TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:05 pm

I have a used motor in my baja. The motor is a stroker, which I measure to be 2015. That doesn't sound right so I probally screwed up somewhere. Any way, I have lost compression to the point it shows up at altitude. The motor has hydraulic lifters (which I hate) and various oil leaks. My mechanic skills are average and my vw experience is shallow. My question is how much can I save by trudging through a rebuild by myself versus buying a long block from a reputable builder.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:10 pm

honestly Blu, sometimes the sum of the parts is nearly equal to the price of a professionaly built longblock... when you check into engine builders be sure to check for them in the buyer/seller feedback forum.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:44 pm

I'd rebuild it or at least take it apart and have the crank and case checked. Not sure if you can convert a case setup for hyd. lifters back to std lifters but if the case is good and you can, you'd be way ahead cost wise. You may just need a set of P&C and a valve job. You probably have a 2110 82x90.5mm. It can be a great torqey engine. A decent long block would probably cost you $2K. For about half that you could buy a case, P&Cs, bearings, lifters, cam and pushrods and oil pump. Take the remaining $800 and buy a nicely ported set of heads.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:52 pm

If you think you might build a few engines with your VW hobby then it might be worthwile to invest in the tools needed to build a VW engine. If this will be a one time deal and the only VW engine you think you will ever need, then it is cheaper to just buy a long block. You must consider the price of all the tools you will need to do the job in your decision.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 8:05 pm

vwracerdave wrote: If you think you might build a few engines with your VW hobby then it might be worthwile to invest in the tools needed to build a VW engine. If this will be a one time deal and the only VW engine you think you will ever need, then it is cheaper to just buy a long block. You must consider the price of all the tools you will need to do the job in your decision.

Very wise words

Tue Sep 02, 2008 3:16 pm

I'm in the same boat. Have my first vw with an engine that runs, has good compression, but most likely was rebuilt by the PO. Has center mounted Weber IDF dual barrel carb, .009 dizzy, and some exhaust issues. I'm afraid to drive it very far because I would like to take it apart and fix any issues rather than drive it and have to buy a new engine. Just a hobby car I would like to be able to drive around town and pass on to my kid when the time comes. No offroading for me.

I thought rebuilding the engine didn't take a slew of special tools? Also, is there a way to see how big the engine is wihout taking it apart? According to the case, it's a '71 1600 dual port.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:58 pm

It's all about personal choice. Rebuilding an engine doesn't take a slew of special tools. The tough stuff like removing the cam gear from the crank and setting the endplay can easily be done by a local shop. Aside from that, basic hand tools and a torque wrench is pretty much all thats needed. There's plenty of capabible builders and asking around will probably get you hooked up with one but I enjoy the satisfaction of doing it myself and most VW owners I've met who've done the work themselves feel the same way.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 5:59 pm

caromin wrote: It's all about personal choice. Rebuilding an engine doesn't take a slew of special tools. .

assembling an engine doesn't take special tools... building one takes some specialized tools...

Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:50 pm

Most long blocks for sale on here are "assembled engines", very few are actually built (as in bluprinted). You're right though, I am talking an assembled engine (we're talkin Blu Bug's first build/assembly here). I'm not trying to stir the pot, my only point was it not that hard. People tend to lump the building of vw engines in with other more complex (DOHC, 4V etc...) engines. Sure if you are interested in high performance motor than by all means a "built engine" is the way to go and it assembly gets very complex, that being said it's still fairly easy to assemble a reliable engine that can make decent HP and is good for 70K mi or so.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 6:58 pm

I don't necessarily agree with you(but it's all opinion or perspective, i guess :wink: )... multi cams, multi-valved engines are not difficult to "build" or in this case "assemble" there are more user adjustible settings on the vw engine whereas engines that have a true "block" require less... if the machine shop does their work correctly "building" one of those engines is a breeze, you really are just assembling.... More parts(cams, et al) doesn't equal more difficult... that said, just buying and bolting together vw parts (like is easily done with other models of engines) is done all the time... and they will run... may not run well, or as well as they *could*, but they will run... I'm of the belief that if someone isn't going to go the whole nine yards and do the measurements, math, and checking of the parts they probably would be better off buying a longblock from a builder... yep, builder... they are out there and surprisingly affordable.

Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:47 pm

There’s some excellent builders on the Samba but after some of the work I've gone in behind to fix I'm skeptical of many of the bargains you see on here. I’m no pro but some of the stuff I’ve fixed would shock you (thrust clearance of almost zero, pushrods that were 3mm different in length, significant differences in deck height etc…) I guess I don’t trust the avg. mechanic to do the right thing these days, took my truck in for tires and asked for the wheels to be torqued correctly, the rotors mysteriously warped within 2K miles. Went to take the wheels off and couldn’t break the lugs loose with a t-style lug wrench, dude had cranked ‘em down crazy tight with a air gun. Had an A/C guy out to the house to fill my system which had a slow leak. He ended up blowing up 2 sensors and a contactor and then tried to charge me $800 for the repair on a 2 year old system. Took his butt to court and got a judgment against the looser. Mostly I just do the stuff myself these days if it's at all possible.

If you got someone who knows their stuff, you trust 'em and they don't rip you off, treat 'em right.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:26 am

I say it depends on the type of person you are. I have tinkered with engines before and never rebuilt a single one. I bought a book on how to rebuild a stock vw engine. I am currently rebuilding one now. It is amazing to me how simple a vw engine is. There seems to be very little thats complicated. The book I bought gives me tons of advise, like dont pry the case apart with a screw driver. That will be where your oil leaks come from. There are tons of special tools out there. I have yet to find where I could not live with out one. I think it is simple with the book I got.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 6:50 am

caromin wrote: There’s some excellent builders on the Samba but after some of the work I've gone in behind to fix I'm skeptical of many of the bargains you see on here. I’m no pro but some of the stuff I’ve fixed would shock you (thrust clearance of almost zero, pushrods that were 3mm different in length, significant differences in deck height etc…) I guess I don’t trust the avg. mechanic to do the right thing these days,
i suffer from that also, that's why i do all my own work.

caromin wrote:
If you got someone who knows their stuff, you trust 'em and they don't rip you off, treat 'em right.
Amen, bro...

coldwellb wrote: I say it depends on the type of person you are. I have tinkered with engines before and never rebuilt a single one. I bought a book on how to rebuild a stock vw engine. I am currently rebuilding one now. It is amazing to me how simple a vw engine is. There seems to be very little thats complicated. The book I bought gives me tons of advise, like dont pry the case apart with a screw driver. That will be where your oil leaks come from. There are tons of special tools out there. I have yet to find where I could not live with out one. I think it is simple with the book I got.

I'm a firm believer that anyone that has mechanical ability, the proper tools, the desire to do it properly, and has a guide (or experience) for the proper assembly procedures can rebuild an engine properly.

Wed Sep 03, 2008 4:07 pm

coldwellb, what book are you talking about?

Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:13 pm

I believe the book coldwelb is talking about is "How to rebuild your Volkswagen air-cooled engine by Tom Wilson. That is the book I used to put together my used engine that came in baskets. If you are putting together a stock engine or want to learn the basic's this is a great book. The information I want on high performance/off-road info was not found in this book.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 6:39 am

The book is called "How to Rebuild Your Volkswagen Air-Cooled Engine by Tom Wilson". THis book is awesome. It goes over everything about rebuilding your engine to stock condition. There is not really anything about upgrading your engine. It is a red cover book with a longblock engine on the cover. With this book and a little mechanical knowledge I think a 10 year old kid could rebuild a volkswagen engine. Another book I got was the how to build a dune buggy. The one that larrys offroad sells. This book sucks dont waste your money on this one. That one on the motor though is worth 3 times the price you will pay.

Thu Sep 04, 2008 8:42 pm

Sat Sep 06, 2008 7:19 am

bugninva wrote:

Ya this is it. THis book is great. Like I said earlier though it will not give you a lot if you are going to modify your engine. But making it as good as when it came out of the factory. This book has it.