Ok guys I know a lot of you out there have been down this road b4 and I want your input.
I've been buggyin since 1980 ...I used to be WFO but that's not the case anymore. I like to ride and and bust a few tough hills but nothing I have to worry about if I don't make it over. My issue is my motor let me down a couple weeks ago,(I run a 2180), so now I have to rebuild or replace. I have a 3.8 supercharged pontiac in my shop that came by the way of one of my fellow riders or rebuild what I have to 2276 if my rods and crank are good or 2500 if I have to buy rods and crank. I know some of you guys have made the switch and I know some have switched back.I'm not in a big hurry cause I have other toys to play with but I want to finish this by winter. Thanks for any help.

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Life is short.....Play Hard!

You are gonna get a lot of feedback on this one. The 3.8 is gonna be reliable but heavy. The VW is gonna be lighter but may cost more to build. Depends on the money factor. Personally, I'll ride with ya reguardless of your power plant.

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When in doubt, hit it in second gear!

pimp your ride vw style

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2332cc Air Cooled Screaming Meanie. Predator Singleseat.

"Lets go get stupid"

I think DVS hit the nail on the head. $$$ matters. Also gotta remember the other costs with converting to waterpumper, especally a heavier one. Suspension will need some serious beef, probably airbags easiest way to go. Longer arms will be in order, unless you like riding wheelies on flat ground every time you gouge on it. Adapter,flywheel, radiator, wiring harness, fuel pump srong enough for the injection, may want to reinforce frame, especially rollbars/roof/ wshield bars. (More weight to crush in a rollover) Will the dust and dirt cause premature wear on that supercharger? Do you already have a 6 rib with at least a superdiff? It will be needed either way you go, though.
If you go 2500, and like to climb AT ALL, you will want to regear the tranny. The 2500 will blow the tires constantly in a stock geared 6 rib in first, and not quite pull as hard as you like from a dead stop (or stop and start on a hill) in second. I hated my 2500 until I re-geared. Now its like learning to drive all over again when climbing.
God luck with it, whatever you decide!


Larry

I love my V6! aluminum block, 170 lbs. more than Vdub.....

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Mike
Got Honda?

Just freshen up the 2180 and be done with it. Keep on riding with what you have.

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Buy the best and cry once.

I would personally say go for watercooled, but I wouldn't go for the 3.8. It's a really heavy engine, and there are better V6's out there (if you were to stick with a V6). Not to mention the 4-cyl alternatives like a Subi or an Ecotec.
Do some research on different engines, then decide if it would be worth it to just stay aircooled and keep it simple (no wiring harness, etc.).
There are a huge number of deciding factors, otherwise there wouldn't be such a WC/AC war on here, haha.

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Get me that hammer, pronto!

I would say go with Suby but I'm partial cause mine runs great and only weighs 50 pounds more than v-dub. I do have to admit I miss the sound of a camed up stroker but the reliability and gas savings make up for it. I used a quarter of the gas of vw.

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"YOU CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN, WATCH THINGS HAPPEN OR WONDER WHAT THE F$$K HAPPEND...WE'RE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN" The strong words of Captain Phil! Rest in peice!

Everyone keeps saying the 3.8 is heavy. How much heavier than a VW? I already knew I had to change trailing arms and axels. And I do have a 6 rib with a super diff and 930's

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Life is short.....Play Hard!

Well, it's hard to say exactly, but assuming that it's a supercharged Series II 3.8 (L67), it should be around 450 or so pounds. The series II engine is around 400 pounds. It puts out around 240 hp, which is pretty good in comparison to other V6's (because of the S/C, obviously), but it's a lot of weight for a non-chaindrive buggy. As long as you're not interested in doing much hillclimbing with it, it would be fine.
How much is a VW? Roughly 200-250 lbs (I'm honestly not sure)? That would make this 200-250lbs heavier than a Vdub?
Get some 4x5 arms for it, supposedly they do pretty good with relatively heavy V6's.

I'm going to run a Chevy 3.4 V6, which, once I convert it to aluminum heads, should be in the neighborhood of 350lbs with around 200 hp. I want the torque though. I'm not going to do any hillclimbing with it either, I've already come to terms with that, but I'm lookin forward to putting the 38's on it!

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Get me that hammer, pronto!

Check this out. http://www.chra.org.au/tips/engine_weights.htm

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When in doubt, hit it in second gear!

Hmmm! Yeres no Subarus in your list.

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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!

I'm looking for a scale so I can weigh this thing and stop guessing. I wonder if I would have to change the torsion bars too. I'm currently running 26mm sway aways.

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Life is short.....Play Hard!

It'll probably be hard to find some torsion bars to handle the larger trailing arms as well as the added weight. I'm going to use some gabriel HiJackers (air shocks), but airbags would be great.

Oh, and let us know what it weighs, I'm curious.

Wait, i just noticed you're in bardstown. I'm working at Tower Automotive as I type (I live in Louisville though). Greetings.

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Get me that hammer, pronto!

26 MM will be to light. You will need at least 28mm bars.

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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!

Well after reading all the post and studying all that I would have to change I've decided to stick with the VW and rebuild....I'll prolly keep the 3.8 and build a street buggy. Thanks for all the input, it really played a part in my decicsion.

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Life is short.....Play Hard!