Just to resurrect my puma from the dead
This seems to be one of those forever projects. There were two Puma kit engines imported to SA back when these cars were built to test the water. Puma in brazil were basically racing verskrik and you could buy almost anything from dry sump kits to close ratio gears from the factory, there was even a "Spartano' version for racing which had thinner fiberglass and a host of racing features. these were raced with some success at the tracks notably Interlagos in Sao Paulo.
Over the years I found a few bits and eventually had enough to build my own Puma Kit engine.
Nic found the oil tank in a stash of parts.
Rui imported the pump which interestingly seems to be identical to the original dry sump oil pump. He also found a Reslit dizzy as this was also part of the Puma Kit. He also supplied the swivel foots and the cro moly pushrods
A 94mm big bore kit was found (the originals had 92mm but I felt more comfortable with the thicker sleeves)
A WBX 76.4 stroker crank was used instead of the 78.4mm crank as original this had the effect of keeping the displacement of 2.1 liters as original
Bugger found a NOS Brazilian camshaft marked P$ which was the Puma racing cam as used on the track I had to have it.
two NOS twinport heads were sent to SAC for custom 40mmx 35.5 valves and a full port and polish (I wanted to see how the pros does things)
This sticker was added to the Pumas sporting the kits as these were also sold for beetles brazilias etc they were quite the rage at the time
Clearancing the case
Pushrods
swivel Feet
The famous cam
Dual thrust cam bearings bought in 2004 whilst on holiday in Sao Paulo
Resolit dizzy
Okrasa crankshaft
Final assembly
Conrod bolts were replaced with Golf Diesel bolts (supposedly stronger and a direct fit)
Manifolds had to be welded up to be match ported
Intake ports real 70's style
I made custom longer Impi pushrod tubes to cater for the barrel spacers
The manifolds are for 40mm Puma solex carbs which later became Kadron Note the Puma kit number (this technically means that all first run SA Pumas came from the factory Puma Kit equipped as these carbs were an Option in Brazil where the 32/34 solexes were std as used in the SA built SP Beetle. I have never seen the stickers here though.
I also found some original factory blueprints and have taken some photos, these detail the casing, conrod and port modifications (dated 1972/3 and drawn in Brazil)
I apologise for the poor photos but these are very faded.
The engine is essentially complete but the dry sump pump interferes with the exhaust and some plan needs to be made?
Armand
It was a right royal mess working with the stuff.
