TheSamba.com :: View topic - Camper Special Rebuild Thread (Solexes@hotmail.com)

Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:17 pm

Here was my first turn of the key on my camper special engine run, took about 3 seconds for fuel to get into the lines and Bam she fired up! I almost crapped myself having to let the engine rev for 20 minutes at 2500rpm's. I was waiting for something to catch fire or start leaking. Everything went just fine however. This video is shortened and shows the startup and the part of the breakin where you gradually accel and decel to adapt the rings!

http://www.charlesgittings.com/Bus/Camper%20Special%20Rebuild%20Cont...html

Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:41 pm

Am I missing something here? Is this engine still not running in the bus, Solexes? Or did it run for a while then break.. or what?

Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:33 pm

Hey IFB!!!

To allay your fears, the bus is running fine. I experienced a "brain dump" one day and shorted my FI system. Thank GOD I had not installed my Mallory at that point. I was also experiencing problems with my fuel system. An inspection revealed a small slightly magnetic piece of metal partialy blocking the fuel inlet.

Actualy the last two weeks have caused some great leaps forward.

I fixed the FI system (another thread details this) and installed the mallory. I don't know if it was me or what - but for the first few miles, the mallory seemed to be no better than the 009. But - then all of a sudden - the power has been amazing!

I stopped by obie's and we swapped the fiberglass top with an extra he had (mine had BIG cracks) and ever since - the bus has had MONDO power!

There are two issues I'm still experiencing problems - and they have NOTHING to do with the Camper Special setup itself...

One is due to quality of parts. I have a tangerine header which I got from a fellow samba member for free. Well - I am NOT blaming the person who gave the header to me - but frankly, its crap. I've had two broken welds. The thing sounds like a lawnmower, so I have NOT been able to take the bus on long trips for fear of heat problems.

The second is the FI.

This has more to do with my own learning curve than anything. I know I've stated time and time again the FI system is dependant on vaccuum - but I think I finaly found a cause to some lean running.

I spotted on Ratwell's page that if you take off the oil filler cap - you should notice a difference in idle. I don't. I also don't suffer a reduction in idle due to the dipstick being removed.

I also am using my original oil-breather hose going to the FI system.

Now - the oil-breather hose goes between the throttle body, and the AFM. I noticed that pulling this hose causes the engine to die. IE - vaccum before AFM causing a crap-out.

I've been thinking about this - and in reality the FI is dependant on case pressure. What about just installing a breather box, and bypassing the crank case pressure out of the equasion. Will I be setting myself up for failure? It just seems silly to have the FI dependant on something that will increasingly leak as the engine wears.

Thoughts?

Thu Feb 14, 2008 4:21 am

Quote: One is due to quality of parts. I have a tangerine header which I got from a fellow samba member for free.

I doubt thats a Tangerine header... Thats because the ONLY header Tangerine has ever made for a Bus in in my lab right now. Might want to clarify that.

Thu Feb 14, 2008 11:32 am

solexes@hotmail.com wrote: The second is the FI.

This has more to do with my own learning curve than anything. I know I've stated time and time again the FI system is dependant on vaccuum - but I think I finaly found a cause to some lean running.

I spotted on Ratwell's page that if you take off the oil filler cap - you should notice a difference in idle. I don't. I also don't suffer a reduction in idle due to the dipstick being removed.

I also am using my original oil-breather hose going to the FI system.

Now - the oil-breather hose goes between the throttle body, and the AFM. I noticed that pulling this hose causes the engine to die. IE - vaccum before AFM causing a crap-out.

I've been thinking about this - and in reality the FI is dependant on case pressure. What about just installing a breather box, and bypassing the crank case pressure out of the equasion. Will I be setting myself up for failure? It just seems silly to have the FI dependant on something that will increasingly leak as the engine wears.

Thoughts?

That's one way to think of it, but it's more a case of VW using intake vacuum to power the breather system. In the carbureted motors, that vacuum comes from the air filter, well above any item that meters air and fuel. In your FI truck, they put the connection BETWEEN the AFM and the throttle body. In D-jet motors (411, 914) IIRC the vacuum connection is directly to the plenum.

If you think it's going to be a problem, you can restrict the flow from the breather by putting some sort of small orifice in the line.

To learn more about T4 breathing than you want to know, check out raygreenwood or piledriver's posts over to the STF.

Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:09 pm

Quote: I doubt thats a Tangerine header... Thats because the ONLY header Tangerine has ever made for a Bus in in my lab right now. Might want to clarify that.

Hrm :? Then I wonder what I have. It was a gift....it will more than likely be going the way of the scrap pile due to quality. The muffler was Thunderbird though....

Sorry about that Jake....no matter - as soon as the specs go out - I'll be looking in my wallet to make the change over....to your new system.

Wed Apr 23, 2008 12:53 am

Hey folks!

Well - I am approaching the 6000 mile mark in under a year. This bus has been AMAZING - and I don't even have it dialed in 100%. Mostly I have to replace the exhaust system as I think the 78 system is just not up to it. Too restrictive. My power is good - but I am seeing slightly high temps at 370 at 70. Would LOVE to get em down a bit. So I'm going to go with the 4-1 soon here.

The bus performs FAR superior to any other VW - and sometimes I forget it's a VW. The FI is flawless. After I ironed out a few of the kinks in the system (breather hose, metal thingy in the gas tank covering the inlet pipe) I have YET to have a problem with it - and I have NOT been stranded.

The CS is a superior engine. I can pull hills with ease - even the 6% grade into Bisbee at 60mph in 3rd is no problem. I cruise at a steady 65-75 most days and can hit 80-85 if need be. Mostly cruist 75 (and a little over ;-) on I 10 to Tucson.

She has YET to miss a beat - and runs great. Will have results of first 6k valve tune after the initial and post-breakin valve tune as well as oil change.

Upgrade plans include:
Install 02 bung to tune in with LM1 (current tune is DARNED close - getting 22mpg)
Install 72-75 Heater Boxes, tin, and 4-1 Exhaust.

ANYONE who has hesitated on the CS - fear not - probably the best running VW I have ever had.

Wed Apr 23, 2008 6:53 am

370@70 isn't bad at all, you'd be at or over 400 with the stock engine more than likely!

Glad to see that the CS still makes you happy after 6K miles... The engine probably drives better and makes more power than it did when it was just a few miles from being brand new.

And the best part is that you assembled it yourself!

Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:26 am

Hey Jake!

Yah - I guess 370 at 70 isn't bad - but I'd like to tune it better. The engine seems to WANT to do more - but the exhaust sounds strained. I can tell that with a better exhaust it would do even better!

You're right - now that it has some miles on it - the power is even better than when it was new - and when it was new it was stronger than stock. I pull hills with ease - in third - rarely dropping to 2nd. The high end is smooth as silk.

What gets me on this engine is the powerband. I may not have 200hp - but the 92hp I do have is continuous through the RPMs (or so it seems). I can be pulling away and "lift" the front if I tromp it - and even can pull away quickly at 55 in 4th.

The "sweet spot" on this engine with the gearing is 65-75. It feels "right" in there. The hard part is to keep it on the lower eng (65-70) in the 55 zones around here. LOL.

The education I got out of Raby University is far better than any other education I've had. I know what is in the engine, how it goes together, and why. Thats more peace of mind than anything.

But in the end Mr. Raby's kits are amazing - quality pieces of art. The result when you drive is just phenomenal - especially once it's broken in.

More after the oil change and tune...

Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:29 pm

Quote: The education I got out of Raby University is far better than any other education I've had.
Don't you have a degree or something???LOL

Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:32 pm

ROFL - yes - and walking for my masters in two weeks - then it's on to the Doctorate in Business lol ;-)

Never stop until you can't do anymore - and if you can't do anything push harder - you aint trying enough! :lol:

Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:47 pm

Cool, Come to my engine building workshop this fall and get another degree!!! The best thousand bucks you can spend!!!

Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:49 pm

ROFL - currently my employer pays for the degrees - but it sure is tempting - what type of degree are you offering? One in "Non-Convential Thinking" or "Breaking the laws of VW Physics?"

Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:52 pm

I was gonna teach people how to be "Ultimate assholes"...LOL

No, its a workshop on the manipulation of the Type 4 engine.

Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:59 am

*10,000 Mile Update*

Hey Folks!

I know this thread is old, but I'm posting here to keep everything in-line and copesetic when it comes to TheSamba Searches.

As of yesterday afternoon, I hit the 10k mark on my camper special. About 1k miles prior (last weekend) I changed the oil for the third time. Clean as a whistle! The valves? Needed NO adjustment. Granted I double checked them less than 2k prior just in case.

The only issue I've had is pinched push rod tube seals - but thats a "mybad" and not a Raby problem.

As some of you may remember, back in August I went to full time VW. Shortly after, my beetle lost compression in #2 - and lost a valve. So I've been driving the bus constantly. I live 30 miles from work - so it's a 30 mile drive in - and 30 miles home.

Friday I drove 220 miles to a friend's house in Phoenix for a holiday party and home yesterday (Sat) - for a total of 440 miles in two days.

On the way home i kept her under 70 as the wind was atrocious. I was NOT the only one doing this. It was the first time I've seen truckers keep their rigs around 60 mph before. Worst wind on I-10 I've seen in 20 years of driving. Several overloaded pickups lost their loads on the highway.

But I digress...

It seems as if the engine continues to break in. The power band, if anything, seems to expand as I drive it. Maybe I'm just getting more and more used to it - but for sure she runs sweet. The large pull up into the hills after Casa Grande in my 71 was a long effort kept down to 50 in 3rd because of the length of this hill --- in the 78 I pulled 75-80 easy in 4th with plenty of throttle left. I do have a CB radio in the bus now - and listen to the truckers talk about the traffic. On the way up that hill I passed a trucker doing around 65 or 70 --- I heard him exclaim "D@mn! Some old hippy van just passed me like a bat out of hell! He must have a v8 in that thing."

Most drivers in Phoenix would see the westy and pull ahead on purpose - only to "drop back" in speed - and I'd have to pull around them - and ahead of them. Eventually they'd get the message that I could keep up and would leave me alone.

So how do I feel about the Raby Camper Special so far?

Confident.

Thats the only word I can say. I feel confidence in it's reliability, and confidence in my ability to keep up and not be a danger to others on the freeway. I no longer "putter along" at 55 on the interstate in the slow lane. instead I can keep a safe 75 and push to 80 or more should I need to.

Best money spent ever....

Sun Dec 14, 2008 11:05 am

solexes@hotmail.com wrote: heard him exclaim "D@mn! Some old hippy van just passed me like a bat out of hell! He must have a v8 in that thing."

:lol:

Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:13 pm

Glad to hear that at 10K miles you are as happy as you were the first time you drove it...

And the best part is that YOU built it!

Make sure you post the updates over on my forums as well.. :-)

Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:39 pm

solexes@hotmail.com wrote: *10,000 Mile Update*
Nice! But that took you forever :) 10K miles took me 50 days, but it's now hibernating so you have time to catch up. Total so far is 12,5K. ROAR!

Sun Dec 14, 2008 4:46 pm

and those were some seriously harsh miles!!! Congrats!

The CS has become our best selling engine kit, surpassing that of even our higher HP conversion engines...

Mon Dec 15, 2008 8:04 am

Jake - thats because we bus people are SERIOUSLY devoted to our busses and want to pamper them. I mean - who in their RIGHT mind would drive something that has all the aerodynamics of a twinky?

Yah - those 10k were long in coming - mostly because I still drove modern for most of that. As of RIGHT NOW - I own only two cars. A 1962 Beetle, and the 78 Westy. The westy is driven to work daily right now as the beetle is under repairs on its little 1200.

What an extreme difference eh?

40hp beetle
78 CS Westy