With Jakes most recent posts and his request to have his access to the forum blocked it's time to talk about your good fortune with your local engine builders. It's clear that there are guys all over the world that know these engines very well and can build killer type IV's.

So you guys that race and AX let's hear your stories about the guys you use.

Even though Jake decided to terminate his association with us let's not forget about Len Hoffman. Without His heads Jakes engines would not have been any better than the air cooled Wisconsin I used to run my arch welder. So you could say without Len, jake wouldn't exist.

So from there, Who has other head sources? How about cam? We all know the secret to a efficient air pump is how it moves it's volume. Who was Jakes cam grinder? I'm sure it's been mentioned but I likely missed that commercial.

There is a number of posts on setting up your rockers and making up your pushrods to the proper length. Anyone have a good experience or posted about this dig up the link and add it to this thread.

My hat's off to a couple guys that I can think of in the first few minutes here.

Sean Malloy. Sean builds engines, does support work for guys that race type IV's and does chassis work and anything else you need. I've been to Sean's shop and spent time really talking with him. Sean will take care of you with no drama.

Chris Folley is another guy that has gone out of his way to keep our cars moving. Chris has built and raced 914's for longer than I have owned my car. There is nothing he doesn't know about these engines. He also has Ed working at his place. Ed is a 914 dictionary on steroids. Chris recently stuck his neck and his wallet out on the chopping block and brought us a kit to repair our MAPS.

Mark De Bernardi, Most resently McMark completed an outragous engine for Rob Simes. We all know how capable Mark is. I have visited Marks shop too. You will never get a cross word from him and you will always get top notch work whether he's building you an engine or repairing your chassis on his Celette.

Let's not forget about Joe O'brien. He is currently working on a custom injected type IV for John Faure. Check out his progress at Series9. I've been to Joe's shop. It's clean and organized. Joe is building an awesome shop and growing fast in Florida's economy.

Let's here about your positive experiences. Keep it about the type IV. No bashing or Drama or I will ask the admins to lock this.

Hey Rick,

I thought I'd let you and the world know that (while I also have my issues with the aforementioned...) my Raby 2056 is FINALLY living up to expectations.

Despite a few frustrating drips, Bill Jenkins @ Dune Buggy Supply and his guys did a great job. If you wanted to stay local, I think he's worth a consideration.

But considering what I went through, I might just consider buying this one and be done with it.

Oh ya, Bill Jenkins. He's been around forever. Nice post.

OMG! Bill told me a few years back that he was semi-retired and just selling parts out of those tractor-trailers he had out back of the shop on Excelsior Blvd.

I used to work for Bill at Dune Buggy Supply back in high school and while I was in college.

This is a great post....I'm sure there will be tons of good info for all of us.
Thanks

oh, he's semi-retired, but he's got a great (tho a bit messy) storefront that's attached to his house on hopkins crossroad. it'll be a air cooled vw gold mine when he finally decides he's done with working.
952 938-8877
his mechanic's name is sam, he's pretty good w/type I's & IV's

I am planning on using bugpatch in CA for my head CNC porting & CR adjust.

http://www.bugpatch.com/

Anyone have anything good or bad to say about them?

I also plan on using "The Engine Shop" right here in Longmont to do my balancing.
They were recommended by http://www.carquip.com/ ( a fairly reputable Porsche shop in the Boulder area)

Stu

FAT performance, of course. I can't remember the guy at Bugformance in San Jose, does a lot of SCCA car engines and all positive comments. John at Aircooled.net does T4's, as well as CB Performance, all performance oriented. If you just want a street motor any of the good bus guys do them regularly and do a good job. With a few exceptions the 914-specific parts aren't that different than the VW stuff.

Anybody out n the east coast shouldn't even think twice about using Chris Foley of Tangerine Racing. He is knowledgeable, friendly, courtious, and a pleaseure to deal with. His core business is 914 focused and If he doesn't have what you are looking for, he will help you meet your goals. Top Notch......

I use and will continue to use Tangerine Racing. Good people and they are always around if I have a stupid question. After all who does know everything? They built my 2.2 L-jet and I love it.

Yes, I agree about Ron at FAT Performance in Orange CA, who has a long standing rep for street, race & off-road T-2 & T-4 motors (among others, and he has no problems giving a walk-in a tour of his shop & latest creations. Many of his creations have won the Baja 500 & 1000 over the years.

The guy I got my 74 914-2.0 parts shell had his 2.0 rebuilt by Der Buggy in Garden Grove, CA, and has been happy with the work.

Another buddy has had great luck with Bill Brewster in San Clemente CA with his pristine 71 914/4 survivor.

I also hear good things from other 914 & series 1 & 2 911, 912/912E owners about Otto's in Venice CA, as well as about our own Cap'n Krusty/John on here - who's shop is in Santa Maria CA.

I've had a great 37 year run with Hans Imports in Huntington Beach CA on all of my cars, and he'd rebuilt my 914-2.0 in '83, and our 88 Westy's 2.1 waterboxer. He was factory trained on the 914s & had inspected a dozen used ones in 1975, before I bought my 73 2L - after his "approving" it!

Unfortunately, Hans is not doing the 914s & other older aircooled cars for anyone but old customers like me. So I can't refer any to his shop except for the newer imports.

I also agree with FAT! Love those guys! They have always come through for me...

Don weaver at EBS has been another good source for quality machine work...

And even though I think Darren at DRD needs to do better with correct lead time, his work was really great!

Mike Bruns. He's the Engine Manager at J-B Racing. Of course now he doesn't have time for T-4s, but when he did - Wow!

Now all he does is High HP 911 Race Motors

George @ European Motorworks in Inglewood, CA. They did my heads & block work. Very reasonable prices too. Very upfront and kept to their quote. I'd use them again in a minute.

We have to remember that this is where Raby gets his KB pistons too!

Hi Guys,

I reccommend Primo Petrucci Racing Engines in Farmington Hills, MI. Primo did all the work on my engines. The first time around I put in a too aggressive camshaft (my choice) and vacuum was an issue. About 2-years ago I purchased a Raby #9550 Cam kit along with new Len's heads. I again had Primo do the work. Primo is a top VW engine specialist with type-4 engines. Search my thread about 2-years ago (Tom's Camshaft Replacement) for the full story. I can't find it myself.

Tom

Here it is. http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?sho...ic=4542&hl=

I spoke with Fat about parts and a build.No attitude,only helpful friendly advice and info.No holier than thou bulshit attitude at all. Good guys!

I appreciate the kind words, and consideration for the work I do. But let there be no doubt that Jake deserves a ton of credit too. I started my business in 1996. It grew steadily and slowly. Jake was already much more established with a wider audience than I had when we started doing business together in 2003. The two of us combining our love for R&D and air-cooled engines was good for both of us. That's why it's lasted so many years. My business really took off at that point and I have a debt of gratitude to Jake for that. Jake's business has grown too since then. But that's because he has fought hard for it, and takes an enormous amount of pride in the work and products his company sells. Some would argue too much as he takes it rather personally when someone goes medieval with one of his "babie's". As flaws go there are much worse in this age of corner-cutting and dishonesty.

But it doesn't matter how good your products are or how much effort you put into to customer service, there will always be someone out there who just can't be satisfied. Every business deals with it at some time.

I know everybody has the ability to rub folks the wrong way when caught at just the right -or wrong- time. Jake is no different. He puts up with no non-sense. And perhaps his tolerance for it is shorter than a lot of other businessman. But In the years I have dealt with him he has been nothing but fair with me and I have received countless e-mails and phone calls from folks to thank me for my involvement in their powerplants. These were customers that I had no prior interaction with because they were Jake's customers. They thanked me too because they were so pleased with the final results. Results that were made possible by Jake integrating all of the best possible ingredients to make the best possible engine.

I think every member of this forum can understand how much Jake has contributed to this community. Whether directly or not. I mean really; try for a moment to consider the state of our little sphere without Jake's fingerprints all over it for the past 10 years or so. He can be grumpy, but let's not forget the ways that's balanced with insight and help.

Let's please not throw someone under the bus because of a public disagreement with a customer whose bad experience was largely self induced and clearly an anomaly. (No one could grow a business if he conducted business the way that incendiary thread alleged)


I really hate to see this impasse and hope that once a little time goes by this community can continue on with all[i] of it's members with their diverse backgrounds working together to share info in an effort to keep these unique cars rolling.

HI Len,

I started this thread as an option. Based on what Jake posted he's moving on. That's his decision. So let's shine some light on other corners of the type IV world. That's my point. There are guys building and machining type IV's all over the world. There are guy's like you that hopefully will still support this community. Others have been mentioned. Let's keep looking in the corners and posting about who you use or know that can provide good service at a fair price.

Rick,

your first post is inflamatory

using words like "had a melt down"

and "flaked"

is not an objective information thread
edit your post and I'll add information
I certainly think that Jake was and is a great source for unique parts and knowledge.

I'd cast another vote for Len's Heads.

I continue to be amazed at how well they work on the 914 turbo, and the head temps, are more steady than I could have hoped for.

Great work, Len.

Machine shops for welded and machined cranks try DPM, Demellos or European Motor Works (Eurorace), all in SoCal, or SCAT for new ones. Webcam for cams (they whitebox to other higher-quality parts companies and builders) or Pauter for more radical cams. Webcam is good to work with, good help choosing specs according to application. CB for T1 style H and I-beam rods in various lengths for 2270 motors, KB or JE for the pistons (JE makes T4 pistons with 22mm pins for the T1 rods), DRD for heads if for some reason Len isn't first choice. Art Thraen at ACE in Salt Lake City for carburetors in any flavor.

Done. I never said Jake wasn't a good source. But based on his decision I think it's good we talk about other shops. we all would appreciate anything you have to contribute Brant.

BTW: That's the way I talk. "Meltdown" in my mind is a reference to what appeared to me to be hot headed and rash statement about wanting his login removed.

"Flaked" again is a reference in my mind to another quick flipped decision made in hast without forethough. So I guess as you see it "I spun out." I hope my correction is clear and less of a distraction from the direction this post was intended. That's the way I speak.

Boston Bob is gone, but his shop continues on http://www.suburbanengine.com/. They line bored my case and did a great job.

Also don't forget Ed Mayo at Mayo Performance. I believe he worked for Porsche when the 914 came out and has built a lot of Type IV motors over the years http://mayoperformance.com/index.htm.

And another vote for Chris Foley. Great guy and super knowledgable. Having Ed on his team makes them the Dream Team in the North East.

Good thread, I am familiar with some of the shops already mentioned and had good parts, service and advice from Web cams, FAT and EMW.
My 2056 is broken in and waiting for the GT flares and interior to catch up

thanks Rick.


so I almost exclusively use AJRS here in colorado
(allen johnsen racing specialties)

not cheap but one of the absolute best racing head specialists in the world. I've also had a few sets of street heads done there and have been very pleased.

ontop of AJRS, there are a couple of machine shops in denver with type4 experience. I've heard pro's and con's about Painters, but they have put a lot of these motors together.

I am extremely pleased with Len's heads, I also want to say Raby's #9550 cam kit is a great combo on my engine. I am just dissappointed in Raby's comments. Words mean something and they can never be taken back (forever).
Having said all this I would still buy from Raby & centainly from Len. His heads are a work of art.

Tom

Thanks for all of the kind words everyone. I really want this to blow over and for everyone to get along.

Can anyone tell me of a good rebuilder in the Kansas area?

Eck

Lets not forget the great work Len and Jake have done on helping people with M96
engines.

John

Brad Mayeur in East Peoria IL. Another guy who started working on 914s at the dealer when they were introduced, and has never stopped.

--DD

How could I have forgotten to mention Brad. I bought parts from him before I even had an internet connection. My former shop manager bought a 914 from him back in like 1992 or something. Brad built the engine in that little red rocket! Damn near kilt us on a freeway on ramp! Fast!

I'm looking for a machine shop in knoxville tn area!
I need to get my crank etc balanced!

They are so posed to be the best in town
https://plus.google.com/1160583861418373434...gl=us&hl=en
but without a machine for the moment...

Anything close for me?

Who was it that was building a type 4 usiing Rabbit rods, Chevy pistons ( IIRC ) that stopped posting years ago due to Jakes bashing him? It was a really interesting build and I would love to know how it turned out

Eck, you have two great sources in Kansas City: Noland's Heads has been around forever. Stand up guys who do great work at a very reasonable price. Vee Village is a full service garage, machine shop and parts store.

Darren

type 4 unleashed. i remember that build on the NARP forums... its weird, all of his posts on this website have been edited/removed

i saw that build over on shoptalk in the type4um. richard is a cool dude. i talked with him for hours at the riverside show and swap. he is a wealth of knowledge. and dosnt charge any money to talk to him.

Anyone good between Vancouver BC and Seattle? Not in the budjet at the moment but hopeful future!

Use This Link to search the World site via Google and you will come up with all kinds of threads where Type 4 Unleashed posted. Many are from before the split.

Ken Jansen (Jansen Enterprises) in Belmont Calif. Expert aircooled engine builder/racer. stock or hi-perf motors. I got three of his engines in my cars. nice guy, he builds rods and other parts for other builders, has a nice machine shop. easy to deal with, great guy, and his engines WIN RACES. Very resonable prices.

Type4 unleashed was loosely affiliated with European motorworks.
I have used EMS many times, prices are very good and they sell the pistons I like,,the JE pistons.
they are full of practical knowledge.
they will sell one piston, match the old pistons etc...

For the rebiit rod setup...BTDT.
The rods can allow for a 78mm stroke.
this was a setup that worked before rods where available.
the issue with the longer stroke is still the number three rod seat and the oil passage in that area...

Be careful going to that stroke...its a stressed out crankshaft, even the new ones have that same issue.

the rabbit rod setup just made the problem more apparent due to the smaler diameter rold journal...so you had to take even more meat off the crankshaft.

Type4unleashed did one thing that was super cool...
he used lightweight and smaller diameter lifters...which EMS sells.
You have to press in bushings into the case, but it looked fairly straight forward.
Not sure what happened with that setup because he stopped posting here around that time...have not heard much from him since.

One th East coast we have Shine Racing (www.srsvw.com)
We have a machine shop in Brockton that Foley has used, so ask him his results from that experience...not sure if it was good or bad.

We just had a custom set of heads done at a local shop up here...all went well except we had to bring them back for a CHT sensor to be milled into the head...we had two left side heads...

I have found that most places have worked on Type4 heads at one point in time, and ALL shops now deal with valve seats in aluminum heads....every motor seems to have aluminum heads now.

the nice part of that progress is that its no longer a secret how to put seats in that stay in place...
the metal being used for the seats is also very well tested now, so again, its not a secret at most shops.

I always take the time to visit any shop that I might drop my parts at for machine work.
I like to see the shop and look the person in the eye when we talk about what I need done.

I have yet to be less than satisfied with any machine work I have needed, so I guess it pays to shop around and meet the machinists to determine if you will get what you are looking for.

aircooled.net has always been cool.
EMS has been more than cool, lots of parts, knowledge and timely shipping.

Rich

One of our own, Nate (aircooledtechguy) at Provolks in Anacortes put together a nice 2056 for my bug last year. Standup guy with good support.

Great post Rich!

Yeah, European lists them HERE. Kind of pricey and not for a daily driver, but if you want to spin it that's what you need. If it's something you're thinking about call Jorge, he'll give you the updates.


I consider John my "secret weapon". He's kind of Krusty (in the very best way, Cap'n) but he's an encyclopedia of aircooled knowledge. His tech pages should be required reading for beginners. I don't know if he builds engines any more, but he has the parts and the know-how.


Yeah, I second that, and no drama, which is what you really want. That's actually true for CB, aircooled.net and the others as well. CB is under the T4 radar, but they build engines, do the machining, make their own T1 head castings, and have an in-house dyno cell for testing. Their background is mostly T1, but the T4 engines were always there in the buggy scene, so CB's actually pretty good. What's best is they're both smart and self-assured enough to make referrals if they think you'd be better served by someone else. That's an extremely good quality for any vendor to have.

Only 9 years since the last post, but probably quite valuable.

Please chime in with your "secret weapons"