• Please be sure to read the rules and adhere to them. Some banned members have complained that they are not spammers. But they spammed us. Some even tried to redirect our members to other forums. Duh. Be smart. Read the rules and adhere to them and we will all get along just fine. Cheers. :beer: Link to the rules: https://www.forumsforums.com/threads/forum-rules-info.2974/

NEW 1600 dual port VW engines??

Cidertom

Cidertom

Chionophile
GOLD Patron
US Air Force Veteran
On ebay (121231446492) seller claims NEW OEM German complete engine. Anyone know if this is legit? I thought I read they stopped production.

Thanks
 
Last edited:
aside from the case about everything is still available from german suppliers if you don't mind the cost. so one could just about assemble one from new parts.
 
Snowtrac Nome said:
aside from the case about everything is still available from german suppliers if you don't mind the cost. so one could just about assemble one from new parts.
Click to expand...

Well, yeah. But then you'd still have to assemble it. Seems to me a pretty fair price if it's brand new and what a guy needs. But I'm no VW expert.

What I don't understand is how a guy would get something like that into the US past US EPA without meeting current emissions standards. Engines over a certain age are exempted, but these are supposedly 2012...?

The seller's feedback isn't flawless. But who knows, it's ebay. Buyer beware. Might be wise to have someone local (to the seller) inspect it, if possible.
 
Dang, I had hoped someone else had bought one before. I was looking at professional rebuilds locally, and even accounting for shipping this is cheaper for a complete engine. Plus no core, allowing me to rebuild the existing one as I get the time.
 
I wouldn't say I'm a big ebayer, but I've bought a fair number of things via ebay. Some transactions have been great; and some have been "less than fun".

After a couple of the latter I made it a personal rule for an item more than a couple of hundred dollars that I'll ask the seller for a phone contact number so I can call them.

If they won't give me a number I'm no longer interested in whatever they have for sale. If they do, I'll call and chat and try to get a feel for what kind of person they are. I wouldn't say I'm a great judge of character, but this has worked for me.

That said, a feedback percentage of 92.9% is bad. The highest priced item sold was $510.00 and that was seven years ago. In the last year most of the items sold (8 out of 12) were for less than 20 bucks.

Lot's of red flags: Be careful and good luck...
 
Some of the places that advertise "Turn-Key" VW aircooled in California, the ones that advertise in the VW magazines, have Mexican Blocks that are brand new. Numerous of the VW people have indicated that these beefy-ier Mexican blocks are quite superior to the original German, and it is what THEY WOULD USE, if they were building up a race engine, hot dune buggy engine or engine for themselves.
You live in Oregon? go to a VW meet there(usually summer if you can wait that long) or sniff around, there are a bunch of well seasoned "In-the-Know" VW guys in Oregon. A Snow Trac, with a standard 1600, single port, 53 to 60 HP will really perform.
 
yes i agree Lyndon the latest engine I have in my snow trac is a Brazilian block and I live it. it is still a magnesium alloy block just a stiffer alloy. there is also a place in Oregon that will cast you a new block out of aluminum, But you will pay for it
 
Ok, thanks all. Back to shopping around. I need a new engine this season. The VW guru's here abouts have all been trying to get me to go dual port, but from the feedback here and the PM's I'm guessing staying single port is the better alternative. The only turnkeys I can find nearby have all been dual port so it looks like mail order.
 
if you can come up with heads intake carb oil cooler and fan housing the dual port can be made single port real easy. If you can get a good deal on a dual port I would not shy away from it you just need to change back to a internal oil cooler. the parts for the dual port configuration are much more available and cost less you can buy new dual port heads for half the cost of reman single port heads. the dog house oil cooler is superior to the old style oil cooler just your intake horn won't fit with the dog house cooler . a sheet metal guy could work around this real easy. for the low end torque just stay away from high lift cams and large carbs these are intended for race use. lastly you will want to use the factory heater boxes but they will need to be modified for use in the snow trac I have seen some large diameter models available these would work nice if you wanted a free flowing exhaust with a header. I have opted to keep mine stock with a bus muffler to make replacement parts reliable and easy to obtain. hope this helps you
 
I also saw those or very similar turn key motors advertised on The Samba recently and I was wondering the same thing. I was going to pose the question over there to the VW experts and see what they had to say. It sure looked like a nice deal to me. I'm not a real VW expert although I have 3 busses and a snow trac so I do get my hands in them a lot. I'd wonder what noticeable advantage a dual port vs a single port would make on a snow trac. I think if one really wants to make a difference that you'd want to go with a larger 1776 or something. Single ports are generally known for having more torque and that sounds like a good thing for a snow trac. I'm sure either is fine but I have the single port in my snow trac and the dual ports in the busses and I'd bet it doesn't make a hill of beans either way when it comes right down to it. The dual port does have two more seals that can fail in the intake manifold just fyi.
 
I purchased a 2387cc VW engine from Berry Bergmann (online) back in 2007 or 2008. A bit pricey but I sure can't complain about the quality. I still have the dune buggy and it has run flawlessly for the last 6 years. Not sure what he wants for a 1600 single or dual port.
 
I'm currently being quoted a "zero mile" engine for $US 3700. Includes the following, running with time based guarantee.
"
brand new case, German crankshaft & balanced VW rods, Steel backed main bearings, rod bearings, & double thrust cam bearings, reground cam & German lifters, new 85.5 balanced piston kit, quality rebuilt single port heads with new valves, guides & 3 angle valve job. Rebuilt flywheel and German gland nut. Good used single port tins, shroud, new oil cooler, new 12 volt alternator with internal regulator so you can eliminate your external voltage regulator. New 09 distributor, and Bosch 12 volt coil. I can also full-flow the case and oil pump so you can run an external oil filter.
"
At this point cash is easier to come by than time. The locals feel good about this shop.

Other than the $$$ any downsides?

Cidertom
 
The locals feeling good about the shop should be enough. If 1 guy had a problem you can be sure everyone would be talking about it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top