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Mon Nov 30, 2009 12:35 pm

So its been over a week since I picked up my first oval and I'm still giddy! 1957 ragtop I affectionately call "Herman". He's rusty and crusty but overall a solid bug just begging to be restored! Correct 4 tab hood, W Lid, solid OG Bullets, and standard rust that goes along with the program --- pans, front and rear apron, pass quarter, etc.

I drove 2600+ miles (round trip) from Maryland to South Dakota to pick him up. He's named Herman since he seemed to develop a personality after looking at him 4000+ times in the rearview.

I picked up an engine last week and started the teardown but man super rusty and I'm hoping PB Blaster can get these Pistons/Cylinders off the engine, heads came off ok. Going with a stock 36hp rebuild and the car will be repainted the stock black with red interior.

Thanks again Ryan!

At the shop in South Dakota:

Herman at the German Haus in WI:

Herman visits the Mississippi (in the background):

Home in Maryland(sweet an un-cut dash):

Herman meets the wife: (so far no quarrels :wink: )

Herman gets a quick decklid spray and taillight relocation (its amazing what inspiration can come from 2 beers!)

Heart transplant: (in progress, may need internal parts for 36hp if anyone can offer any advice/where to look)

Goodies:

Rearview Mirror:
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Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:32 pm

Pretty exciting, I know the feeling. Good luck with the resto and keep us posted.

Mon Nov 30, 2009 1:51 pm

So I managed to carefully break off one of the cylinders but the piston still won't budge. Pistons/Cylinders are junk and gonna be replaced anyway I just have to be careful not to damage the case.

Crazy thought -- could I use an air chisel (carefully) to break away the cylinders? I was thinking the movement alone might help?

Mon Nov 30, 2009 2:24 pm

The pistons are an alloy, just chisel away the top of the piston until just the wrist pin is left there. You could also heat the cylinder with a torch to expand it and release the rings but keep in mind that IF you ignite the case, you are in for an experience!! It will be a fire you cannot put out!

Dave

Mon Nov 30, 2009 4:15 pm

Sweet car, the rag is awesome. We are about at the same spot with our motors. Keep us posted.

Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:07 am

Congrats, that is a very nice car! I recall being excited when I got my oval, it was a lot like a relationship that leads to marriage actually. At first I was so anxious to pick her up and meet her and then I could not wait to get her home and introduce her to the family and such.

After a while she just sat around and didn't do much really...wouldn't help with any chores and when I wanted to do something she would usually refuse. Then the closer we became the more we started fighting one another. Yep, the honeymoon is over and the new has worn off but I swear I still love her just the same. :lol:

Seriously though very nice car, good luck and keep us posted on the progress.

Tue Dec 01, 2009 5:27 am

sonicjagstang wrote: Congrats, that is a very nice car! I recall being excited when I got my oval, it was a lot like a relationship that leads to marriage actually. At first I so anxious to pick her up and meet her and then I could not wait to get her home and introduce her to the family and such.

After a while she just sat around and didn't do much really...wouldn't help with any chores and when I wanted to do something she would usually refuse. Then the closer we became the more we started fighting one another. Yep, the honeymoon is over and the new has worn off but I swear I still love her just the same. :lol:

Seriously though very nice car, good luck and keep us posted on the progress.

Hah too funny! I am definitely still in the honeymoon stage. All I want to do is spend money! Main focus right now is the engine. Once thats sorted I am going to take the body off and get the chassis in order. My goal is to finish the engine and chassis this winter and still remain married lol.

Thanks for the compliments! My non-vw friends think I've lost my mind.

Tue Dec 01, 2009 10:05 am

Nice to have another black oval in our Maryland community!
Here's mine;

As for your cylinders, I wouldn't break out the air tools just yet. Thats a bit harsh! And those pistons might be reusable!

Keep at it with the penetrating oil. Maybe even roll the engine up on one side and put a half inch of penetrating oil on top of the cylinder and let it soak for a while.

Try the breaker bar on the crank pully. If you work in small steps, they will come loose! you just have to be patient.

Wed Dec 02, 2009 4:41 am

Here is one thing I have used in the past... you can try either a can of coke a cola or if you know anyone in the restaurant business get a small amount of the syrup used to make coke ..you know the stuff in the fountain pop. It works great
It is a little disturbing to see how well it works..I wonder what it does to ones stomach

Tom

Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:33 am

Thanks guys for the advice, man it really makes you wonder about coke. The pistons are super rusty and crusty so they are definitely getting replaced when I do the rebuild. I found this kit in WW:

http://www.wolfsburgwest.com/cart/DetailsList.cfm?ID=111198057

I called the local veedub specialist and he said its ok to break away the cylinders until you can get to the pins as long as you are careful/deliberate not to damage the case, so I think I am going to go that route.

The heads are actually not bad so I am going to have them machined and hopefully the crank is ok. The engine only cost $100 locally so I don't mind putting some new components on it.

Wed Dec 02, 2009 5:35 am

drscope wrote: Nice to have another black oval in our Maryland community!

Sweet oval! Are you in Baltimore or a suburb of Baltimore? Maybe someday I will get this car done and we can cruise! If things move fast I give it a year to a year and a half.

Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:20 am

Forget the Coke thing, its a myth.

Kroil is my favorite.

Wed Dec 02, 2009 7:21 am

I'm in Catonsville.

I still wouldn't try breaking the cylindres away! The case is VERY soft! And it's really difficult to NOT damage it when you start banging on things.

And maybe the cylinders are rusty and crusty, but not the pistons. They are aluminum.

The pistons might be able to be saved and even really bad cylinders sometimes can be saved.

Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:34 pm

Wow, didn't think you'd go that far for a rag! Beats the hell outa that other local one you were looking at last time we talked!

Thu Dec 03, 2009 10:49 pm

ratlook63 wrote: Wow, didn't think you'd go that far for a rag! Beats the hell outa that other local one you were looking at last time we talked!

Brendan that you?

Yup what can I say I just had to have it! Yeah the other one was just not right - 4500 and on an IRS with all wrong fenders, no interior, no glass, motor, drivetrain, hood, engine lid, uhh yeah sure I'll take two lol.

Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:41 am

Yup its me, glad you stayed away from that clown. I'll have to stop by and see it sometime. Need any thing for it? shoot me an email.

Fri Dec 04, 2009 2:58 pm

ratlook63 wrote: Yup its me, glad you stayed away from that clown. I'll have to stop by and see it sometime. Need any thing for it? shoot me an email.

Yeah definitely! I probably owe you a visit up your way as well. I need goodies, yes indeed and you probably have stuff I need, but for now I am solely focused on the engine. Once I get that engine apart I will know where I stand with immediate parts.

Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:04 pm

Schwing wrote: Hah too funny! I am definitely still in the honeymoon stage. All I want to do is spend money! Main focus right now is the engine. Once thats sorted I am going to take the body off and get the chassis in order. My goal is to finish the engine and chassis this winter and still remain married lol.

Thanks for the compliments! My non-vw friends think I've lost my mind.

LOL! I can relate to that one. I have always had fast cars, muscle cars, police cars, classics etc. I did get a 71 Karmann Ghia years ago but I didn't get picked on too badly because I still had projects in the works that most of my friends liked.

This time things are a bit different being that I just sold my 55 Chevy gasser project to fund this car and am selling my other cars soon as well. This is where my friends thought I had gone mad. I am older now and feel I do not have anything to prove. I don't care who has the fastest car around blah, blah, blah but somehow I do not believe I will be content with 30 some horsepower. 60+ sounds a little more tolerable. :lol:

Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:38 pm

OK making some progress! Had to backburner the '57 so I could get the '66 squared away and passed to my dad who was looking for a driver.

Got the cylinders removed, PB blaster and some good ole fashioned hammer coaxing, they break up nicely if you are careful. Anyone have any pointers for removing the wrist pin that holds the pistons??

(notice the broken piston)

I'm wondering if this rot near the oil drain will be an issue or if other people have experienced this??

A gasket looks like it would do the trick since the rot does not go beyond the cover:

Ok last pic finally got him in the garage now that the 66 has a new home:

Wed Dec 09, 2009 6:00 pm

ohh sweet a ragtop!! nice, good luck with Herman :D