In need of a motor

[Eric Westbrook]

I'm in need of a correct motor for my 71' Campmobile. If you can help me out let me know.

[whc03grady]

The correct motor for a 1971 bus is going to be a 1600cc dual-port engine. That's a Beetle engine so quality will run the gamut. In general, the more you pay the better an engine you'll get. I would personally stay away from big name budget builders, the ones with two-page spreads in Hot VWs, and would go with someone as local as possible.

Some things to think about:
People will try to talk you into going bigger with an engine (and lord knows pre-1972 buses are underpowered), but any significantly larger engine you'd get will be a compromise with reliability. Stock is best, unless you have loads of money and can convert to Type IV power. Those with 1776cc or 1850cc motors in buses who say that I'm full of b.s. can report back after their engine's given them 85,000 trouble-free miles.
Any builder who wants to set you up with a 009 distributor should be avoided.
Any builder who wants to set you up with dual carbs of any kind (and likely a bigger engine to put them on) should probably be avoided as well, unless s/he reeeeeeeeeeally know what s/he's doing.

My $0.03.

[LATENIGHTAIRCOOLED]

Eric I have a newly rebuild engine for your bus. Still on the bench. I keep them in stock. Let me know. 1600cc with 7.5 to 1 compression. I would also agree with going with a stock engine.

Thanks,

Bryan

[LATENIGHTAIRCOOLED]

Eric our rebuilt stock dual port 1600cc long blocks are $1500.00. We have all new long blocks for $2500.00 . I did not see that you are in NC when I sent the message. You should find someone close to you that can buid you a long block. The shipping from me to you would be to much and if you have someone close you can watch it being built.

Thanks,

Bryan

[Eric Westbrook]

Why should I avoid the 009 Distributor?

whc03grady said:

The correct motor for a 1971 bus is going to be a 1600cc dual-port engine. That's a Beetle engine so quality will run the gamut. In general, the more you pay the better an engine you'll get. I would personally stay away from big name budget builders, the ones with two-page spreads in Hot VWs, and would go with someone as local as possible.

Some things to think about:
People will try to talk you into going bigger with an engine (and lord knows pre-1972 buses are underpowered), but any significantly larger engine you'd get will be a compromise with reliability. Stock is best, unless you have loads of money and can convert to Type IV power. Those with 1776cc or 1850cc motors in buses who say that I'm full of b.s. can report back after their engine's given them 85,000 trouble-free miles.
Any builder who wants to set you up with a 009 distributor should be avoided.
Any builder who wants to set you up with dual carbs of any kind (and likely a bigger engine to put them on) should probably be avoided as well, unless s/he reeeeeeeeeeally know what s/he's doing.

My $0.03.

[whc03grady]

Short(ish) answer: because if VW had wanted your engine to run a fully-mechanical advance distributor (e.g., the 009), they would've put one in there at Hannover. They are/were cheaper to make, and if VW thought they'd work, they'd've saved millions of dollars a year by making them factory equipment. But they didn't. By my count a towerful of German engineering PhDs beats John Muir any day. No production VW ever left the factory with a 009 on it. That should mean something.

Longer answer: §1.14 here.