1600cc Barrel And Piston Kit - 85.5mm Bore Type 1 Engines

Restore lost compression, power and reliability with this complete 85.5mm barrel and piston kit, designed for all 1600cc Type 1-based aircooled VW engines. This good quality aftermarket kit uses cast aluminium pistons and precision-machined barrels, making it ideal for stock rebuilds and everyday use.

The piston and cylinder assembly is at the heart of your engine’s performance. As the piston moves up and down inside the barrel, it compresses the air/fuel mixture before ignition. Over time, wear in the pistons, rings and cylinders leads to loss of compression, reduced power, oil consumption and poor running. Replacing these components restores proper sealing, improves combustion efficiency and brings the engine back to life.

This kit is manufactured to standard dimensions (85.5mm), ensuring correct fitment on original 1600cc engines without machining. The supplied piston rings create the seal between piston and cylinder wall, while the gudgeon pins connect the pistons to the con rods, allowing smooth operation under load.

Specifications

• Piston size: 85.5mm
• Engine size: 1600cc
• Piston type: Cast aluminium
• Quality: Good quality aftermarket
• Quantity: Complete set for one engine

Kit Includes

• 4 x Barrels (cylinders)
• 4 x Pistons
• 4 x Gudgeon pins
• 8 x Circlips
• Full set of piston rings

Recommended Additional Parts

• Engine gasket set (top end or full rebuild)
• Main, big end and cam bearings
• Cylinder head nuts/studs
• Pushrod tube seals
• Oil pump and seals
• Torque wrench and ring compressor for correct installation

To Fit

Aircooled VW

• VW Beetle (Type 1) – 1600cc engines (1968–1979)
• VW Splitscreen (T1) – 1600cc conversions (1963–1967)
• VW Baywindow (T2) – 1600cc engines (1968–1979)
• VW Karmann Ghia – 1600cc engines (1968–1974)
• VW Type 3 – 1600cc engines (1968–1973)
• VW Type 181 Trekker – 1600cc engines (1968–1983)
• VW Buggy / Baja – 1600cc Type 1 based engines