40 HP Refresh

[Tram]

Got the vacuum can today! Thanks Tram, I owe you. I'm going to try and work on it tomorrow.

Yes, the drivability has improved 110%, but I still want to try the vacuum can to see the real difference. I think it will run even better than it does with the 019. It was running poorly before the "refresh", so It's kind of hard to say if it's running perfect now. I'm going to give it a try!

Just for fun, you might want to pull and "read" your spark plugs to be sure you don't have a pesky vacuum leak at the base of the intake manifold. If you're not really happy with how it runs, it's not perfect.

[Ken]

My only experience with a 40 hp is in the single cab. A few years ago I pulled out the original 49,000 mile, 40hp/1200 and replaced it with a stock 57hp/1600 single port. The biggest difference was instantly I could climb just about any hill in 4th gear. It had gobs of torque, especially with the stock small nut tranny (approximately 5.5:1 final drive ratio). Top speed is about the same but you get there a lot quicker.

The only other difference I could feel between the 1200 and 1600 is that the 1600 didn't seem to run as smooth at high RPM as the 1200. My other busses have 1500 SP engines and also don't seem to run as smooth at high RPM as the 1200.

The only basic difference between the 1200 and 1500/1600 is the increase in stroke. I often wondered if the increase in stroke adds a little more vibration.

It's ironic that Formula V's run basically a stock 40hp engines and run wide open at 130+ MPH for hours and hours.

Anybody have any theories on this?

[Tram]

My only experience with a 40 hp is in the single cab. A few years ago I pulled out the original 49,000 mile, 40hp/1200 and replaced it with a stock 57hp/1600 single port. The biggest difference was instantly I could climb just about any hill in 4th gear. It had gobs of torque, especially with the stock small nut tranny (approximately 5.5:1 final drive ratio). Top speed is about the same but you get there a lot quicker.

The only other difference I could feel between the 1200 and 1600 is that the 1600 didn't seem to run as smooth at high RPM as the 1200. My other busses have 1500 SP engines and also don't seem to run as smooth at high RPM as the 1200.

The only basic difference between the 1200 and 1500/1600 is the increase in stroke. I often wondered if the increase in stroke adds a little more vibration.

It's ironic that Formula V's run basically a stock 40hp engines and run wide open at 130+ MPH for hours and hours.

I think the 36 and 40 horse were the perfect configuration and the most well- built inside the case. What they lacked in power and torque, they made up in endurance and smoothness. I think that you can't increase reliability AND power at the same time without redesigning things to accommodate. The 1200 case and innards was one hell of a great heat sink.

Anybody have any theories on this?

[Six Volt]

...the 1600 didn't seem to run as smooth at high RPM as the 1200...

I have no idea about why that is, but I do love the 1200 motors. Especially in an early beetle. I'm sure they're great in an early single cab as well. As an update, I've got this thing dialed in pretty well. Tram sent me a working vacuum can (many thanks Tram!), and I put together a "short body" distributor to match the stock set up, but I'm still running the 019. Why? Well, I played around with it some more after Don from Canton was up here and it's now running great. I'm am going over to the vacuum though because I like the stock set up and I want to check out the difference.

In the meantime, I took the beetle to Sandusky this week and with 139 miles on 4.8 gallons I got a whopping 28.9mpg. Yes, mostly on the highway, but with about 20 of those miles in stop and go city traffic. I'm very pleased.

The heads from RIS Richard Sedoris are 'spot on'. Sedoris obviously knows his stuff. He's Aaron's guy, so obviously he knows what he's doing. I'll be back out to see him again with some of my other stuff. Very happy with his work.

Time to close out this thread, but as it goes out, here's a couple pics of me cruising the beetle in the "right" lane.