The Cal-look Lounge

You may have read before about my first stroker motor, and how sweet it was, for a simple and docile piece. One combination I would suggest to ANYBODY just wanting a pretty fast, but more importantly, fun to drive and reliable street motor, and also one I would love to replicate someday for someone, or myself.

The nicest thing about this motor, what made it so worth remembering, was the sweet spot it would find in its stride on the freeway. From the get go, this motor made traveling long distances @ 80mph+ very easy. In 1990, my friend Sheep and I drove this fresh motor to Phoenix for the Bug A Rama from Bay Area CA. On Interstate 5, to cruise in the fast lane @ indicated 80mph or so set the engine RPM right around 3800rpm (4.12:1). At that rpm, the engine required very little throttle to keep the pace, and also at that rpm, the powerband was just beginning to come up on the cam, and with another 2-300rpm, the car would lunge ahead, now fully up "on the cam" and shoot to 4500+, and passing other cars like they were in 2nd gear. All the while, the noise from the carbs was music. It's hard to describe the sensation of this motor, and over the last 19 years, it's been even harder to duplicate.

So what was it about this engine?

Here are (were) the specs:
74 DMS welded crank
VW rods
94mm 'A' Mahle
40 x 35mm CB 044 "Magnums" from the early 1990's with port job by Jimmy Hannan, small round intake ports
Engle 125 with stock rockers
7.8:1
Weber 44IDFs on Redline manifolds 36mm vent, 145 main, 170 air, 55 idle
1-1/2" merged 4-Tuned with dual quiets
094 chrome Bosch dist w/ blue coil

Ever since I strayed from this setup, that sweet spot has vanished @ same speeds.

This was no rocket @ the strip, turning mid 14's on radials and a driver still learning. But it made no difference to me, it was about the most fun I've had in my car just blowing by people on the highway.

Opinions why all the big welded ports, ratio rockers, FK's, high CR, bigger cc, etc.... where did the sweet spot go?
and if you're wondering, would I trade my 2165 in my car now back for this old thing? No way. This one scares me.

Hey Jim,
didnt you ears hurt from all of that cruising at 3800?
For me, cruising stops above 2500-3000, everything beyond is just deafening :)
If i could , I would drive at 2000 on the freeway the whole time to relax my ears :)

No, I love the sound. My current engine is even much louder (solid intermediate mount, 48's, A1 muffler... ::)) and I thrive on the sound above 3500 revs. On most days I cruise @ 4000-4200 on freeway (4.37:1)

2180, dual IDAs, dual QP mufflers. 70-80mph all day long and able to hold a conversation.

(http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r172/oldnslow/allair08/187_8749.jpg)

not so worried about decibel level of the old vs the susequent motors. I like mine loud.

More curious what it was about the 94 x 74 that had that "pull" @ 3800, what made the magic?

  You like it loud huh bud....  I'll let ya take my car for a spin next time I see ya.

I believe you are chasing down the feeling of being 19 and having a quick VW. :P   No engine will ever replace that.  :D