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gacnurse
Samba Member
Joined: June 05, 2014
Posts: 44
Location: folsom, CA
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 Posted: Sat Mar 28, 2015 11:49 pm Post subject: 72 engine removal mod |
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Is there a structural reason why i cannot remove the rear piece, like on splits, to remove my engine? It would be so much easier eh?
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72 combi |
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zerothehero
Samba Member
Joined: March 16, 2008
Posts: 214
Location: Derbyshire
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:08 am Post subject: |
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Fitting in a removable valance has been done many times on late bays
I'm guessing it was made non-removable along with all the other safety upgrades around the same time so I would say yes to the structural question.
Personally I don't find it very difficult removing an engine from a late bay with ramps and a trolley jack so have never felt the need.
If I was removing the engine every month then maybe I would consider.....
No I wouldn't, I would start sleeping in a Citroen H van or something
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1979 Devon Moonraker 1600 twin port
1978 Oz Microbus 2000 FI Auto |
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1967250s
Samba Member
Joined: May 02, 2007
Posts: 2137
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 12:33 am Post subject: |
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There was a reason VW engineers designed it that way. Earlier engines had less power and the older sytem was strong enough for 1600 cc of raw power. However, the 1700 and planned size increases needed the rear chassis and valence to be stronger so they tied it all together with welds instead of bolts. Notice the larger rear engine mount and the overhead tranny mounts are a lot beefier, more tied into the unibody than the forks were. Also, removing the engine and tranny together are pretty easy, easier than seperating them to just drop the engine.
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'72 Elm Green Deluxe |
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Randy in Maine
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Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| Just remove the engine and transaxle as a single unit. Takes less time anyway. |
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Wildthings
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Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50352
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 7:20 am Post subject: |
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| Removing the reinstalling the two bellhousing support bolts takes about 15 minutes total, outside of removing the coil, oil filler pipe, and left rear tin this is all the special stuff that has to be removed to drop the engine over what you plan. How long would it take to remove the rear valence? |
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PITApan
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2014
Posts: 1058
Location: Northern Colorado
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:32 am Post subject: Re: 72 engine removal mod |
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| gacnurse wrote: |
| Is there a structural reason why i cannot remove the rear piece, like on splits, to remove my engine? It would be so much easier eh? |
Not that I can find. The rear member is a box beam but it's sill just sheet metal. I put mine back with heavy steel plates (on the outside) and  1/4 in bolts. Doing a weldment would have been nice. You lose rear impact strength but I figure whatever gets through a heavy steel bumper is trashing the back of the bus if there is a solid beam there or not
It's cheaper to for VW to make that rear piece solid than removable. Less parts and assembly. I think this was their major impetus. I suspect they also figured the pancake engine would just drop down and slide under it, unlike an uopright engine. This was not to be the case, especially an engine with tall carbs and manifolds. |
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12728
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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| Posted: Sun Mar 29, 2015 11:32 pm Post subject: Re: 72 engine removal mod |
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My firs thought is, "how often do you have to pull your engine that this is a problem?" 
| PITApan wrote: |
| I suspect they also figured the pancake engine would just drop down and slide under it, unlike an uopright engine. This was not to be the case, especially an engine with tall carbs and manifolds. |
I don't see a problem with the carbs and manifolds here, unless you mean some aftermarket doodads with a 40 in their name and a big honking' air filter.
I'd be able to get that out no problem with my old school (low profile) floor jack. The new jacks that most places sell these days would probably get the thing hung up on the air injection pump.
I especially don't see any problems here:
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