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What is a reliable engine for a daily driver of 100 miles per day on the freeway at 75mph at sea level where the temps can reach 100+ in a 1974 Thing. Just curious what has worked for you guys.

We're running a 1600dp with Holley Carb

A "speed" possbility is to put larger tires on the rear (would like any bigger rear tire comments).

T.

I've been running a stock 1600 with the Solex 31 Carb and a single quiet pack muffler.

I drive about 5 to 6 thousand miles a year.

Stock 1600 with full-flow oil filter, SVDA distributor, stock carb., beetle or Monza-type exhaust, and lower your speed to 60-65. And watch oil and head temps. Did almost that same ride for two years.
Or switch to T4 power....

stock 2.0L T-4 with 5-rib trans. It works in a bus and even more so in the much lighter 181. Soon to be changed for 914 based 2056 w/40 Dells,WebCam and Bursch exhaust and 091 trans. Cheers. Bob Ingman

Here is mine...

2980cc Type 4 (86x105.07)
10.5:1
My billet heads
cooled with a DTM
270 BHP+
(its not finished yet)

Bob Ingman wrote:stock 2.0L T-4 with 5-rib trans. It works in a bus and even more so in the much lighter 181. Soon to be changed for 914 based 2056 w/40 Dells,WebCam and Bursch exhaust and 091 trans. Cheers. Bob Ingman

Bob, if I can jump in here with a question, are you going to the 6 rib for strength or are you looking at different gearing, or both perhaps?

Class 11 The reason for going to the 091 is that the increase in power will easily offset the slightly taller gears. The roads where I live have mostly been paved since I installed the T-2 trans. I just didnt like having to use third gear when I had the t-1 stock engine so the bus trans is good to drop it a bit in compensation for taller rear tires.
I do however advocate (just as VW) a stronger trans with the increase in engine power. Cheers. Bob Ingman

MASSIVE TYPE IV wrote:Here is mine...

2980cc Type 4 (86x105.07)
10.5:1
My billet heads
cooled with a DTM
270 BHP+
(its not finished yet)

aw jeeze jake, quit showin' off...

here's mine:

1600cc Type 1 (66 x 85.5)
7.3:1
stock everything
cooled with a stock shroud
57HP on a good day
(driven every day, and it works perfectly, even when getting lost on the way to the airport)

in all seriousness, there are only two ways i would personally go with this, either bone stock, exactingly built as close to original as possible (but it won't cruise easy at 75, more like 65)

OR

type IV power with the DTM. i have the DTM engine built, and jake told me to install it in the thing, but i have to keep the car original, at least for this year.

as for the 3-litre 481 engine, that will be an awesome thing to behold, i'm sure. can't wait to see (and hear) it.

Actually I like a bone stock 1600 DP engine. A good one is hard to beat for everyday normal driving. Same goes for a stock T-4 engine.
The 1776 is also a reliable and economical engine if well assembled and configured. Bob Ingman

Bob Ingman wrote:Actually I like a bone stock 1600 DP engine. A good one is hard to beat for everyday normal driving. Same goes for a stock T-4 engine.
The 1776 is also a reliable and economical engine if well assembled and configured. Bob Ingman

You couldn't have put it any better...

Stroke engines are good if YOU want to master them and YOU want to tinker with the... We've had 1776, 1835 and 1915... All of them were not nearly the engines as a stock T1 or T4

T.

If its a Type I, make it a single port!

Jake

I is the single port a better design ... or better probability of being a better finished engine.

Maybe I posted incorrectly... I meant to say that if you build your stroke engine, then it will be trustworty... most people can't balance their check book statement -- these are the same people you're going to trust with compression ratios, using micrometers and other high-functioning stuff?

Jake has me converted -- T4 costs a bit more -- quite the setup when it's done.

T

Reliable is usually determined by if you can build it correctly. Holding your foot to the floor while trying to keep up on the freeway is tough on a stock 1600 T1

No use in building a T1 stroker smaller than 82*94 pretty much costs the same as any other just don't cam it up too much.

Stock T4 seems like a good option to me I haven't done it YET! but I have a stock 412 with 1800 that has enough git go for the interstate and my Thing and Bugs are road hazards to most on the same roads. Even my Vanagon with 2.0 will outrun my Thing topend.

Mine's not a daily driver, but I like my 1904 (74 x 90.5) quite a bit for this application. I agree with most of you, though, type IV will one day be my powerplant.