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Wed Sep 17, 2008 6:33 am

Hi,

Took apart my 1700 out of my '72 bus. This is a stock engine with low miles. It had shims under the cylinders, but I lost one. I would like to put it back together the same way, but I don't know what shim to use. If I put the piston at top dead center and tighten down the barrel, how much space should I have between the top of the piston and the top of the cylinder? Stock heads with head gaskets. Not looking to do anything fancy just want to make it run good and last a long time. No need for extra power.

Thanks

Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:06 am

Toss the heads gaskets as per the VW Service article... install all new base gaskets that should be in your gasket set. you are using new gaskets?

Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:11 am

Yes, I'm using new gaskets. Are you saying just put base gaskets on and no spacer shims? What about deck height?

Wed Sep 17, 2008 7:41 am

install the base shim, cylinder, bolt it down somehow and check it using a dial indicator or feeler gauges. It should be between .040 and .060"

Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:02 am

I like old wrist pins and a head washer on the long cylinder studs as spacers and a 1/2" socket and head washer for the short ones. Nice and neat. If you use a digital caliper with a depth gauge, be sure to clamp a straight edge across the top of the cylinder to be sure it's plumb. It only takes a minor angle to radically change the reading on the caliper. The plain old feeler gauges are probably easier.

Wed Sep 17, 2008 8:35 am

O.K. pardon my stupidity... let me see if I have this right. Take out the head gaskets (use valve grinding compound to lap the top of cylinders into head), tighten down the cylinder with a flat edge across the top... put piston at TDC and measure distance between top of piston and flat edge with a feeler gauge. Should be between .040 and .060"... add spacers accordingly.

Thanks for your help guys.

Wed Sep 17, 2008 9:17 am

Yep. if you don't already have the rings on the pistons, it will obviously be easier to slip the cylinders off and put in the right spacer. If not, just be careful to oil up the rings and cylinders each time you have to remove them, and don't forget to set the spaces in the rings about 120* apart... I know you know that....so did I. Oh yeah... and the circlips... I only had to take ONE off to put in the stinking circlip after I put the piston back in the cylinder... only one. :lol: