Need help choosing shop built Stroker & Tranny

[TurboHans]

Hi y'all,

Not new to "antique" VW but new to Aircooled ones.

Traded a truck I had sitting around for a sand rail. The rail has a 1,600 dual port and a 6 rib bus tranny. It all works well but I would like (a lot) more power without sacrificing reliability.
I do not have the practical knowledge yet for building a stroker myself. I would like to take the finished rail to the occasional sand drag event but primarily use it where I live here in south Florida, lots of open space with deep sand in the dry winter months.

Done a LOT of reading, narrowed it down to a few engine shops but would rather rely on your folks expertise than on some advertisement trying to sell me something.

So what do you think what should I get and why do you recommend it, links appreciated!

Again I want power combined with reliability, I do not want to re-build once a year. Looking for 150HP+ with a matching 4 speed tranny, first 2 gears short. 4th gear tall since the rail is street legal.

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[gbaker770]

Paul Rippa does nice work for a lot of guys and I think the name of his place is J-Bugs?
I think he maybe down in the Ft Lauderdale area. He does a lot of Chumpcar stuff so you know if his stuff holds up to that then it's done right.
Do a search for him on here, he posts quite often.
Super nice guy too.

[Stripped66]

I agree with Gavin, contact Paul Ripa for the engine. Mike Gagnier at Precision Engineered Performance in NC is the guy you want to contact for a transmission.

[TurboHans]

Thanks guys so far, good replies, I'll check what's up with those places.

[ryans88gt]

Have you considered putting an ej25 in there? Can be had for ~$1000, replacements are everywhere and KEP makes an adapter and clutch to work with your trans. Also way way more reliable than any stroker built.


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[Piledriver]

Have you considered putting an ej25 in there? Can be had for ~$1000, replacements are everywhere and KEP makes an adapter and clutch to work with your trans. Also way way more reliable than any stroker built.


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That almost sounds like SPAM from the conversion perversions STF subforum...
... but I dejectedly have to agree, esp for a buggy.

Its one thing to cut up perfectly good antique sheetmetal, but just hanging a little more stuff on an already ~free-form tube chassis is sort of a gimme.

You could probably hang an ~infinitely more durable 300HP turbo'd/intercooled 2.5L motor on a Subagears converted 5 speed for what a reasonable 091 trans rebuild and T1 stroker build would cost retail.
Probably less.

If you wanted to go nuts and convert to mid-engine perhaps using 928 rear suspension etc the to-2WD modded trans is dirt cheap and much stronger than if you put 5K in a bus box, and with more gears.

Since its a sand car and street runner the somewhat less than huge suspension travel would not be an issue.
(although i bet it could be set up with far more travel than stock T1, as it has 930 CVs and very long arms)

I wanted to do ~that on a new Tow'd (with dual wishbone front end too, think even more minimalist Ariel Atom) but the wife cut me off as already having way too many projects, and she is right.