TheSamba.com :: View topic - One last question before starting her up UPDATE: IT STARTED

Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:22 am

Below are photos of the engine compartment of the ’71 Fastback I towed off my mechanic’s lot two years ago yesterday. It had been sitting since probably 1999 or 2000. It has taken me awhile (too long: life, kids, the Ghia, legislation, sigh) to go through a bunch of simple things, but I am finally ready to turn the key. The first photo is the engine compartment the day I had it towed home; the second photo is of it just before I go to start her up. For Russ and all the other experts whose advice has been so helpful, I have one last question at the bottom.

And by the way, here’s the list of everything I did to add to the pool of posts about starting a long-sitting engine:

* Pulled out the gas tank, used a cleaning kit on it, including a sealer.
* Replaced the fuel sending unit (didn't see much point putting the old, nasty one back in).
* Changed the internal screen on the tank.
* Replaced ALL the fuel lines and put on a new fuel filter (Hastings GF2 has been ordered; I mirrored the original set up just for this ‘experiment’).
* Replaced all the smog hoses.

* Pulled and replaced the spark plugs.
* Dumped some Marvel's Mystery Oil into the cylinders.
* Replaced the spark plugs wires.
* Replaced the points, rotor and distributor cap.
* Replaced the coil.
* Replaced the generator belt.
* Set the timing with a test light.

* Replaced the air intake bellows.
* Replaced the air cleaner on the carb.
* Cleaned out the carb.

* Drained the oil and refilled with Rotella T.
* Changed the valve covers and gaskets.
* Adjusted the valves.

I’ll turn it over a few times without the plugs in. Then the plugs go in and away we go.

Last question: Should I have my wife hold the video camera or the fire extinguisher?

Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:26 am

Have a fire extinguisher handy, and start it outdoors. Have her hold the camera, with the sound turned on.
You cleaned up tha engine compartment nice. Good job. Too bad it is a progressive carb.

Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:31 am

Interesting that the injectors are still in the car after a carb conversion.... Good luck on starting it. If it were mine - I'd convert it to dual solex's

LEs

Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:39 am

They plug the holes in the manifold.
I have a manifold here that has the holes welded shut.

Mon Aug 18, 2008 8:40 am

Thanks Russ for all your help. It is outside, and the fire extinguisher was nearby when I hooked up the battery and turned the key this morning.

I will replace the progressive carb with dual carbs, but I wanted to see if I could get her running and then rolling before I made any serious upgrades.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 11:54 am

So I started it this morning. I turned it over without the spark plugs. Flywheel and belt spun. Gas started to flow. Feeling positive.

I put the spark plugs in, shot some starter fluid down the carb throat and cranked it. I cranked it and cranked it. But it just didn’t feel like it was getting any spark.

So I got out and looked over everything (the wife got a nice photo of me ponderously staring at the engine). Lo and behold, the lead from the coil to the condenser had fallen off. I hooked it back up and … we have spark. It started. Very, very loud. Backfiring like the mortar reports from a fireworks show. I wasn’t really able to get it to hold anything close to an idle. When I eased back, it started backfiring again. The car shook pretty violently as well. After a few minutes of that, I decided it was time to call it a day and leave diagnosing to another day. I had accomplished the minimum.

I shot my work a quick Blackberry to let them know I was running late, due in large part to the difficulty of trying to get a spark plug in the #4 cylinder.

And then it hit me. #-o ](*,) #-o I had the cylinders flipped on the distributor. I somehow got my mind locked into thinking the forward left cylinder was #4. It was firing (or trying to fire) 1-3-4-2.

I literally ran through my house and out the door. I changed #3 and #4 on the distributor and tried again. It fired right up and ran fairly smoothly. It didn’t quite achieve a stable idle, but it was close. It sounded like a big, loud lawnmower. The exhaust probably has a thousand little rust holes (is it worth replacing it fairly quickly because it will make it that much more difficult to get it running smoothly with it sounding so crazy loud?). Underneath all that noise was the beautiful sound of a VW engine.

It is running. While I could just kick myself over and over again for make such a complete and total rookie mistake :oops: , it is running. Now I can get to work on getting it rolling.

One step closer to some future Type 3 Invasion.

Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:17 pm

Congratulations! =D> All of us make mistakes, even the experts.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:08 am

Congradulations.
That is a good feeling even for us old timers. To have an engine fire up for the first time.
It is a wonderful feeling after all the work.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:05 am

Hearing it come rumbling to life was pretty amazing. Reading the manuals, reading the posts, and watching the BugMe Videos is one thing. Actually having it running in my driveway is another. Wow. \:D/

So would anyone care to give me the checklist of things I need to do before putting it in gear, letting off the clutch, and then stepping on the brake? [-o< Replace all the soft brake lines? Replace the metal ones as well? Lube everything? Again, we've been sitting for about 8 years. It was abandoned for a reason, I just don't know what that reason was. Given that nothing appears to be drastically wrong with the engine, I need to figure out where problems may lie.

Appreciate all the input as always.

Thu Aug 21, 2008 10:22 am

Put it in gear and see if it goes forward/reverse while testing the brakes! That's how you'll learn what's next?