VW 40 horse mods that work best

Here are some of the best power ups for your 40hp vw engine. I also talk about the limitations.

[@craigjorgensen4637]

My 1962 Beetle 40 HP had a top speed of 72 MPH flat out all day. When I had it overhauled they recommended a big bore kit. After that it would go 75! Great little car!

[@daalhoffarm]

About crank breaking, I've raced lots of 1200 engine and floord them for ours, acceration and dropping the clutch with big offroad wheels for 1000 times. My opinion is that a stock 40hp 1200 is the best reaible engine ever made. Ive never ever blown up a 1200 after abusing it to shit, they end up having 3mm of end play and will rev even more when they worn on the mains. A 1600? Man they not last half of a 1200 cc. Cilinders get scratch easy, having compression loss and won't run right consume oil having wet plugs, heads get cracked, valves burning fast, flatout cams that cause hot engine failures, low oil pressures,.. A 1600 needs lots of love to run safe and healthy.

[@1960bluebug]

My 40 horse done in '70s still run great today. stock crank, 110 cam, 1385 kit, 1300 heads and 1600 rockers. Running dual 34icts. Not a racer but moves about nicely.

[@frenchroast9536]

Always learn something new from your videos. Appreciate hearing your perspectives and experiences.

[@johncollins5552]

You could pop a Bosch rev limiting rotor in the distributor cap that will cut off power so that you can't over rev and damage the crankshaft.

[@joeysarmiento1925]

What I did : free flow exhaust and air cleaner, toyota progressive carb (3r), 1.3:1 high lift rocker arms, 009 distributor from Mexico never China or surplus on my 1968 1200cc econo engine. And I put in Pertronix in my distributor after a year. It is just a 1200 but I am satisfied with what I have done especially on the fuel economy.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Jewburner broke a crank between #2 and #4 sounded like a rod bur it didnt make any metal , to hop it up --------- cam --------- ! the one I had was not very much over stock = .304 , it was 318 . W 100 = 383 , but it worked good . Jewburner was quik because of the 13 inch tires but would only go 70 which was OK because here in Texas 55 speed limit back then .

[@Mikefngarage]

I read every one of your comments. thanks for watching.

[@suckmydingledong]

Best mod: Fuel filter in engine compartment. Doesn't matter where in the engine compartment it is, or how hot it gets. Guaranteed to piss your local VW guys off.

[@shanesmaineshop]

Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@CA-gk1bl]

Mike, could you do a 12 volt conversion with wiring up the alternator on the 40 horse. I noticed you got two wires hooked up to the alternator. New to the Vw seen thanks...

[@johncollins5552]

I rebuilt my 72 1200 last year and lost power due to the Chinese AA pistons no having a domed head like the originals. Beware of those flat top pistons, they lower the compression ratio, reducing power! I didn't have the time/facility/ milling machine to machine the heads to compensate.

[@johncollins5552]

Would like to see your two bugs do a drag race...

[@mikehammer4546]

I like big cams and I don’t know why 🤪

[@dogbounty6399]

Mike if you had a customer that wanted the most bullet proof 1600cc engine...what would you recommend? what case? what crank? all that stuff. value your opinion? thanks

[@Mikefngarage]

I like AA pistons even though they are china. I would put a forged counterweighted crank never cast cranks no good. in it stock case is fine like as41 or AF case for 1600. AA upgraded heads with larger valves. and upgraded combustion chamber are nice or mexican heads. I would still put an engle 110 or 100 cam in it too. German lifters only or scat lifters. scat cranks are great too. The larger cam can make the engine run a bit cooler if jetted right.

[@avomarkarian6187]

I have a D11 code engine I don’t know how I can power it up it seems it’s a 1200cc engine

[@Mikefngarage]

No real bolt on parts for 1200 you need to be able to do some machine work and stuff. The 1600 rockers will fit on the heads but you will need to size the pushrods. 1384 pistons and cylinders. slip in the existing holes. Remove the valves and clean up the exhaust ports. take the edge off. If your going to do a full rebuild. Install cam bearings and put a engle 100 in there. That is about all you can do without bumping it up to a 1600 or more with that case. The crankshaft is not very strong and will break if you power it up too much and drive it hard.

[@stacycollier7134]

0 to 60 in 5 years lol I like my 1776

[@derekobidowski3301]

can you put on a Scat non doghouse fan housing on a 40 horse to get the 36 hp and early 40 hp look? im looking to get a 1963 beetle here a replacement for my 1968 beetle the insurance company totaled when a deer ran out infront of me 3 weeks ago its now in the Copart listings Pa Pittsburgh North its auction date is April 30 2020.

[@CA-gk1bl]

Great recommendations Mike, any tips on staying at a given m.p.h. when driving a 40 HP with the Big bore cylinders.

[@Mikefngarage]

all depends on transmission gears and tire sizes.

[@daalhoffarm]

Run a solex 31pict 4, 200mm flywheel, 1:1,25 rockers, port the intake, have a good stock backpressure exhaust. And when you can put 1300 dual port heads (needs to cut for compression ratio) on and a engle w90 cam with 1:1.1 rockers.

[@crookedcopblock4836]

Can you tell me what part will adjust the camber back on the rear wheels of my 1968 vw? The rear wheel are angled in at the bottoms...so basically the rear wheels look like a “V” shape when you look at it from the back. Thank you

[@Mikefngarage]

rear must be lowered. gotta do a torsion adjustment to raise it back up. Pretty significant job gotta remove the axles from the spring plates then pull of the spring plate covers and pull out the spring plates mark them before you do that. then raise them one notch and put it back together. kind of tricky to explain

[@michaelnelson9140]

That year didn’t have constant velocity shafts yet. So any change up or down will effect camber. My 71 does have cv shafts, so I can raise or lower it, without changing camber. Basically the shaft is one piece on yours.there is a joint coming out of the transmission, which gives you suspension. On the newer ones, they added a cv joint to the outside of the shaft and changed the bearing assy. So you always have the wheels squarely on the road.

[@prkid424]

What carb would you recommend?

[@Mikefngarage]

30 pict 3 4 or 30 pict 1 work great on 40hp. dont go too big too much HP will result in broken crank. but small cam head work stock manifold big bore, 1600 rockers all work for upgrades to the engine to get it to run better.

[@prkid424]

Mike Fn Garage have an Engle FK41, 1.25 rockers, ported square boss heads with the 83mm AA pistons. Running with the 28 pict. Gonna get a 30 pict soon

[@arnoldmace758]

Thanks for info going to recondition a 40 hp for just a every day driver thinking about 83 mm pistons mild cam 110 have cases bored for cam bearings 30pci carb 009 dist exhaust header have a 2 barrel Holley bug spray can't find a thunderbird Holley intake yet to fit 40 hp any thoughts on this set up

[@johncollins5552]

CB cheater cam is probably better.

[@wastedwhiteboy2462]

Better flowing exhaust gives you more torque and HP.

[@Mikefngarage]

40hp likes stock exhaust for best torque. the valve sizes are so small needs smaller exhaust to eliminate turbulence and create flow. The bigger exhaust on those creates more top end. but there is not really top end because of the valve sizes and intake port size.