Replacement engine survey

[silverbullet]

On the back of this:

https://club8090.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.p ... bx+rebuild" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you knew your wbx was on borrowed time and needed replacement, would you go for a 2500cc Oettinger-spec engine (130 bhp, c.200Nm on Digifant w/out catalyst) or look elsewhere for an engine?
I think that it should be possible to achieve this for less than the cost of a full wbx rebuild with all VW parts, because the aftermarket bits are cheaper than VW Classic! I have one of these engines to rebuild for myself soon and so I will have the opportunity to price up replacement pistons, barrels and source long-stroke cranks to complete the mechanical side of the conversion.
This engine would require a replacement aftermarket ECU for fuel/ingnition (e,g,Megasquirt), because the originals had modified DJ/MV Digifant and that's not really a viable option these days, so these costs would have to be factored in when considering the conversion as a whole.
More power, more torque, better mpg, classic wbx looks and sound, all standard service parts.
How reliable? The one that I bought had 200,000km on the clock, pushing a heavy '88 Carat Auto around the continent.

[slowcoach]

I'm on borrowed time as you say, with 2 leaking seals. It seems to run well, so whether or not that's a new engine is debatable, though clearly requires a lot of work to fix properly.

Come the day though, I'd be intetested in a new wbx. I'd be scared to put in an unknown ( to me ) technology and workings. I guess I've learned a fair bit about my own wbx, and don't want to throw that knowledge away.

So an affordable wbx with better mpg and reliability , plus the familiarity, ticks my boxes. I'm running injection already and like it.

[ninja.turtle007]

why can't I choose more than one option?

[silverbullet]

Survey option only allows one choice.

[lloydy]

if i was starting with a petrol, id likely stay petrol. And 2.5L sounds interesting.. Would the barrel walls be super thin then though?
If i was paying for a rebuilt wbx i would certainly want a new loom and electronics anyway

[silverbullet]

Slightly thinner barrels but higher spec material, plus the case has to be machined to suit. As I said, the engine here has 200k km and was a sweet runner. Oettinger didn't do things on the cheap!

[Dazco]

Something that would easily convert to lpg

[silverbullet]

Wbx + ms + lpg sgis ticks all those boxes.

PS to give an idea of hp/torque increase:
MV with catalyst: 95hp/160Nm increased to 117/194 (original Oetti data)

DJ w/out cat: 112/174 increased to circa 130/200+

All these figures would be significantly improved by using Megasquirt sfi and mapped ignition.

For example: There is a DJ on youtube running a similar system that is claimed to make 150hp amd 210 Nm iirc

[marcus_asparagus]

Can this mythical engine just be run with a set of Dellorto carbs?

Do I need to change my existing little ignition module? ( I only have a lowly 1.9DG, so no fancy ecu. )

Dreaming I know but you never know, maybe one day............ooh all that power, mmmmmm.

[lloydy]

Slightly thinner barrels but higher spec material, plus the case has to be machined to suit. As I said, the engine here has 200k km and was a sweet runner. Oettinger didn't do things on the cheap!

Ah, ok. To be honest I think I would be happy with a standard WBX but built along the lines that 10cent does his.

[silverbullet]

Well you cant have something for nothing! Getting the 82mm stroke crank in must be very tight indeed, never mind upping the bore to 98. The 2500 is the ultimate capacity wbx, I am itching to open this one and see how it was done...

[silverbullet]

And barring a special cam grind, I built Aidan's MV to the highest standards.
10c money would be the same in ££££ I reckon.