Stronger VW (Not competition thread)

cardiffrob · Post by **cardiffrob** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:29 pm

....ending up with one of these. A race prep'd 3.5 litre 980hp VW engine for $16000, US.

http://www.pauter.com/super_pro.htm

Rod1 · Post by **Rod1** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 8:30 pm

If you could fit a “Super VW” to a modern VLA type then the cooling problem would be quite different to the traditional VW powered machine. I had a Nipper with an 1834 cc / 62hp ish engine. It would do around 100 mph. A modern VLA will do around 160 mph on 80 hp. That is a lot more air to do your cooling, assuming you can fit a prop which can handle the speed range.

Do not give up on the Rotax yet. Second hand ones are no too bad expense wise. There is an increasing amount of third party bits available, including fuel injection etc etc, and you can do all the work yourself. There is an LAA course on the Rotax. I am interested in alternatives as if my Rotax fails I would have a problem. Fortunately the engine is very reliable, unlike my VW, which failed after 28 hours…

Rod1

Nick Allen · Post by **Nick Allen** » Sun Oct 11, 2009 10:00 pm

Rob, Who makes that water-cooled version you posted a photo off?

cardiffrob · Post by **cardiffrob** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:01 am

Strange thins is, I can't remember where I saw it. Must've been one of the bigger aero VW companies.

PS I'm off to Gatport Airwick for the next 4 days.

J.C. · Post by **J.C.** » Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:57 am

Slightly off topic but I am in correspondance with a German guy that has been flying a rotax 912 for a year now with full inverted systems.
Almost ready to submit to H/Q.

Bill McCarthy · Post by **Bill McCarthy** » Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:18 pm

Rotax in any form must be getting more expensive by the day due to the exchange rate. Let's get to work on those VWs !

cardiffrob · Post by **cardiffrob** » Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:46 am

Another manufacturer of super cases. Autocraft engines. Notice it takes through-bolts and 6 bolts for the cylinders.

cardiffrob · Post by **cardiffrob** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:20 pm

Autocraft cases are $2100 US and weigh in at 45lbs, allegedly. That means that they are about twice the price of standard engine cases, I think.

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:04 pm

You can get an aluminium (as opposed to Magnesium) version of the standard case for about $725. It is about 14lbs heavier than the magnesium version that is generally used for aero conversions. A new, unmodded magnesium case is about $600, clearanced for big cylinders and long throw crank - about $950. Great Plains prices.
Revmaster has designed a 'big' VW, the R3000 which has a new case, weighs about 200 lbs and puts out 110hp at 3200. No idea of price but it won't be VW type cheap.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 5:16 pm

std type 1 heads are already wide, those water cooled heads look at least 2 inches higher.

It seems to me that the VW design is probably at or close to it's maximum potential with the Revmaster or GP enhancements ie around 80hp from 2100cc.

The worse thing about most VW installations is the fuel system, in most cases they are cumbersome and prone to icing. I have a Barry Smith injected ACRO, he solved the icing problem 30 years ago, it's a shame that nobody ever took his work and came up with a modern version.

So for me the future would be a simple acro type 1835 installation with improved mechanical fuel injection and something like the Leburg ignition system.

Modern VLA designs should really not need more than 80HP, improved light materials and good aerodynamics is all that is needed