<VV> Head Temps: New thoughts

[Stu Padazzo]

Along with a '66 Monza 140 convertible, I also own a 78 VW Super Beetle with a stroked and "big bored" VW type I engine. After many terrible bouts of overheating with the 140 for years I naturally feared the same with this "hefty"-ish engine I had in the Beetle. (AND STOP right now if you're going to respond with "Beetle engines and Corvair engines are different.  Otherwise, there might be a little piece of mind in what follows)

I went to my local VW speed shop with the intent of buying this super expensive, hi-tech head temp gauge I had heard so much about.  While I was there the 30 year master technicial asked me a few enlightening questions.  I went something like this:

Tech: "Why do you need to know the head temp?"
Me: "So I know if and when I'm overheating."

Tech: "How would you know if you're overheating?"
Me: "Well, I imagine the gauge would tell me."

Tech: "What temp is overheating?"
Me: "Ummm, I... don't... know.  I was hoping you could tell me that. What is considered overheating?"

Tech: "You're really making this a bigger issue than it needs to be?
Me: "What do you mean?"

Tech: "Every single aircooled engine these days is built ever so slightly different than the one next to it. Even if it's stock it isn't going to run the same temp as the stock one next to it.  And a modded engine isn't going to run anything like the stockers.  Even modern stock aftermarket parts make your stock engine run differently.  So what are you going to do with the numbers you see from this gauge?
Me: "So, don't you even have a 'range' that it's supposed to be in?"

Tech: "Does it run fine?"
Me: Yeah, I guess"

Tech: "Then go enjoy it and quit worrying about ambiguous 'temp' numbers."
Me: OK.

And I did, with both the Corvair AND the Beetle and I've been MUCH happier ever since.

Chris C - now in MI.
I miss my 61 Greenb and my 63 Rampy RV
Thanks for all the help in Texas Mark!