1835 German plenum FI Thing
- jzsquared
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- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
1835 German plenum FI Thing
I have been sitting on the sidelines for to long about switching to FI so I decided to take the plunge. I have always wanted to a VW that I could drive almost like a modern car in the means of starting ,performance and reliability in a Midwest climate so that's my goal.
I pulled the engine last fall to just fix some leaks , well we all know how those end up. I had the case & heads cut to 94s to install the 92 thick wall pistons with a basic w110 cam. The crank is DPR balanced German with matching flywheel from Jose that is very nicely done. The heads are stock VW with heavy duty single springs, solid rockers, real Porsche adjusters.
Since I have only book knowledge of FI I called Mario at TheDubShop to buy one of his kits for a easier installation.
The one thing I knew for sure is I wanted to run a single German plenum setup because I really liked the look of center mount plus it's only a 1835 so I didn't think I needed much more.
It all started with this one purchase off of Ebay for $20
Next it needed to be cleaned up a bit since it looked like it was under water for a while
I pulled the engine last fall to just fix some leaks , well we all know how those end up. I had the case & heads cut to 94s to install the 92 thick wall pistons with a basic w110 cam. The crank is DPR balanced German with matching flywheel from Jose that is very nicely done. The heads are stock VW with heavy duty single springs, solid rockers, real Porsche adjusters.
Since I have only book knowledge of FI I called Mario at TheDubShop to buy one of his kits for a easier installation.
The one thing I knew for sure is I wanted to run a single German plenum setup because I really liked the look of center mount plus it's only a 1835 so I didn't think I needed much more.
It all started with this one purchase off of Ebay for $20
Next it needed to be cleaned up a bit since it looked like it was under water for a while
Last edited by jzsquared on Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:26 am, edited 3 times in total.
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
1835 German plenum FI Thing
A few of the parts being installed with my Vintage Speed exhaust designed for a Thing so the tips will exit the bumper. This exhaust is really top quality and nice and quiet just what I was looking for
Manifolds needed a little port and polish to clean things up
Manifolds needed a little port and polish to clean things up
Last edited by jzsquared on Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:29 am, edited 2 times in total.
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
The engine is really coming together now I wanted the plenum to flow a little better with the manifolds instead of just a silver tube connecting them. I purchased a silicon 35mm radiator tube and installed it over the steel tube. I was going to use the tee off the bottom of the tank then changed course and added a AN6 bung to the tank. The later probably would have been fine but I like the return separate to avoid any vapor lock. I'll finish it off with a russell inline filter once that arrives.
The next part was deciding how to run the fuel lines since the stainless steel 5/16 tube came in a25' roll I replaced the feed and return running one line on each side. I tied it in on the engine with AN6 line
The next part was deciding how to run the fuel lines since the stainless steel 5/16 tube came in a25' roll I replaced the feed and return running one line on each side. I tied it in on the engine with AN6 line
Last edited by jzsquared on Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:34 am, edited 2 times in total.
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Last edited by jzsquared on Tue Mar 17, 2015 6:36 am, edited 2 times in total.
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Next I had to mount the regulator since I'm using a standard fan so off to Home Depot for a simple bracket and rivet gun.
The AN6 line I purchased is ethanol approved that I purchased from Jegs, with all the crap in Chicago fuels I wanted to make sure it will last. The hard line is Stainless and came in a 25' role so I ran new feed and return lines with one on each side. This allowed me to have only one crossover line on the engine exiting on each side of the engine.
The AN6 line I purchased is ethanol approved that I purchased from Jegs, with all the crap in Chicago fuels I wanted to make sure it will last. The hard line is Stainless and came in a 25' role so I ran new feed and return lines with one on each side. This allowed me to have only one crossover line on the engine exiting on each side of the engine.
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Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
110 cam is way too much for the stock plenum and a smooth idle.
Very clean work!
Very clean work!
Steve
My Baja Build
My Baja Build
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Hopefully I will be able to get it to idle ok , to far along to pull it all back apart.Steve Arndt wrote:110 cam is way too much for the stock plenum and a smooth idle.
Very clean work!
I finally received my Russell fuel filter today so I ran the last hose leaving it long enough to easy lift the tank up to change the filter down the road. I also ran the pump wiring to finish up under there
- jzsquared
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- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
I had a few things arrive in the mail today woohoo. I used double sided tape to mount the relay board to make sure I like it here. One thing I know for sure is I want all the electronics in the engine compartment since its a convertible. I don't want to worry if get caught in a heavy rain that I need to worry about a short somewhere. The airfilter mounts were a great spot to mount the coils. I'm running the LS2 coils instead of wasted spark look out corvette owners
I had to mark the 2 yellow wires to make sure I routed the O2 and tach wires correctly I need to buy more colors.
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- jzsquared
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- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Time to stop looking at the engine on the stand and put her back in the car.
The manifolds are a little wider than stock but not enough to cause issues installing.
I did have to remove the fuel regular since it kept getting caught on the engine seal
I bolted a piece of metal to my old HF motorcycle jack and slid
the engine from the lift table to the jack
After fighting with the engine for 20 minutes because it wouldn't go all the way
in my old age kicked in and said relax take it back out and figure it out.
Rookie mistake the Kennedy clutch has a center piece only used on the older transmissions.
So off it came and wow it fits
fuel line installed
Air temp sensor
Engine temp sensor
I think I picked a good spot for the relay board,
still need a little tiding up but it is tucked away but accessible
Been a long day time to sit back relax and have a cold one
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Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
any updates?
70, 74 beetle, 81 Chenowth, 66 Fastback, 83GTI, 85GTI, 02 GTI, 72 Std Beetle
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Yes, never got it to run right. Idle was horrible no matter what I tried. I was such a frustrating experience that it completely took the joy out of owning it.
Sold it now own a jeep.
Sold it now own a jeep.
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Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Steve Arndt wrote:110 cam is way too much for the stock plenum and a smooth idle.
Very clean work!
Damn, had a feeling.
Steve
My Baja Build
My Baja Build
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Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
You should have just built a T intake with 1 5/8ths inch tubing to the endpieces and used the stock TB.
I hated the German plenum due to the complicated linkage for the throttle. It would never work smooth for me.
I just built my own and have not regretted it in the two years I've been running it.
I hated the German plenum due to the complicated linkage for the throttle. It would never work smooth for me.
I just built my own and have not regretted it in the two years I've been running it.
Stripped66 wrote:The point wasn't to argue air temps with the current world record holder, but to dispel the claim that the K03 is wrapped up at 150 HP. It's not.
- jzsquared
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2014 4:36 pm
Re: 1835 German plenum FI Thing
Had nothing to do with either one of the guesses above. The issue was with the programming. If I ever buy another VW I'll stick with carbs