Brazilian cases any good?

[runningmonkey]

I wasn't going to upgrade my engine but Iv been offered a Brazilian case that's been cut for 94mm full flow along with matching heads for a cheap price, I am thinking of buying but was wondering how good are the Brazilian cases? I would want to add a 84 or 86mm crank to go 2332 or 2387 to make a street/drag engine. Would a Brazilian case be up for the job? 

[Martin S.]

They're awful. Send it to me

[drgouk]

Just make sure the Main tunnel is Round. There were some a few years back that were dowelled and the case halves were offset. You can fix them by removing the dowels and fitting new dowels once you have aligned the halves. Otherwise they are not to bad.

[runningmonkey]

Thanks for the advice

[neil68]

I wasn't going to upgrade my engine but Iv been offered a Brazilian case that's been cut for 94mm full flow along with matching heads for a cheap price, I am thinking of buying but was wondering how good are the Brazilian cases? I would want to add a 84 or 86mm crank to go 2332 or 2387 to make a street/drag engine. Would a Brazilian case be up for the job?  

Yes, a Brazilian case would be up for the job.  I have a magnesium Brazil AS41 case that I used for a 1776 cc, then bumped it up to 2017 cc and then to 2332 cc.  It's been a 2332 cc for the last eight years without any problems.  This is my '68 street-strip Beetle that I race on Friday nights at our local street legal drag races, and otherwise is a city driver (the gearing is too close for the highway).  I have over 600 trips down the drag strip and 51,800 km on the engine...all original main bearings, etc.

I have swapped camshafts several times (to experiment) and haven't seen any issues.  The lifter bores are not bushed, so everything is original (I did have to clearance inside the case for the rods/crank, by using a dremel).