upgrading single port engine

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jammac

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Hi all
Has anyone upgraded their 1600 single port with 1641 b&ps, twin carb, performance rockers, high lift cam, exhaust etc? Or would the additional monies be better spent going twinport?
 
Yep, done all that.

Stock SP with twin 34ICTs, dual quiet pack exhaust, electronic trigger and flamethrower coil and leads, 1.25:1 ratio rockers, home-flowed heads and went from 30bhp/58lb.ft to 55bhp/85lb.ft at the wheels as well as curing an inherent mis-fire.

Once it was all set up on the rolling road, it drive really nicely - very strong and tractable, pulling from 1500rpm in any gear. Sure, it runs out of puff at the top end of the rev range, as it's the single port but it was torque and hence, driveability i was after, not power and acceleration.

No appreciable difference in driveability between just me or fully loaded with the missus and three kids and with the caravan on the back. I don't bother looking at the fuel gauge until it's pointing at around 10-o-clock so couldn't hazard a guess at the fuel figures but that's not really the point...

I would definitely go down this route again...

Just my experience...
 
Personally I wouldn't bother with 1641 in a bus.
I've got twin 34's, SVDA Accuspark dizzy, and Vintagespeed exhaust on my singleport, and it's fun to drive solo. Although having vented discs on the front helps. :lol:
Copes well with hills and will cruise at 70mph fully loaded, but the petrol consumption does suffer. I can get low 30's cruising at 50-55 though.
 
Go twin port, stock tp heads will flow better than ported single ports.
 
sparkywig said:
Personally I wouldn't bother with 1641 in a bus.
I've got twin 34's, SVDA Accuspark dizzy, and Vintagespeed exhaust on my singleport, and it's fun to drive solo. Although having vented discs on the front helps. :lol:
Copes well with hills and will cruise at 70mph fully loaded, but the petrol consumption does suffer. I can get low 30's cruising at 50-55 though.

1641 is fine in a bus.

I am in the middle of getting together the parts for a hot 1500 single port in my Beetle. It has a EMPI GT2 exhaust which will be upgraded to an SSP stainless GT2 when it rots to pieces. I am about to add a Weber 34 ICH conversion and Accuspark ignition on a Bosch SVDA. Then a bit further down the line I'll get some 1.25 to 1 rockers. It should be a nice torquey motor.

Top Tip: If you are looking for a pair of Weber 34 ICTs, search eBay for Weber 34 ICHs or Landrover Carbs. 34 ICHs were fitted to Landrovers as a aftermarket conversion. Now everybody is converting their LRs to TDI engines there are hundreds of these 34 ICHs available. An ICH is the same as an ICT expect it has manual chokes fitted, remove the choke mechanisms and block off the shaft hole and you have a 34 ICT without the VW scene tax. I got a pair of second hand ICHs for £48 delivered. It has only cost me £35 to overhaul and rejet both of them. Then it just a question of finding some manifolds, airfilters and a linkage, all of which I got off of eBay and forums for less than £100 the lot.
 
i went from stock 1600sp to lightly ported heads, scat c25 cam, weber 32/36 carb, bosch 009

kept pulling all the way up to 5500 rpm and used to happily return 25mpg cruising around 60

wasnt enough to stop me putting ported tp heads and 40's on a couple of years later though!
 
Hmmm mixed opinions as expected I suppose. I'm going :1641 anyway as a mate has upgraded his motor to 1776 so I'm getting some bits cheap. I'll just suck it & see. Upgrade as I go that's the great thing about these engines.

Great tip about the landrover carb.cheers
 
jammac said:
Hmmm mixed opinions as expected I suppose. I'm going :1641 anyway as a mate has upgraded his motor to 1776 so I'm getting some bits cheap. I'll just suck it & see. Upgrade as I go that's the great thing about these engines.

Great tip about the landrover carb.cheers


People say that 1641s will over heat in a Bay, as long as it is set up correctly it will be fine. Mine has covered 35,000 with no problems related to the fact it is a 1641. Splits can have problems with them, but a split has a much more restrictive air intakes.
 

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