71 Bug project

[71Bug]

hey guys, im new here but im going to jump straight into it
im young (almost 17) keen and i got my first car ( a 71 1600 beetle) and i love it.

I plan to do the insides a bit (interiers are pretty shot) and paint the outside but that will come.

I got it serviced and they messed with the choke and fuel filter and it runs a lot better now but i want to make this thing go so i was wondering if its possible to put something like a low pressure kompressor or something on it to make it go a bit better? or will i need a rebuild before i can do that sort of thing.

Any help i would appreciate

thanks, Brendan.

[stevethefolkie]

Brendan -

To "make it go" -

0) an open element air cleaner to replace that oil bath thing VW loved so much.

1) if it's a single port 1600 get a set of dual port heads and the intake manifold ends from a scrap yard - pull the motor - remove the old (single port) heads, install the dual port heads and smile - you've just gained (I believe) 10 HP. You can tell what you've got by following the intake manifold plumbing frorm the carb down to the cylinder head - if it's allow where it joins the head and you can see two (2) fairly distinct runners - you've got dual port heads - otherwise they're single port.

2) Headers - a good set of tubular headers (four into 1) with a decent muffler wake these cars up - however - when you lower the backpressure by installing the header, you're going to have to go up a step or two on your main jet size (in the carb - really easy to change on a solex) to enrichen the mixture OR you'll burn valves.

3) a Bosch 009 distributor (full mechanical advance - no vacuum) in conjunction with a Bosch blue or red (performance) coil -

4) A cam shaft - not that hard to install (do it when you swap the heads) -

5) feeling wealthy? Dual carbs - Del'Orto or Webers are your friends

6) really want to get down to it? Build an 1835CC or a 2180CC engine for your bug - lots of work - quite a bit of money - but the power is like heroin.


To keep it alive get yourself a deep sump (increases the oil capacity) with a lengthened pickup - perhaps an external oil cooler (if it's hot where you live) and an external filter kit (so you can use a screw on filter rather than that pathetic basket VW's come with).


That should get you started -