Ok, you have an early 59 which is correct with the standard 36hp and split case tranny. My panel van is a relatively early 60 model, build date 12/04/59 which has the stock tunnel case: essentially the same gearing as your split case except the tunnel has a synchro first gear, and I am running a stock facory replacement engine for the bastard 40. So essentially I have the same horsepower and gearing that you have. It drives nice, is original, is a blast to drive around town, and nice to do cruises like in Fredericksburg. However, it ain't no highway cruiser and I wouldn't want to drive it on a super long drive, like a couple of hundred miles, and it will never be on a freeway. Top speed about 56-57, accelerates like a turtle, and you do lots of rowing with gear shift lever when in hills. If you want a fast highway cruiser you need to do something like what Paul or Denis have. It just depends on what you want: Original, sled ride, go slow, go fast, etc. --- On Wed, 9/9/09, James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2009, 9:04 AM Build date:Nov, 11th 1958. So is anyone running a 36 hp/split case/6 volt Bus? Do I get extra points for suffering all the way to Fredrickburg? Or do the judges not care so much? Rancho is already working on the rebuild of the splt case as far as I know - should I put the kybosh on it today? --- On Tue, 9/8/09, sammie smith <bugcollections@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: sammie smith <bugcollections@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tcb] Re: What size engine for the '59? To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 9:35 PM What's the build date and/or vin on the 59? Later 59s had the "bastard" 40 though still were actually only 36hp. If the bus had the split case tranny originally it is a pre-bastard 59 and has the standard 36hp engine. A 36 with a split case tranny is only gonna max out speed at about 55. Not for driving on the highway unless you plan on cruising no more than 50. If you go to a much bigger engine you are probably going to have to go to a later big nut tranny to get much benefit out of it in the way of cruising speed. --- On Tue, 9/8/09, James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: From: James Dwan <james_dwan_2000@xxxxxxxxx> Subject: [tcb] What size engine for the '59? To: tcb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Date: Tuesday, September 8, 2009, 7:46 PM I just got off the phone with Ronnie in AZ. I ordered my belly pans and bumpers and we discussed the kind of engine I'd be putting in the Bus. I told him I'd like to stay as close to stock as possible. I plan on using the split case tranny and was thinking of rebuilding the engine that came with it (not original). He said that a 36 horse with counter weighted crank and increased compression ratio could be a nice runner. 3600 RPM all day long. The one in there now is a single port but that's all I know about it. Even though I have a "Slow Moving Vehicle" magnetic sticker for the back, the thought of only going 50mph scares me. Thoughts? Thanks!