What is your daily driver (reliable) engine combination?

Capn Skully · Post by **Capn Skully** » Tue Jul 20, 2004 12:05 pm

Mine isn't a daily driver but it is reliable.

1600 DP Oversized to 1641 - single carb Solex PICT 34
Stock points and plugs
Change oil and adjust valves every 3K miles and keep a log book on the valve adjustments.

corbo12 · Post by **corbo12** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 8:11 am

Same here : (for a semi daily)
1641, 34 Pict, electronic ignition

Works just fine, winter and summer.

75Frankenbeetle · Post by **75Frankenbeetle** » Tue Jul 27, 2004 2:47 pm

My daily driver in my 73: 1679cc(85.5 machine-ins) stock stroke, Stock heads-for now except for 1.25 ratio rockers. AS 41 case full w/full flow oiling and remote oil filter. CIS fuel injection from 77 Scirroco/rabbit. Mallory distributor, Web Cam and custom euro tuck exhaust that still exits through holes in bumper. Of course, motor was dynamically balanced at Jake's shop and Jake set up the "combo" for me. After a year of driving and 20k miles it still runs very strong. Dyno'd at about 80 hp and almost 100ft/lbs on Jake's dyno. New heads are in the works to try and squeeze out another 10 horses. Running tall tires and she'll do 75mph all day long. Oil temps never over 220 in Georgia heat.

CalLookVWs · Post by **CalLookVWs** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 12:29 am

1600, Engle 100 Cam, 7.9:1, Kadrons reworked by me, matchported manifolds, MSD 6AL box with 009, std. header, with 2" turbo muffler. Motor went 157,113 miles before it finally went. It's been on 8-9 hour drives, out of state, drag raced at Irwindale and pretty much drove it like I stole it(coming into my friend's old shop, I could double clutch it coming up the driveway and get the wheels about 18" off of the ground). I've never has so much fun with one little car. By the way, it would always chirp second and once in a great while 3rd. What finally killed the motor was holding it at 4500-5000 for 25 min on the way home from L.A. numorous times.

Towel Rail · Post by **Towel Rail** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 8:35 am

*bump*

Hi folks, I'm new here.

I just recently bought a '74 Thing, and am working on turning it into my daily driver/go-anywhere car. Once I've fixed some of the pressing things (new clutch, clutch cable, transmission mounts, etc), I'd like to make it more highway-capable. What is about the minimum engine upgrade I'd need to be able to cruise at 75 mph on level ground, and do 80 mph for short stretches? I haven't decided yet whether to modify my stock engine or to buy a new one and have a spare.

Thanks,
- Scott

Kubelmann · Post by **Kubelmann** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:13 pm

This is a highly debated topic. Many find the 1776 to work well. Others get better life from a 1641. If you have the $ a 2.0 L T-4 is the ultimate.

I suggest that you visit the Engine Build list on this forum. K-mann

Towel Rail · Post by **Towel Rail** » Tue Apr 12, 2005 11:09 pm

Kubelmann wrote:This is a highly debated topic. Many find the 1776 to work well. Others get better life from a 1641. If you have the $ a 2.0 L T-4 is the ultimate.

I suggest that you visit the Engine Build list on this forum. K-mann

Thanks, K-mann. I didn't realize there was an "Engine Rebuild" forum until after I posted this.

- Scott