I don't really want to and my 2 cents but i am going to anyways. IMO the type four has a very stout lower end, And the engines produce tons of torque. Working at an independent shop in my early years the most we did was replace P&C's for burnt pistons and cylinder heads for burnt valves and dropped seats. I thought the engine in a lighter car would be nice,but I never had a desire to run one in my type one as i new i was a guy that needed an engine that could spins some rpms and i was not (at that point in time) willing to invest in the components to achieve this.
I had no problem installing the VW in line four cylinder because i new this engine was bullet proof with my driving style. I.E... W.O.T. And it was not going to need many high performance parts to achieve the reliability and RPM's i like to see.
I don't want to repeat myself too much so i will try to sum it up and attach a link for the Question for BOB thread.
For me it and for most people that want to go fast its about.... WHAT CAN YOU AFFORD.
I felt i could get more bang for my buck at the time and i still feel that way.
The motor i installed makes about 140hp and i have about $2,500 into it including the carbs. Now could i have done that with a type one... maybe. But could i have beat on it a whole year.. let the engine sit for five years and then decide to get it running again and beat on it another hole year without doing ANYTHING except changing the oil. I doubt it but Maybe. But i have not removed the V/C since 2002.
So Back to Brian's original question it just seems "WRONG"
Maybe its wrong to him to put an alternative engine in his car but i have no issue with it what so ever. My car was not a rare split window.. Its just a 66 bug. So why is that so wrong?
IMO putting on widened rear fiberglass fenders on a type one is just "WRONG" but that's my OPINION and we are entitled to our own.
Plus everyone is different in this world so there are going to be some people thinking outside the box and doing and trying different things, engines, trannies, paint,suspension. Its all part of LIFE.
I would only see it is really wrong if its not a VW engine.
http://ultimateaircooled.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=1534.0