Is Enough Ever Enough?

[John P]

I had an epiphany driving my '67 to my soccer game on Saturday: I'm content. Enough is more than enough. I want nothing else from my 2110. I don't want any more power, or torque, or cool parts, or anything. After 16 years with Dieter the Two Liter (in various states of tune), I have concluded that it may, in fact, have almost too much power for the street (1750 lbs with a 4.37 R&P). Did I just say that?

Nirvana ain't just a group from the 1990s.

Maybe I'm getting old. Or wiser. Or neither.

Has anyone else ever achieved contentment with your combinations?

JP

[Donny B.]

Yep!  I was happy with my 2007 until I lunched a cylinder and it was cheaper to put it back together with 94s than it would have been to get another Berg 90.5 cylinder.  Now I have a 2165 with a K8 and it is just fun to drive with more power than I really need, but a kick to play with from time to time.  barring problems I am set.  ...and I don't have IDAs.  Love it!

[fiatdude]

let's see .. .. nope

[volksnut]

Well to pass the time I always have to be messing with something, since going blow through turbo it still drives like a 40 horse but easily come to life when you give it some gas...low maintenance too  

[David Ward]

Maybe I'm getting old. Or wiser. Or neither.

Has anyone else ever achieved contentment with your combinations?

JP

John, no, not yet.  But I may be getting close.     I think I may be older than you (46) and I still like to go fast.  I still want to re-assemble my big motor to see if I can "run the number" in the Ghia.  After that, it may be time to tone it down a bit.

I have to tell ya, I find that I don't enjoy driving around with the close ratio box much anymore.  All of the roads around here are 45+ mph speed zones, and it sucks to listen to 4,000 rpms and get passed.  I think I'd love a 5-sp. 

At some point perhaps I'll change out the heads and cam in the 2332 and make it a "driver."

[Alexander_Monday]

let's see .. .. nope

My personality would say....content?.....what would be the point?  

As a bonus, I don't get in as much trouble if it is in the garage being upgraded.

[JVance]

I'll be content with my HP when I have more power than traction.

Then I'll work on traction for a while.





















































When I finally get the traction again, I'll go back and work on power. Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[fifty-five]

I'm on the traction part now, I want to get street tires in the 7's in the 1/8th, then street slicks and 6's.

I'm close with 8.34 @ 90 spinning 1st and 2nd almost to mid track it seemed like. I think I'm good on power for a bit, then I'll turn the boost up when I need more.

[John P]

Yeah, the only time I feel like I need more power is when I go to the track. But I haven't been in years - it's a street car, and I only have a dozen-or-so passes on it, and I don't feel 1/4 mile siren song calling me back. 

[maui]

My 2176 did mid 12s and I thought it was enough but wen it went to VW heaven and I got a 90x94 with 46x38 heads and FK87 then I said wear you bin all my life. Now I'm feeling a 3.0 in my horoscope.

[brookester60]

I was pretty content a couple nights ago. I just built my first engine and I was proudly cruising around town at 2000 rpm listening to my handiwork. I thought it sounded like a Cessna...turbo Cessna.

[1969dragbug]

Yeah, the only time I feel like I need more power is when I go to the track. But I haven't been in years - it's a street car, and I only have a dozen-or-so passes on it, and I don't feel 1/4 mile siren song calling me back. 

John, I might have witnessed your last 1/4 mile trip, at Etown more then a few years ago? But the car is still bad ass looking.

[Ohio Tom (DdK)]

I am totally content with my street turbo sedan (Tomato).
drawthru turbo 2110. 225hp to rear wheels, runs 11.35 at 120mph.
Total street trim..
Will tolerate pump gas for long cruises and a reasonable gearbox.
It's really a matter of how fast do you want to go.
Twist the knob for fun. Un-do it some for keeping things sane.
I have Zero plans to change this car at all. I love it the way it is. Ready to go whenever I am.
It scares the hell out of whoever is in the passenger seat.... Including ME...

The quest for speed is reserved for my Race car (Killa Bee). It gets all the new parts and experimentation (fun stuff).

[John P]

John, I might have witnessed your last 1/4 mile trip, at Etown more then a few years ago? But the car is still bad ass looking.

Thanks, and yep, that was the last pass (before I got my breather system worked out).

I am totally content with my street turbo sedan (Tomato).
drawthru turbo 2110. 225hp to rear wheels, runs 11.35 at 120mph.
Total street trim..
Will tolerate pump gas for long cruises and a reasonable gearbox.
It's really a matter of how fast do you want to go.
Twist the knob for fun. Un-do it some for keeping things sane.
I have Zero plans to change this car at all. I love it the way it is. Ready to go whenever I am.
It scares the hell out of whoever is in the passenger seat.... Including ME...

This is why I love to see all of the investment in 4 cylinder turbo technology (especially in Europe), where you can have the best of both worlds: economy and on demand power. Why the hell do I need 8 huge cylinders in an over-weight lumbering beast to cruise at 75 MPH on the highway?

Cheers,

JP
Nerd

[Dave Conklin (Cornpanzers)]

John, I might have witnessed your last 1/4 mile trip, at Etown more then a few years ago? But the car is still bad ass looking.

Was that the time that he stopped mid-way down the track to double-check tire pressures?  =)

[John P]

Was that the time that he stopped mid-way down the track to double-check tire pressures?  =)

No, to check the oil level 

[Kevin Alexander]

i'm tryng to get there. When I built my 2332 with 44x37 out of box wedgeports, 10.3:1 compression, 86C cam with 1.4s and 44 IDFs w 38 vents my goal was to run 12s on pump gas and street tires. I managed a 13.03 with muffler and belt and 12.72 with 1.72 60ft with stinger and no belt on 205x70 goodyear radials. All on 93 octane. Also with a 4.12 R/P and a 1.37 3rd and stock .89 4th.  I was happy. I have now enjoyed driving the car so much I want to accomplish my next goal of drive anywhere reliability on pump gas and manage to click off some 12s. Maybe low 12s. HAHA. Next plan is to drop compression to around 9.8:1 to get away from being on the line of pump and race gas and to help cool it down, doing a full port job on the big beef manifolds (Ive been told this is worth 10-15hp) a 96pass mesa with fan and maybe 48 IDfs or IDAs later on. I plan on spending a good bit of dyno time and get my tune perfect. I made 151 rwhp with current setup and im shooting for 170 to the wheels and hopefully manage to have a fast, reliable naturally aspirated driver. People say it can't be done but anything is possible.