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Gabs

Gabs

Well-known member
Supporting Member
Joined
Jun 1, 2023
Messages
200
Reaction score
224
Location
Bristol
Year of Your Van(s)
1970
Van Type
T2 a
Hey Guys, what’s your preference on a 1776 as I’m running a stock 1.6 stock but in the thought process of replacing with a new or recon engine. Seen a few people getting let down with engine fails so that’s put the wind in me as be hard to spend money and get let down. Afonso motors has a nice engine for sale which was taken back of the customer for not paying him.


Cheers Gabs.
 
I would recommend Graham at Rawspeed, been very pleased with my 1968cc. He’s in Plymouth so not far from you.
 
I hear great reports about Afonso, not heard a bad word in his direction.

But agree with Justin a 1776 is going to set you back approx 5000. Witch is a lot to just get up a hill a bit more conformable. Rather spend that money on a servo and having what you got running sweet.
 
^^^ +1 to the comments above 👍

I have a SP1641 with Twin ICT Webers and a Bluetooth 123 tune+. It’s well set up and runs great.

The change from single H30/31 carb and single vac advance dizzy, cost a bit, but I recouped some selling on the parts that came off.
 
T2 Brinky said:
I hear great reports about Afonso, not heard a bad word in his direction.

But agree with Justin a 1776 is going to set you back approx 5000. Witch is a lot to just get up a hill a bit more conformable. Rather spend that money on a servo and having what you got running sweet.
Click to expand...
The bus is something Im going to hold on to Joey as not looking to part so for me a engine commitment wouldn’t hurt but agree cost can be expensive even for a me but as they say you never get the money you spend on them. I do use it a lot when I’m out and about as it’s not just about the shows weekends it’s about getting away and doing other stuff hence all the thinking. Sitting at 50 if not what I want to be honest something at 65 would be better. Spoke to alfonso motors today on what he’s does etc so a thinking session is on the cards.
 
Gabs said:
Afonso motors has a nice engine for sale which was taken back of the customer for not paying him.


Cheers Gabs.
Click to expand...
Blimey - how did he manage that?

BTW in my 1970 I build a 1776 with full flow and ICT34s in the garage from an old 1300 beetlae engine bought cheap off ebay.
Luckily the crank was OKs o I just polished it myself with the machine work done by a guy in a shed up near Dudley. I followed Wilson's book
and asked a lot of questions on Volkszone. It was a long time ago but I think it cost about £1776 too. Once it was buillt I swapped out teh SP
motor and kepts it to one side for a while as insurance but evetually that was sold.
 
Gabs said:
The bus is something Im going to hold on to Joey as not looking to part so for me a engine commitment wouldn’t hurt but agree cost can be expensive even for a me but as they say you never get the money you spend on them. I do use it a lot when I’m out and about as it’s not just about the shows weekends it’s about getting away and doing other stuff hence all the thinking. Sitting at 50 if not what I want to be honest something at 65 would be better. Spoke to alfonso motors today on what he’s does etc so a thinking session is on the cards.
Click to expand...
I’ve been building engines for well over fifty years – let’s say I’m experienced rather than just old – but if I couldn’t build my own engine, swapping an ancient air-cooled engine for a slightly bigger ancient air-cooled engine doesn’t make any sense when a much more modern Subaru engine could be fitted for more or less the same price.

I built a 2.3l air-cooled engine because where I live (France) engine swaps are not allowed, but if I still lived in the UK I certainly wouldn’t have done.
 
I loved having my new air-cooled engine (2019) It's 2007cc with twin ICT carbs and feels so much more capable than my old 1600 engine. I can go up hills in third no problem, inclines on the motorway in fourth easy. I would say it's really improved my driving experience.
I thought about going scooby but to be honest it just feels wrong to me. It's a personal choice of course, but for me I wanted to stay air-cooled.
 
mike202 said:
I loved having my new air-cooled engine (2019) It's 2007cc with twin ICT carbs and feels so much more capable than my old 1600 engine. I can go up hills in third no problem, inclines on the motorway in fourth easy. I would say it's really improved my driving experience.
I thought about going scooby but to be honest it just feels wrong to me. It's a personal choice of course, but for me I wanted to stay air-cooled.
Click to expand...
That’s my thought Mike2002. I looked at scooby but the details I got started at 9k without box or brakes so you be looking at 13k to run it safe.
I been in contact with alfonso motors so possibly looking at a rebuild on my bus using the case and then making it to a 1776. Mine just needs a bit more power then I be happy.
 
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Gabs said:
That’s my thought Mike2002. I looked at scooby but the details I got started at 9k without box or brakes so you be looking at 13k to run it safe.
I been in contact with alfonso motors so possibly looking at a rebuild on my bus using the case and then making it to a 1776. Mine just needs a bit more power then I be happy.
Click to expand...

Talk to me at the Castle bud. We might sort something for you.

Ozziedog,,,,,,,,,maybe :) :unsure: :)
 
I've been massively sceptical of the quality of engine parts as well as someone trustworthy enough to assemble them to make an engine that would last anywhere near as long as the original. If you can use what you have with bigger barrels & pistons then good luck to you. I can't knock the people above and their work as I've no experience of them but many people are endorsing them so sounds promising for you.
 
creationblue said:
I've been massively sceptical of the quality of engine parts as well as someone trustworthy enough to assemble them to make an engine that would last anywhere near as long as the original. If you can use what you have with bigger barrels & pistons then good luck to you. I can't knock the people above and their work as I've no experience of them but many people are endorsing them so sounds promising for you.
Click to expand...
The recon unit is based on them using your case then adding new parts which includes all the heads etc. I would have to buy new tinware as mine is single port stuff. I did ask just for long block only but he wants to build full turnkey from my ancillaries and test. Like Joey said he has some good reviews and been in business some time with good reputation from his work.
 
So I took the plunge and contacted Afonso Motors as my engine failed on the way back from Skeg Vegas.. another story with getting back to Bristol with the AA recovery.

So Wednesday I pulled my motor out for first time in my life with some friends advice and did a great job on my own. Today I did a road trip to Wrexham where Abel @ Afonso Motors is located and boy does he know his stuff. He thinks mine failed on low oil pressure due to massive end float in my engine causing an over heat and possibly a con-rod bearing to collapse. He will advise at a later date but that was a basic test on some other play in the engine.

So end of October will hopefully be the collection date of my new engine due to him having a month holiday! Update will follow once I have the motor back home and installed.

Cheers Gabs.
 
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