Re[2]: is the price right?

[Toby Erkson <Toby_Erkson@ccm.jf.intel.com> (by way of Greg Merritt)]

If yer gonna stay with a (basically) stock engine don't toss in the cam.
Put in
the fairly easy stuff like a full flow system and electronic points...maybe
even
a better ignition system like one by Compufire, Jacobs or Mallory.  These
items
alone will save you so much time and grief (and the full flow will REALLY
increase the life of your engine!).  If you must put money into the engine
then
balance and blueprint the engine (this will give it a longer and smoother
life)
and port/polish the intake system (allows better air intake, particularly at
higher rpm).

$1000 for a rebuilt engine is too much in my opinion (and I've had this
done for
me a couple of times...)

The last time I checked my bank statement I still have $3000 left to pay on a
$5000 loan for my current engine.  Of course, that doesn't include carbs
since I
already had them and the computerized ignition cost an additional $310 and my
alternator was $170 and...(get the point?  It gets expensive!).
     Toby Erkson, air_cooled_nut@pobox.com
     '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L
     '75 Porsche 914 1.8L
     Portland, Oregon, http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8501/

______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: Re: is the price right?
Author:  type-3-errors@umich.edu at SMTPGATE
Date:    9/17/97 4:11 PM


On Wed, 17 Sep 1997 Surfacelic@AOL.COM wrote:
> my mechanic said that a rebuilt engine was going to be $1000 installed. this
> is with a new cam (supposedly to increase the horses). am i getting ripped
> off?

     Careful w/ the cam--if you've got fuel injection, it won't run
right without the stock cam.  Also, driveability at low rpms is likely to
suffer (if you decide to go that way & you've got carbs).  For most folks,
items like a counterweighted crank, full-flow oil filter, balanced engine
and cc'd heads will have a bigger payoff if your engine is near-stock.

     Don't let me hold you back, though, if you want to do a Toby (ever
add up the receipts, T.E.???;)

-Greg
'69 & '71 Squarebacks
'63 Beetle