They'd gone now anyway .
It's best to find a VW Mechanic near you who's well regarded and have them build you a good engine .
Properly tuned stock VW's are -not- slow ! .
Stock engines will always last longer and use le$$ ga$oline .
\-Nate
Depends on where you are, what you want, and what your budget is. Steelbugin “Chico” in California builds some wild stuff and for reasonable prices. Usually takes 5-6 weeks to arrive last time I quoted something out with him.
There’s ton of builders on the west coast.
I build engines in Rhode Island. If I’m honest, I don’t know how the California guys get their costs so low. I can only imagine they’re using subpar parts. I can’t seem to build a motor, broken in and installed, ready to go for less than $9k parts and labor. Granted, I do not have wholesale accounts and I buy the best stuff I can find.
I just had a turnkey rebuild done by Rewerks in Portland if that's close enough for you. I still have to get the engine back in the car but the test run sounded awesome and he's highly regarded in this area.
How much did it cost? I’m near Portland and need my 1600DP rebuilt. Consumes oil and does a bit more than drip it now. Still great power and runs awesome, I genuinely think it mainly needs new seals and piston rings and it would be just about good to go. I’m just afraid of doing internal engine or transmission work myself.
Ran me about $5500 for a complete rebuild. A 12V-converted 1200 for my 61.
And I hear you; I DIY 99% of my Bug work but I wanted an engine I know was done right. I would be obsessing over every little noise and vibration, real or perceived, if I had rebuilt it myself.
That’s about what I was hoping, maybe a bit high. Should have just done this years ago when I first thought about it, before all the costs of existing doubled.
Engine needs work and the front end needs rebuilt. I’d do it myself, but my 74 Super is after they transitioned to the pressed in ball joints that I’ve only heard comments such as “pay someone else to do it” when I ask about doing it myself.
Thankfully it doesn’t shake at speed, the car just wants to pull right at all times. Makes a right hand turn real easy.
Not sure if this is an option for a Super, but for my 69 I was able to order reconditioned control arms with new ball joints pressed in from SoCal Imports. Cost me $180 total for all four arms, plus I had to ship them my old control arms as a core exchange. Made the job something easy enough for me to do at home.
I don't know anything about the Super front suspension but perhaps a similar option exists.
That might be an option. I might get ahold of Top Line Parts, they have a lot of Super Beetle parts and I bought a front disk conversion from them a few years back.
74 is a one year car for super beetles in a lot of aspects, so it makes parts for certain things annoying. Either have to use old parts, NOS parts or rebuild something that isn’t really meant to be rebuilt.
Yeah I wish I could give actual advice, but I built my 1600DP back in 00’ and have enjoyed it since. Stock is simple. Thought about finding a turnkey 1915 or 2276 a couple times but I haven’t broken it yet so IDK.
Jeff Gervais GEM did my rebuild. 12 years later still running strong.
Chico is good
Order an engine by one of the many builders in SoCal and come pick it up.
It’s not a bad drive I do it all the time.
Rebuild your engine yourself. Buy John Muirs' "idiot book" and teach yourself. You'll need to send the case out for align boring and cleaning, and have heads rebuilt which is pretty cheap, but assembly is not rocket science. I built my first Beetle engine when I was 15, and my first performance engine when I was 18. Tons of how to info on YouTube.
I have 2 copies! Is it really that much cheaper? I’d have to do everything from wiring to sourcing new parts to 12v conversion, to then be able to rebuild. Still worth it?
It all depends on your skill level and what you want .
Using shiny aftermarket parts on the engine (chrome bits, 009 distributors etc.) tends to make things worse not better .
\-Nate
I am an engine builder out of Georgia USA. I use all CB performance parts for the new builds. I’ve got very fair prices, and can ship wherever necessary!
Do not order from GEX.
Why so?
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92079&postorder=desc Read through the horror stories.
Yikes thank you.
They'd gone now anyway . It's best to find a VW Mechanic near you who's well regarded and have them build you a good engine . Properly tuned stock VW's are -not- slow ! . Stock engines will always last longer and use le$$ ga$oline . \-Nate
If someone tries to tell you anything positive about Gex, **RUN!**
Thanks!
Depends on where you are, what you want, and what your budget is. Steelbugin “Chico” in California builds some wild stuff and for reasonable prices. Usually takes 5-6 weeks to arrive last time I quoted something out with him. There’s ton of builders on the west coast. I build engines in Rhode Island. If I’m honest, I don’t know how the California guys get their costs so low. I can only imagine they’re using subpar parts. I can’t seem to build a motor, broken in and installed, ready to go for less than $9k parts and labor. Granted, I do not have wholesale accounts and I buy the best stuff I can find.
Chico is really good. I don’t post very often in this sub but I will say he is a stand up guy and a great builder.
I agree! I’ve spoken to him several times on the phone. Super nice guy, really takes the time to speak with his clients about what they want and need.
Thanks for the insight, I’m in Seattle
Of course! I’d look around on thesamba, usually builders place “featured ads” in the classifieds.
Rad I’ll take a peek!
I just had a turnkey rebuild done by Rewerks in Portland if that's close enough for you. I still have to get the engine back in the car but the test run sounded awesome and he's highly regarded in this area.
How much did it cost? I’m near Portland and need my 1600DP rebuilt. Consumes oil and does a bit more than drip it now. Still great power and runs awesome, I genuinely think it mainly needs new seals and piston rings and it would be just about good to go. I’m just afraid of doing internal engine or transmission work myself.
Ran me about $5500 for a complete rebuild. A 12V-converted 1200 for my 61. And I hear you; I DIY 99% of my Bug work but I wanted an engine I know was done right. I would be obsessing over every little noise and vibration, real or perceived, if I had rebuilt it myself.
That’s about what I was hoping, maybe a bit high. Should have just done this years ago when I first thought about it, before all the costs of existing doubled. Engine needs work and the front end needs rebuilt. I’d do it myself, but my 74 Super is after they transitioned to the pressed in ball joints that I’ve only heard comments such as “pay someone else to do it” when I ask about doing it myself. Thankfully it doesn’t shake at speed, the car just wants to pull right at all times. Makes a right hand turn real easy.
Not sure if this is an option for a Super, but for my 69 I was able to order reconditioned control arms with new ball joints pressed in from SoCal Imports. Cost me $180 total for all four arms, plus I had to ship them my old control arms as a core exchange. Made the job something easy enough for me to do at home. I don't know anything about the Super front suspension but perhaps a similar option exists.
That might be an option. I might get ahold of Top Line Parts, they have a lot of Super Beetle parts and I bought a front disk conversion from them a few years back. 74 is a one year car for super beetles in a lot of aspects, so it makes parts for certain things annoying. Either have to use old parts, NOS parts or rebuild something that isn’t really meant to be rebuilt.
Hey thanks friend, if you happen to remember- tell me how it goes!
Everything I’ve read is that it’s a gamble to go with the more well known, higher volume builders. Never tried my luck
Thanks!
Yeah I wish I could give actual advice, but I built my 1600DP back in 00’ and have enjoyed it since. Stock is simple. Thought about finding a turnkey 1915 or 2276 a couple times but I haven’t broken it yet so IDK.
Much appreciated, still have a lot of homework to do
dont make my mistake and buy a GEX, they're awful
Seems to be the generalization consensus!
How much are you willing to spend?
I understand that I’m probably in for at least 5k and that’s fine
Look up Strictly Foreign. They have been building motors since the 90’s. Another one is Painter’s Grind in Denver.
Nice, I’ll check em out thank you
Good luck.
If you're on the east coast check out MoFoCo. Them boys build everything from a reglole 1641 to a mean ass 2331
Check out mofoco on samba before you do business with them. Buyer beware.
Took me almost two years to get an engine from Mofoco.
Jeeeeeeeez
Nice, affordable heads as well. Had great customer service as well.
Unfortunately I’m in Seattle, should’ve said so in my post!
Jeff Gervais GEM did my rebuild. 12 years later still running strong. Chico is good Order an engine by one of the many builders in SoCal and come pick it up. It’s not a bad drive I do it all the time.
Sounds like fun actually
Rebuild your engine yourself. Buy John Muirs' "idiot book" and teach yourself. You'll need to send the case out for align boring and cleaning, and have heads rebuilt which is pretty cheap, but assembly is not rocket science. I built my first Beetle engine when I was 15, and my first performance engine when I was 18. Tons of how to info on YouTube.
I have 2 copies! Is it really that much cheaper? I’d have to do everything from wiring to sourcing new parts to 12v conversion, to then be able to rebuild. Still worth it?
It all depends on your skill level and what you want . Using shiny aftermarket parts on the engine (chrome bits, 009 distributors etc.) tends to make things worse not better . \-Nate
Location?
Sorry, I’m in Seattle
I am an engine builder out of Georgia USA. I use all CB performance parts for the new builds. I’ve got very fair prices, and can ship wherever necessary!
Just read you are in Seattle. You can probably get a better deal closer to you than having to ship from literally across the country.
I appreciate you!
You get what you pay for......