Latest News

This page was last updated Tuesday, September 15, 2009

March 16, 2009

I've been receiving a lot of inquiries about the site, so I'm doing some updates in the coming month. So make sure you stop by often to look for the updates. -- Tuna

January 31, 2007

Things are definitely getting more interesting in the Type 4 scene. I'm seeing more and more people stopping by the Type 4rum at Shoptalk Forums and asking questions about the Type 4 engine. I've also been receiving more emails lately, asking about information that I don't have the site. This kind of discussion is what I'm looking: the more we talk about the Type 4, the more people will see that the Type 4 might be right for them. -- Tuna

November 16, 2005

If you live in southern California and want to meet up with a bunch of Type 4 enthusiasts, then I've got the event for you. A group of us from the "Type 4rum" at the Shoptalk Forums will be meeting up for dinner on December 3 at a location (TBD) near Pomona, CA. The following morning a couple of the members will be selling at the Pomona Swap Meet, so we will all be meeting up there to continue the chat. So, if you are interested in joining us, read this this thread on the forum and let us know that you will be joining us. Details can also be found on this site. I hope that everyone can make it, as it will be a lot of fun and informative for all.

October 6, 2006

I've been quite busy lately and haven't really had any time to keep this site updated as I'd like. I'm still active over at Shoptalk Forums as moderator of the Type 4rum. I'm gradually getting all of the pieces assembled for my 2056. Things are going slow at this moment as I'm going back to college, so money is tight. I did get my bored out German cylinders from Jake Raby and my cylinder heads from Hoffman Automotive Machine. The parts look great and Len did an awesome job on the heads. I'll try to get a gallery together of the heads to share with everyone. -- Tuna

July 11, 2005

I just discovered a new Type 4 based message forum. This one belongs to ACTop20.com and is located at this address. This board seems to have a lot of members from the northwest section of the US, so if you live in the area, it may be something to check out. I'll try to stop in and see what's going on.

April 20, 2005

Well, I'm proud to announce a new feature to the "How-To's" section. The new how-to is entitled "Converting a Type 4" and covers the basics of converting a stock Type 4 for use into a Bug. Those of you with other Type 1s, early Busses or other Type 1 powered vehicles will be able to use it as a guideline to making your car Type 4 powered, as the same basic steps apply. I will be updating it as necessary, so if you are contemplating this conversion, check it out.

April 13, 2005

Things are starting to pick up here. I'm currently gathering pictures for my new exhaust tech article, so that page should be available soon and updated to reflect the changes in the Type 4 scene. I'm also working on a new page that will step you through buying a Type 4, converting it to upright cooling, and installing it in your Bug. You'll find that page linked on the Why A Type 4?" page when I'm through with it. I've also got some other projects in the works, so make sure you stop by to check them out.

April 11, 2005

Yesterday was the BugIn in my old hometown of Fontana California, at the California Speedway. It was a great event, though I was disappointed to have only seen one Type 4 conversion car, a T3 Notchback with a Porsche fan equipped Type 4.

A-1 Muffler of Santa Ana, California had a display there at the Bug In 32 and had one of their Type 4 conversion headers on display. They had purchased a used GA longblock, cleaned and detailed it, and then mounted the header. I loaned them my DTM for the day, so the visitors at their booth got to see what the system looks like on a DTM equipped Type 4. I even had the opportunity to talk to some people that were looking at the display. I was able to inform them about what the Type 4 is and why I'm such a big fan of it

I'd like to encourage more of the Type 4 enthusiasts to start making plans now to attend next year. We need to spread the word and show the masses that the Type 4 engine is ready for everyone.

April 2, 2005

Well the new year is going well, for the most part. STF has been up and down, but the owner has hired a company to bulletproof the site and make it easier to make changes for those authorized.

I have a treat for those of you curious about the engine on the homepage. The engine belongs to John Elnef of Denmark, and we've been exchanging emails lately. I told John that I've received questions about his engine, so he's shared the details and gave me a selection of photos of his Manx clone that this Type 4 calls home. You can see the page here or by clicking on the picture on the homepage. I'm going to try to feature more Type 4 powered conversions as I can get pictures and information.

January 1, 2005

Well, a New Year is upon us here on planet Earth. I have a few things to share. First off, the Shoptalk Forums, home of the Type 4rum, is currently down. This web site is based on the phpBB forum software, but it's an older version and it's been the victim of "script kiddies" defacing and altering the web site. The owner of STF has enlisted myself and another person to update the software, clean up any damage that was present, and to close any possible backdoors. I will post here when the site is ready for visits.

November 25, 2004

I'm proud to announce a new feature of this web site: the "How-to's" section. This section will allow you to see first hand, detailed instructions to doing procedures and creating parts necessary to the Type 4 and the conversion. The first How-To comes to us from Shoptalk Forums, from Type 4rum member "Piledriver". He's developed a Kafer brace to support your transaxle using parts from a tractor supply business. It's a really great way to support your engine on a budget.

November 6, 2004

Well, the A-1 header is finally done! If you want to see some pictures of the header, I've got four of them taken by Tiger himself on their car and my buddy's engine. The header is now due to be shipped to Jake of Raby's Aircooled Technology for dyno testing. I will let everyone know when the header is available for sale.

October 1, 2004

For the last day and a half, the Shoptalk Forums web site has been down, not responding to any request. I don't know anything else, so please don't email looking for more information. I will post here when I know more.

More newsworthy information needs to be passed on. Last month I, acting on behalf of the Type 4rum, brought A-1 Muffler of Santa Ana, CA, a Type 4 longblock and a German BAS Ahnendorp header. A-1 is going to fabricate a Type 1 merged header for full body Bugs running a Type 4 engine. This header will utilize a Type 1 style merged mufflers, like a stinger, dual quiet packs, or a large turbo-style muffler.

Unexpectedly A-1 has gotten really busy and this project is taking longer than expected. We are now approaching the one month mark, but I'm patient. I'd rather see him take a few extra weeks and get it right, rather than rush it and get a crappy header. Stay tuned!

September 26, 2004

You may have noticed that on the front web page that there are two new editions. These additions are two web rings. One is for Type 4 conversions, the other for 912s and early 911s. After you've checked out my site, make sure you hit the web rings to find more information.

August 1, 2004

Well, I'm working on updating the site. As of right now, I've updated the Contributors, the "Why a Type 4?", Crankcase reference page, and the tech articles on the upright conversions. These tech articles were severely out of date, so I recommend that you go back read it. I will be updating the rest as soon as possible. I will be letting you know when the pages are down.

July 31, 2004

It's been a while since I've posted here. Let me give some updates from this spring and summer. I've taken delivery of my DTM upright conversion from Jake of Raby's Aircooled Technology. You have to see this shroud in person to truly understand the engineering marvel it is. My particular shroud is #50 that Raby has made. You can see a photo of the shroud, alternator stand, and modified Scat pulley here. This shroud is for my 2056cc that's destined for my '69 Bug.

I've also received my parts back from Raby's Aircooled Technology that they machined for me. The parts, for the 2056cc, have all been machined and the reciprocating parts dynamic balanced. This type of balancing requires for all of the rotating parts to be assembled and the balancing is done as a whole assembly, not as individual parts. This makes the whole assembly rotate smoothly, so it will run from idle to top RPM without wasting energy. It will add years to the life of an engine and make driving it a pleasure.

Another recent acquisition for my '69 Bug is a BAS Ahnendorp 39mm header (p/n 21152). BAS claims this header is good to 200hp with it's 39mm mandrel bent tubing and sideways pointing collector. After the engine is running, I will take the car down to a local muffler shop and have them fit the header with a turbo style muffler. I'm still deciding on where to locate that muffler. I'll be posting pics of the header soon.

March 4, 2004

Well, this is a quick news entry. This morning I discovered that the Shoptalk Forums, home of this site's official forum, the Type 4rum, wasn't loading. After doing some investigating, I discovered that the webmaster had unknowingly let the domain name expire, so the domain registrar was ceasing all incoming requests to that domain.

Well, I was able to contact someone with STF and we worked it out. I've updated the domain for another year.

November 13, 2003

Well, this year has definitely not worked out the way I foresaw. Among the highlights was Raby's Aircooled Technology's acquisition of Oregon Performance Products molds for the DTM shroud. This purchase included the Type 4 DTM, the Type 1 DTM, and the experimental 911 fan DTM. Jake Raby, owner of Aircooled Technology, spent a good portion of the year improving various parts of this conversion. You can find more about this conversion at their new site dedicated to the DTM at http://www.massivetype4.com/.

Another promising development is the exhaust system selection from Turbo Thomas. Turbo Thomas is from the UK, but their selection of exhaust systems for the Type 4 conversion is great and the prices are very reasonable. Aircooled Technology is awaiting two systems so they can test them on the RAT dyno.

January 15, 2003

I just wanted to let everyone know that I welcome your suggestions. I've had a few people make a few suggestions and they've been great ideas. I will be looking into implementing those ideas and integrating them into the site. I've also been working on gathering pictures to help illustrate the site. So keep your eyes open for these changes in the upcoming months.

My 2056 daily driver parts are still at Raby's Aircooled Technology, awating to be balanced. We are waiting on OPP to deliver on a DTM shroud kit, as we need the pulley to finish the bottom end and get it on the balancing machine.

November 2, 2002

Well, it's been quite a summer and fall. I've had some family issues that have taken precedence over updating this site. Today I've posted a new tour page, the Cylinder Head, and made some new changes and additions to the Links page.

I'm also working on getting my daily driver 2056cc (96x71) parts gathered. The parts are currently being dynamically balanced at Raby's Aircooled Technology. I'm hoping to have the engine running and installed into my Bug late spring. Stay tuned for updates!

August 14, 2002

The webmaster for Shoptalk Forums has posted a temporary web page explaining the circumstances of why the STF is down at the moment. You'll find the page here: http://shoptalkforums.com/site-down.html So, we'll have to suffer this week without our beloved forums and look forward to when Brian returns on the 19th. See everyone then!!

August 14, 2002

Last night I was informed that the word on the street was that STF was changing servers and that the site would be up this morning. Well, it's 10:45AM PDT and the site is not active yet. I will be contiunually checking throughout the day and will post any new news here.

A few of the people that emailed me in the last couple of day expressed concerns that maybe we were going to lose the Type 4rum and the 411/412 Forum. In the off case that happens, I'll look into hosting a similiar forum here at the Tunacan.net server.

August 13, 2002

This is let everyone know that the Shoptalk Forums is experiencing some difficulties. STF has been down since Sunday evening (Aug. 11, 2002) and as of noon today is still not responding. I've sent the webmaster of STF an email, inquiring about what's going on and asking if there is anything we can do. At the moment the web site is resolving to a default webpage from RackShack.Net, STF web host provider. I will post any new news here.

May 20, 2002

The Type 4rum seems to be experiencing some problems. I've sent an email to the webmaster, letting him know of the problems and hopefully he remedy the situation. I will post any new news here as to the progress. Right now you post a reply to a pre-existing thread, but new threads are not appearing on the list. Some people have reported that their username/password is no longer being accepeted. I've passed this information on to the webmaster. When I hear back from him, I will post a message here.

Update (15:38PDT): I've tried sending out emails to the webmaster, but all of the adderesses I have are being bounced back. I'll keep trying to contact their webmaster until we can get this situation remedied.

February 17, 2002

Well, I've been working on polishing the pages on this site. Everything I did today was mostly detail stuff. The only notable exception was my update to the upright cooling tech article with new information about the horizontal fan conversion.

February 3, 2002

It's done!! After a long wait, I have finally completed a major update of the Technical Articles. I've updated all of the articles to cover more things in details and to update for new research and products. I hope you find it helpful in building your Type 4.

December 19, 2001

Thanks to an eagle eyed visitor, I corrected the displacement chart page with the correct numbers. I also took this opportunity to add the 102mm bore to the list, in anticipation of the new 102mm piston/cylinders that are coming soon.

December 13, 2001

I've posted an updated crankcase reference page with new codes and data I've recently acquired. I'm still working on updating the tech articles. You'll find a lot of great information in the articles when they are completed and posted. Stay tuned...

November 29, 2001

Well, it appears that Shoptalk has outgrown it's current host. The administrator is looking into alternatives and to keep costs covered.

November 28, 2001

This is to let everyone know that the Shoptalk Forums are experiencing some problems at this moment. You can post messages, but it's dating them about 19 days earlier. I've contacted the board administrator, so hopefully the problem will be corrected soon. I will post an update when everything is working again.

November 19, 2001

Well, it's been a couple of months since I last posted an update to this site. The site has moved once again, this time to a more permanent location on a super fast connection in Los Angeles. The reason for the lack of updates is that a group of Type 4 enthusiasts from the Type 4rum have joined together to form an organization called "Type 4 Power". Well, I'm currently developing the website, which will be a central location for latest Type 4 news. I will post any new information here and at the Type 4rum.

September 11, 2001

I've added another link to the link page. The new address is an Australian company that offers a modified Type 4 for use in an airplane. These engines, dubbed RG2000, feature 66mm stroke (1.7/1.8), 98.4mm bore, and 1.5 ratio rockers.

September 1, 2001

I created the tech article on the CT/CZ engine because I felt that having some place to send someone with questions about these codes would be handy. It's not a Type 4 and is quite rare, but I've seemed to spark quite a bit of interest of this engine. A few people have submitted more information on these codes and I've used their contributions to expand the article.

August 14, 2001

For those of you with CT or CZ code engines, I've got the low down on that engine. I've just finished putting together a page explaining how these engine codes are not a Type 4 engine, but are actually a Type 1 cousin. So, if you are curious, give the page a read. There are about half dozen illustrations from a VW dealer parts book.

August 14, 2001

Well, everything seems to be up and running again here at Type 4:Secrets Revealed. This web host is just a temporary stopping point until we can get the real web server up and running. That should happen sometime at the end of this month. Email is working again (reliably this time), so feel free to drop me an email if you have comments, questions, or concerns.

August 5, 2001

I guess you never know when you come across new information. I recently gained access to a source of information about VW parts. While perusing this source, I made a few discoveries. These discoveries were about crankcase codes and their original applications. The CU and CV are basically identical, the CU being carbuerated with dual Solex 34 PDSITs and the CV used Bosch fuel injection. The only real issue with using it in an upright conversion is the breather tower. It features an enclosed tower and that must be machined off to be usable, not a cheap job, as a lot has to come off. The exhaust ports are the later style that is incompatible with most aftermarket exhaust systems. I will be making note of this information in a future site revision.

My major discovery today isn't a Type 4, though it's often confused as one. There is a Vanagon engine with the codes of CT and CZ. I repeat these are NOT Type 4s!! Upon more detailed inspection, they are essentially Type 1s with a cast in oil filter (same setup as a wasserboxer) and a cooling system rather similar to the Type 4 of the same year. Even though the cooling system looks similar, nothing is interchangible with the Type 4 engine. The CZ features "recessed crown" pistons, probably to the lower compression ratio, but otherwise the CT and CZ are identical. The CT/CZ used a single Solex 34PICT4 carb. This engine uses the rocker assemblies of the Wasserboxer with 9mm adjuster screws. This engine was never available here in the US, but was available in other markets. If you have further questions about the CT/CZ engine, feel free to email me.

August 3, 2001

It seems that my web host is experiencing some difficulties. We are hosted by the same company that hosts the Shoptalk Forums. Right now the service is running well enough that I can post this entry, but I've been unable to upload files. If the service doesn't get any better soon, I will have to implement a project I've been working on. If you need to reach me, try sending me an email at the usual address, t4@tunacan.net. If I don't reply, try sending me an email at this backup address: type4secrets@bemail.org. I will only check this backup account when I know that the regular account isn't working, so first try the t4@tunacan.net address always.

August 1, 2001

I'm currently working on updating and expanding the tech article on upright conversions. There will be a lot of great information in the article, but I will not post it until I feel it's ready. This expansion includes a full webpage dedicated to the Type 1 alternator/generator style conversions and another web page for the 911 fan/alternator conversions.

I am also working on an article discussing your transmission options with a Type 4. I will be discussing the Type 1/3 trans (including the Berg 5 speed), the Type 2 IRS, the Type 4 transaxle, and the Porsche 901/915 five speed. If you are experienced with the Porsche 901/915 transaxle in a Bug, please drop me an email.

Stay tuned for these informative articles!

July 7, 2001

I've done some minor updates to the connecting rod tech article. I've included some discussion on using the stock rod for high performance applications and a bit about lightening, polishing and shotpeening con-rods.

June 19, 2001

I've done some minor updates to most of the tech articles, along with a major revision of the connecting rod tech article. I cover more of the technical details of the connecting and how to make more horsepower with just picking the right con-rods.

June 18, 2001

Well, I'm back from my vacation to Colorado. My brother, who is also a contributor here, got married to his Internet sweetheart Mechelle. Congrats Chris and Mechelle.

In Shoptalk news, Jake Raby has finally returned to the Type 4rum. Jake realized that the forum was a great way of sharing information and that we've got a great collection of enthusiasts. Welcome back Jake.

June 3, 2001

I am leaving this morning for a long overdue vacation. Feel free to email me, I will get back to you, but realize that a reply may take longer (like a day or two).

May 18, 2001

I must say that this week has been quite an interesting week. Earlier in the week I received an email from a gentleman from Australia. He gave me some great information on crankcase codes, but when I replied to his email, the address was no good. So, Mr. Glen, if you are reading this, I'd really like to reply to your email, but I need a valid address to send the reply. In the meantime, I'm going to be updating the crankcase tech article and the crankcase reference page. Keep your eyes posted here; I will post an entry when those pages are updated.

It seems that Jake Raby of aircooledtechnology.net has decided to leave the Shoptalk Forums and our Type 4rum. There were a lot of people who questioned his motives for frequenting the site and his sharing of information. He will be missed by those of us that enjoyed reading his experiences and findings. We hope that he will continue to lurk around the forum, and keep in touch. We hope you return soon Jake!

May 6, 2001

I occasionally get a question about the horsepower figures of various Type 4 engines and why the figures for the early Type 4s were relatively higher than the later model engines. I found a great thread on Shoptalk that deals with that issue. A few of the posters were quite knowledgable about bhp vs. hp, SAE vs. DIN, net vs. gross. Read the entire thread for the lowdown. Thanks to the posters of that thread.

I've also finished my first complete Exhaust System tech article and a Type 4 FAQ. As with all of my tech articles, these pages will be updated as I have new information for them.

May 2, 2001

The updates keep coming. I've now got a great displacement chart in the Reference section of this site. So, if you are wondering what displacement a combination would be, check out the chart. I'm also working on a Type 4 FAQ and am still updating the Exhaust System tech article.

April 30, 2001

One news item: I was down at FAT Performance a few weeks ago and picked up a camshaft, lifters, cam gear, and heavy duty flywheel bolts. The lifters are Scat, and the cam is from Babe Erson. It's a new FAT grind, part number FC441N with 0.342" of valve lift, 270° duration, 20° of overlap and 106° lobe centers. I discussed with Greg Aronson the engine I was building and he suggested this new grind of theirs. The low duration will make it ideally suited for the 1911cc (96x66) that I'm assembling. It's basically a stock engine with stock cooling, dual Weber 40IDFs and 1.7 heads (haven't committed to valve sizes yet). This engine will be built to provide reliability, mild manners, and is a lower cost project. I'll post any new information here. It'll end up in my project buggy, code named the "Orange Crate".

April 7, 2001

Just a few updates to post. I've rearranged the Links page. They are now grouped by logical groups and hopefully are easier to use. I've also updated the tech article on the oil system off the Type 4. The page has a ton of great information about the oil system. Last, but not least, I've finished the camshaft tour page. Like always, I'd like to hear from anyone that has information I don't. Email me with comments or suggestions.

March 27, 2001

The old saying goes "imitation is the ultimate form of flattery". I guess that it's true. It seems that a Type 4 enthusiast enjoyed this site so much, he copied my website for his website (Warning: his site is only viewable with Microsoft Internet Explorer due to proprietary Java/Javascript code. I couldn't get Netscape Navigator 4.76 or Opera 3.62 to work). He used my website, almost word for word, for his Type 4 tech section. "Type 4: Secrets Revealed" has been a work in progress since 1997 and it will continue to grow with more original information. I created with the intention of sharing information with the rest of the world, and it will continue to do so. Many people have contributed to this site, and I hope that we will benefit from their future contributions.

February 26, 2001

Well, this last month has been a nightmare. Dealing with some of these server co-location companies can be a real pain. The one I was contracting with for server space and bandwidth went bankrupt and never contacted it's clients to let them know. The service termination caught me off guard and made me quite angry. I later found out at Yahoo news that they couldn't afford to pay their bills. What a month!!

February 25, 2001

Well, if you are reading this, then we are back up and running. Thanks to Captain Panic for letting me know about ochosting.com's reasonable prices for web service. I have a lot of cool stuff planned for this site, including my on-going revising of the tech articles and more illustrations. I want to take this moment and let you all know that I am always open to suggestions about the site. If you have a question about something and feel that others might benefit from it, let me know. This site is for all Type 4 enthusiasts.

January 29, 2001

Well another year has come and gone and we're all still here. I do have some good news for the world of Type 4 tuning. Jake Raby of aircooledtechnology.com will be featured in upcoming issues of VWTrends. They will be highlighting his trigger fired ignition for the Type 4 and his dual spark plug cylinder heads. Both are advancements for the Type 4 and this exposure will hopefully lead more people and vendors to realize that the future is the Type 4 engine and embracing this fact now will mean being a pioneer in the industry. On another note, there has been a lot of talk about manifolds for installing a Type 4 engine into a Type 3 car. I've now heard that both Eurorace and FAT Performance have done this operation before for customers. They will either cut down your standard T4 IDF manifolds or sell you a new set and cut those down. This is definitely good news for those contemplating this conversion. The Type 4 is a natural transplant for the Type 3.

October 10, 2000

It has been a long time since the last posting, but after participating in the Type 4um, I've got some information to share with everyone. I've updated the "Intake" tech article with a lot more information. It's necessary reading for anyone involved with the Type 4 engine. I'm also working on a tech article that will cover the need-to-know facts about putting a Type 4 engine into the Type 3. Stay tuned for it!!

June 9, 2000

I know it's been a while since I posted here to this site, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been working on it. Actually I've been hanging out at the Type 4um message board. I'd like to welcome everyone to stop by and browse the messages. You can learn a lot. Thanks to Pascal, a French Type 4 nut, and our own Rolf for contributing a few more crankcase codes in the Reference section.

April 27, 2000

Due to some unfortunate circumstances, Brian Wagener's Type 4 web host shut down the forum. To provide this valuable resource to all of you interested in the Type 4, Brian and I teamed up and now I am hosting the site for Brian and he's running the site. If you got questions about the Type 4 engine, or just general VW questions, check out the site. I will be moderating the Type 4 forum. Hope to see you there!!

April 25, 2000

The June issue of Total VW has hit the newstands and it has the review of this site. Thanks to Chris Gough for the great review. You'll find the review on page 66 of the magazine, in the "Access All Areas" column. Like Mr. Gough states in the article, this site is designed to get you started into your journey of the Type 4.

April 8, 2000

It seems that the May issue of Total VW has gone to press with my site in it. I haven't seen the issue or the article, but I'm definitely excited. I'll keep everyone posted when I get a copy.
I'd also like to thank Brian Wagener for the two new links in the Links page. If you have any links that I don't posted here, let me know and I'll include them with the next update.

March 28, 2000

I just received an email from Total VW magazine, asking me if I would like to have my website featured in their magazine. One of the contributing editors said it would be a small article in the May issue. What else was I going to say?! I will post any news as it happens.

March 13, 2000

I've started working on a 2.0L for my Bus. When I acquired the Bus, the engine was making some quite awful noises. I had a '76 Bus that I removed the drivetrain out and gave away. So, I plan on cleaning the engine, doing a valve job on the heads, painting the engine tin and installing it in my Bus. I will be installing it with dual Weber 40 IDF carbs, Bosch 050 distributor with Pertronix electronic conversions, and a single quiet pack muffler and header. I will post some photos of it while I work on it.

March 1, 2000

I've been getting quite a few emails from other Type 4 enthusiasts. It's great to hear from you all. Many of you have been asking me about if I'm going to finish the technical articles. Well, yes I do plan on finishing them, but I've been sick lately and just haven't had the money to continue funding my research. I am feeling better now and will be working on the articles in my free time (what little money, and time, I have). I also welcome anyone to submit information to me that might assist me in getting them done.

January 7, 2000

Well, as I thought so, we did not have any problems with the whole year 2000 issue. Many people planned ahead and made sure that our server was Y2K certified and we made it through the new year without even a hiccup.

December 25, 1999

We are rapidly approaching on the new year and I hope that the new year is a turning point in the image of the Type 4 engine. The Type 1 has been the long favorite of the street and high performance crowd, and it has done so quite well, but it's shortcomings are becoming apparent. Because of the lack of knowledgable Type 4 enthusiasts, myths and lies abound uncontrollably. I will continue to do my part to encourage the use of the Type 4 and I encourage you to do the same. Tom

December 20, 1999

Like any enthusiast's car, this website is involved in a continual evolution. Right now I am working on a message forum, where you can post questions/ answers/ comments to other visitors. I will post the link when it's all done. I'm still working on writing the tech articles, but my lack of time has made that difficult. I will post a notice here when I get any done.

October 29, 1999

Well October has been a crazy month to say the least. We experienced some server problems in the beginning and it took us almost two weeks to get this site back online. I'm still working on pages here, so make sure you stop by often. Right now I'm working on a message board so visitors can posts questions and answers right here on the site. I'll make a note of it here when it's running.

September 8, 1999

I've just finished posting a new section of this site. It's a tour of the Type 4 engine and what makes it different from the Type 1. These pages are chock full of pictures, illustrating key features and distinguishing marks. The pages also show the equivalent Type 1 part, great for those of you who are familiar with the Type 1. As of right now only the crankcase and the connecting rod pages are done, but I am working on the other pages as I get appropriate pictures.

August 25, 1999

Thanks to Rolf Christensen for the picture of the engine on our homepage. He thought I might be able to use and the orange goes great with the site. The engine belongs to his friend John and currently resides in a fiberglass street racer buggy. If memory serves me right, it is a 2365cc and is driven quite a bit.

August 17, 1999

It has been a while since I updated this site, but that doesn't mean I haven't been working on it. I just came across the specifications for the GC 2.0 engine. You can read it for yourself in the Crankcase in the Reference section. I am still working on the Technical Articles, but it has been slow going. My latest endeavor for this site has been a pictorial tour of the Type 4 engine and how it compares to the Type 1 engine. I've got the crankcase page started and hope to be finished soon.

May 2, 1999

Well, I actually fell for an April Fool's joke this year. The whole "New Beetle Light" thing was a joke! It turns out that Super VW magazine played a great joke on it's readers. They pasted in pictures of a 911 to make it appear that there was indeed a new Type 4 powered, 911 fan New Beetle. It was great while it lasted!

April 24, 1999

While browsing the WWW the other night, I came across a page that referenced to the French VW magazine, Super VW. It appears to talk about a New Beetle (the watercooled variety), but this one is fitted with a 1.8L Type 4 engine in the back. The engine features Motronic EFI and an upright shroud for a 911 fan and alternator. I've included a rough translation of the article text and the scanned image of the accompanying pictures. How about that? A factory fresh, upright-converted, Type 4 engine. Am I dreaming or what?

March 30, 1999

I've gotten a lot of email lately about information I didn't have posted. I would like to thank all of those people who shared their thoughts. It's great to hear from Type 4 enthusiasts from around the world. I see this as a communal effort. We are all trying out new and fresh ideas, so if we share our experiences and knowledge, we'll better the community. Once again, if you notice something that is missing or just have a question, email me.

February 2, 1999

I've added a new page to the Reference section. It is a compilation of torque values and thread dimensions for the Type 4 engine. This information may be handy when it comes time to assemble your engine and you can't locate the proper value in your service manual. Once again, if you notice something that is missing, email me with the information.

January 25, 1999

I found a pair of manifolds for running dual Holley 5200 progressive throat carbs for a 4-bolt cylinder heads. I found them while getting some parts for my lowly Bug. Because the carbs are progressive opening butterfly valves, the carb is situated 90 degrees to the engine. This makes this dual carb setup nearly impossible for an upright conversion in a Beetle, though I suspect they could be used in a Karmann Ghia, Baja, sandrail or dunebuggy quite easily.

January 22, 1999

The new year brings a new look here at Type 4: Secrets Revealed. We hope that you find the new look appealing and easy to find your way around. This page is actually a new feature of this site. We'll post news and information to keep you informed about the Type 4. Happy New Year!