buggies longer than some guys on here have been breathing.



So I like to rib the guys that want to build a sub 160 hp engine for three times what I spent to make 265 hp. It is not for every one. With a 3 rib you could use a 1835 all day long but if your going to that length why wouldn't you build a 1915. Cheap and dirty. When you retire you AC you can always make an air compressor out of it.

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Water Cooled Consortium, Chairman of the Build (Former AC purist)

i can take a ribbing...... i can give one to. a 1915 is cheap because you dont have to replace the crank. my crank is junk the dowel holes are slots and hard to tell what the inside looks like. if i have to up my budget shouldnt i up my displacement as well? my heads are ok but there stock bug heads seems pointless to pay to get them cut. now i gotta buy heads might aswell buy some that will feed a 2332. now im gonna blow the trans but when i upgrade to a 6 rib it will be all set for a w/c

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If it ain't broke ill fix that

Stroke it , and get a 6 rib when money allows. I got buddies that ride wellsville with 2332 an a 3 rib, SURE he puts around in 2 or 3rd gear lol but it works! Ive got a VERY good running 1915 and ...Im building a stroker right now. lol Great motor, But not enough. so itll be a back up from here on out.

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"IT IS WHAT IT IS"

buy 1 of Passat's bus/rabbit,jetta bellhousings for $50.

my four seater.. not exactly sure whats on it, its either a 2165 or a 2180 the guy we got the buggy from had the motor built but he wasnt a VW guy..said it was a 21?? i believe its some kind of stroker, its got good power and dont miss a beat its hooked to a 6 rib with 5.42 RnP and cut 35" boggers

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LEGALIZE BLUEGRASS!!!

Save a tree... eat a Beaver

Without knowing all of the variables it is really hard to advise on what to build. I would say build what your budget allows. I started out as a 16 year old with a buggy with a single port 1300 cc and a car trans. It didn't have much power but it was worth the $75 I gave for the car.

Best of luck with the build. I like Mouse understand the four seater and the family behind it. I put miles on the road in the Safari Wagon than I ever will in the woods. Just a fact of life.

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Water Cooled Consortium, Chairman of the Build (Former AC purist)

i would do something like renos his 4seater will scream and it does great

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I DO NOT FREE BASE COCAINE

If all that thinking is racking your brain then just install a Subaru 2.5 and be done with it. It will give you all the HP and torque ypou need and still look like an air cooled motor. Then all you have to do is gas it up and change the oil occasionaly! Just sayin!

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Water cooled Dry Sumped Subaru Powered Turbo Charged Fuel Injected 2500CC Tank. Oh Rah! He who dies with the most Toys not only wins, He also wears them out!

hate to say it....But if i ever build a 4 seater its gonna be water cooled. lol

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"IT IS WHAT IT IS"

I see that I am not the only WC guy poking the bear. It is hard to argue with horse power per $ cost. Heck I sold my Dell 48's and got enough cash for my whole engine swap. Sold the 914 engine for another $3500.00 and built the frame, powder coated it and paid for all the aluminum.

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Water Cooled Consortium, Chairman of the Build (Former AC purist)

is $75 dollars worth a 2.5 out of 00 outback? changed a motor today because it burns oil. runs great but burns about a quart a week. i honestly think the problem could be solved by cleaning all the crud out of the motor and getting the rings desludged. theres a $75 core charge for the old motor. should i keep it?

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If it ain't broke ill fix that

Sounds like a deal to me!!!
There you go the "dark side" found you lol

its hard to argue with a $75 dollar motor, W/C or not..

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LEGALIZE BLUEGRASS!!!

Save a tree... eat a Beaver

75 bucks to get ya started in the WC world! Its not in your garage yet? Whats the hold up? Believe me when I say you will be way more pleased with the Subie motor than dumping all that time and money into a VW power plant that all it wants to do is scream at ya all day. I have run both and once I decided to go with the Subie I never looked back and never regretted it.

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Water cooled Dry Sumped Subaru Powered Turbo Charged Fuel Injected 2500CC Tank. Oh Rah! He who dies with the most Toys not only wins, He also wears them out!

Anyone want to guess what I'm going to say

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Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most.
M
A
G
A

Made enough money selling jumped up VW gearboxes and stacks of tarted up carbs to pay for the original conversion to the UN5 and W/C motor on ours.

Okay, it gained about 90lbs. But it also gained 150bhp and ran like a peach compared to carbs

HMMMM.....let's wonder. lol i would have to agree with you wc guys here. just not on mine

Since you said this w/c would be fine

When you decide to get serious you can swap over to a/c :mrgreen

J/K subie /echo tech / stroked a/c all will work well

aboone, As a WC guy I can understand a guy with a nice car like yours staying AC no one wants to grind on their powder coat to make mods. I built mine with the WC so if for some reason a very warm place freezes over then I can go back to the stone age.

I think the point we are making is that depending on many variables what one chooses for a power plant is quite personal.

Merry Christmas everyone

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Water Cooled Consortium, Chairman of the Build (Former AC purist)