The Worst Performance Mods Ever

[cal 67]

I know I've seen my share of horrifying performance mods done by VW owners. What stories or "spottings" does everyone else have?

One that comes to mind is the ram air shroud with the external 6 or 8 pass oil cooler bolted to the backside opening for the fan. Oil is not being cooled and neither are the heads and cylinders. I've seen this done to two engines that I've rebuilt. Hmm... Maybe that's why they needed a rebuild in the first place.

[martin]

Cutting out the rear wheel arches on the VW hippy vans was popular at one point, I guess to get those big tires underneath, yikes.

[Glenn]

Using a Chinese 009.

[Dougzilla]

Here is a couple I saw recently.

[bugnut]

I know I've seen my share of horrifying performance mods done by VW owners. What stories or "spottings" does everyone else have?

One that comes to mind is the ram air shroud with the external 6 or 8 pass oil cooler bolted to the backside opening for the fan. Oil is not being cooled and neither are the heads and cylinders. I've seen this done to two engines that I've rebuilt. Hmm... Maybe that's why they needed a rebuild in the first place.

You beat me to it... that was my first thought when I saw the title of this thread.

In reference to the Chinese 009's, I'm surprised there's no aftermarket 010s ever made... everything else seems to get knocked off readily?

[Glenn]

In reference to the Chinese 009's, I'm surprised there's no aftermarket 010s ever made... everything else seems to get knocked off readily?

The aftermarket 009s have their curves all over the place so who says they can get the 010 curve right?

They might as well paint them black and call them 010s.

[Dave Conklin (Cornpanzers)]

John's new fog lights!  LOL

[Glenn]

John's new fog lights!  LOL

H@TER

[Timbo]

Heater hoses from the shroud connected to a T on the carb.
Hoodride. riuned a lot of nice stuff.

[cal 67]

I've seen the fan shroud thing before.

How about removing the thermostat flaps for "better cooling"?

By the way, I was going to bring up 009s but I didn't want to upset any old school guys.

[Glenn]

By the way, I was going to bring up 009s but I didn't want to upset any old school guys.

Old School guys run a Bosch 010.

[David Ward]

Slip in 88's surrounded by chrome engine tin.  

[Squirmn German]

Chrome on an engine, period!
See through, colored dizzy caps!!!

[Chip Birks]

Hoodride. riuned a lot of nice stuff.

This pulled a lot of unrestored garbage out of fields and garages and put them back on the road.  Can't hate the idea too much, even if you aren't a fan of the look. 

[Glenn]

This pulled a lot of unrestored garbage out of fields and garages and put them back on the road.  Can't hate the idea too much, even if you aren't a fan of the look. 

Agreed... most would of been crushed and never restored otherwise.

[bugnut]

The aftermarket 009s have their curves all over the place so who says they can get the 010 curve right?

They might as well paint them black and call them 010s.

I realize I didn't imply my intended thoughts, which was a QUALITY aftermarket version of the 010.  For that matter, I'm surprised that the OEM manufacturer didn't produce more as replacement units.  Perhaps the price wouldn't be so steep if there had been more available.

[Glenn]

I realize I didn't imply my intended thoughts, which was a QUALITY aftermarket version of the 010.  For that matter, I'm surprised that the OEM manufacturer didn't produce more as replacement units.  Perhaps the price wouldn't be so steep if there had been more available.

Bosch stopped making points for the 010 a year or two ago.

As someone at their US corporate office told me when I inquired about them discontinuing tune up parts "cars no longer use distributors".

BTW... Bosch no longer makes 009s and they moved their condenser manufacturing from Germany to Turkey. They even make parts in China.

[cal 67]

Super Cool Tins installed on T1 engines

[Glenn]

Super Cool Tins installed on T1 engines

What a scam that was/is.

[elmo]

Bolt on select-a -drops. A couple of sandbags in the trunk would work just-as-well.

[A.J.Sims]

The rubber hose that would comes with the old brether cheep box kits! What was that good for?

[Timbo]

This pulled a lot of unrestored garbage out of fields and garages and put them back on the road.  Can't hate the idea too much, even if you aren't a fan of the look. 

I have seen many barn find rust free splits and oval's that were ruined because of it. I do like the fact that some were saved from the shredder and put back on the road.
Tim

[deano]

I remember when those tacky/cheesey, clear/colored distributor caps first came into the country (from G-knows where....), and the importer took one to KRE to do some dyno testing... Kawell hated the idea, but did it anyway. Right off the bat, the engine began to mis-fire, shoot ducks and lost horsepower. Kawell told them, "See, I told you so!" They took their new part and quickly placed in for sale on the open market, knowing full well, it was a POS. End of story.

[jgerock]

Old School guys run a Bosch 010.

I guess I'm not an Old School VW person. I bought this one in the mid-'90s. 



 I did run a good German 009 in the '80's, then a 205 on my 1641cc motor with dual Weber ICT's.

[jgerock]

Monza 4-tipped exhaust.
Zoom tube tip that attached to the stock muffler (both single and dual versions)
Flashy plug wires
Chrome fan shroud and cylinder tin
Leaving off the t-stat and shutters (as mentioned above)
Leaving off the front and rear breast plates
No engine bay sealing rubbers
Kadron (old type) air cleaners that would rust shortly after installation
Cofap  brand remanufactured cylinder heads
Single center-mount  dual-throat carburetor kits and their mechanical linkages
Clear glass fuel filter ($$, but dangerous)
Buzzy Facet electric fuel pumps
Cheap shifters

[cal 67]

jgerock, that's a wallpaper worthy pic!

I was driving back home just now and saw a late model sedan (69ish) with the rear apron removed to accommodate the owners baja header with stinger. It had an external oil cooler that was attached by four brackets and made to float over the alternator/distributor area. The remote oil filter was also outside of the bay and attached to another bracket and mounted above the bumper. I wanted to take a picture while driving for evidence, but I didn't want to get in an accident.

[jgerock]

jgerock, that's a wallpaper worthy pic!

Thanks!  I think the rough casting and less-than-sharp numbers of my distributor might indicate it is not a German-made unit.  A So-Cal-based company who sells BMW performance items is currently selling a centrifugal advance 4-cylinder distributor that looks like a Bosch unit - I think it is made in China. 

[Glenn]

Thanks!  I think the rough casting and less-than-sharp numbers of my distributor might indicate it is not a German-made unit.  A So-Cal-based company who sells BMW performance items is currently selling a centrifugal advance 4-cylinder distributor that looks like a Bosch unit - I think it is made in China. 

It' a late Brazilian made version. Early Brazilian were smooth body like the German ones.

90's isn't old school... i'm talking 70's.

Old School

[Jeremy_Owen]

Super Cool Tins installed on T1 engines

There is actually a good reason for this... Put just to call them "Super Cool" tins is definately misleading. If you run a big merged header there is no room, or place to mount, the sled tins. Running the T-3 lower cylinder tins is better then just the center deflector and no sleds. But if you can run sleds that is much better.

[jgerock]

It' a late Brazilian made version. Early Brazilian were smooth body like the German ones.

90's isn't old school... i'm talking 70's.

Old School

That's what I meant.  My distributor was too new to be classified as "Old School".    I'm 45 and grew up in and around VW's.  Yes, the East Coast followed a little behind the West Coast regarding trends such as BMX bikes, skateboards and Cal-Look VW's, but I think most of us shared the love of VW's no matter when it took place.

I still have my home-made skateboard (walnut deck)

Taken from our roof in 1970. That's my dad's '59 Bug


Adding to the "worst" list, how about those Cal-Custom tiny air cleaners on a stock Solex carb engine.  Looked good, but the manifold iced up every morning on my way to high school.

[Glenn]

There is actually a good reason for this... Put just to call them "Super Cool" tins is definately misleading. If you run a big merged header there is no room, or place to mount, the sled tins. Running the T-3 lower cylinder tins is better then just the center deflector and no sleds. But if you can run sleds that is much better.

Is 1-5/8" too small?

[JVance]

It's certainly not big.

[Ohio Tom (DdK)]

 LOL..

[Glenn]

It's a street system. When you get into 1-3/4" and larger is the engine really a street engine capable of driving a few hundred miles?

But yes... 1-5/8" is a mid size system.

[JVance]

It's a street system. When you get into 1-3/4" and larger is the engine really a street engine capable of driving a few hundred miles?

Yes.

Seriously, who writes the rules around here? I'm tired of fair-weather drivers talking about what qualifies as a "street engine".


The worst performance mod is whatever you're limited to because you convinced yourself (or others ) that anything bigger or faster was too extreme for a street car.