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onthefly Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Newburyport, Ma
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:45 am Post subject: I'm new to this |
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My name is Terence and i go to college in Maine and I just purchased a 1965 dune buggy. The PO did not know much about the it but I got it for a good price. I believe it is a 66 vw 1600cc engine with a few up grades. I know very little about engine but want to learn. This weekend I am going to drop the engine out and rebuild it. When it was running I noticed it was leaking oil from the pushrods, sio I have to look in to that. It does not start now because of the starter is bad or its just too cold here in maine.
My plan is to rebuild the engine with the orginal parts if everything is in spec and put it back in and see what happens. If that goes well I will try to get more HP out of it. I have bought and read a few book on how to rebuild a VW engine and have also read many things on this forum about it.
I will have many more questions next week once I have taken the engine apart. I will post pics once i have figure out how too.
thanks,
Terence |
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5157
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Does it need a rebuild or just new seals?
The only reason why I ask is that alot of these project buggies start out with such great intent. People want to resurrect them, but they don't have the skill, the knowledge, the time, or the money. Thats where I usually pick them up for a song. its not that its hard...but it can be frustrating when you don't understand the basics.
If it just needs some re-freshing that might be a better step. Get it running, work on it, enjoy it, then upgrade it more when you understand it.
These aren't like normal cars. Upgrades can be done at any time and are usually very easy to do even after its been built.
Just a suggestion..... |
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66 Shorty Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 916 Location: Rhode Island
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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Good advice right there!
I wouldn't split the case unless it REALLY needs it!
Welcome to the Buggy Madness! _________________ ~X-Man~
'60's Spatz Buggy body on '74 Chassis (Budget Build)
'69 Bug (Baja-to-be partial daily)
'10 Silverado (My daily) |
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LouisB Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2004 Posts: 1027 Location: Tallahassee, FL
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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First run a compression check on all 4 cylinders. If you have good compression and good oil pressure, you probably don't need a full rebuild. Unless you have someone more experienced who can help you, I would start off with just trying to keep it running first. Drive it for a year or two and do some general maintenance and mechanical upgrades. (Brakes, suspension, etc.) Far too many projects end up not being completed because people got in over their heads and became overwhelmed. (And yes I am speaking form exp here.) It will also take you some time to build up the proper tools.
Edit: And if you are really determined to rebuild an engine, buy a good used engine and rebuild it. That way you can drive what you have and rebuild the motor at the same time. When you get the motor rebuilt, swap it out for your current engine.
--louis _________________ Louis Brooks
'67 Manx II
Old people at weddings always poke me and say "Your next." So, I started doing the same to them at funerals. |
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TC/TeamEvil Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1769
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:49 pm Post subject: |
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Hey,
You live kinda close to us . . . we could probably come on up after it warms up a bit and help out for a day. Try to keep your tiny hands off of the engine in the mean time. If it ran, it'll run again, leaking push rod seals are nothing !
TC |
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onthefly Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Newburyport, Ma
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:29 pm Post subject: |
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66 Shorty Samba Member
Joined: May 10, 2007 Posts: 916 Location: Rhode Island
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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Looks like a very good start to a Great project! _________________ ~X-Man~
'60's Spatz Buggy body on '74 Chassis (Budget Build)
'69 Bug (Baja-to-be partial daily)
'10 Silverado (My daily) |
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5157
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:57 pm Post subject: |
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Well....lets play what can you see! Terrence, this will give you an idea as to what this very talented group of buggy enthusiasts can tell about your new project from just a few pictures (and by the way...great start!)
I'll go first:
1. Possibly an Autodynamics Deserter Series 1? Makes sense being from Mass.
2. Spring loaded pushrod tubes....no wonder they are leaking.
3. Swing axle tranny. Link pin front end. 1965 chassis makes sense.
4. Funky choke element there....ideas?
5. Looks like some snapped exhaust studs.....welder trick works good there.
6. Nice shifter
7. Creative steering column...ouch! Fix that up for sure.
8. Love the diamondplate "patches" to cover the old stock VW tail lights. I'd go back to them.
9. Lose 25lbs on the weight by just removing some of those lights.
10. Body looks solid. Just needs some sandpaper and glass work.
Great start! |
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TC/TeamEvil Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2004 Posts: 1769
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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Bet that the "choke element" is the remnant of some sort of anti-pollution device. Maybe a vac actuated mess to prevent the throttle from closing too quickly or too slowly or too something else.
Easy fix there. |
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manxdavid Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2003 Posts: 1841 Location: David Jones, Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Manxclub #678.
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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jspbtown wrote: |
Well....lets play what can you see! Terrence, this will give you an idea as to what this very talented group of buggy enthusiasts can tell about your new project from just a few pictures (and by the way...great start!)
I'll go first:
1. Possibly an Autodynamics Deserter Series 1? Makes sense being from Mass.
2. Spring loaded pushrod tubes....no wonder they are leaking.
3. Swing axle tranny. Link pin front end. 1965 chassis makes sense.
4. Funky choke element there....ideas?
5. Looks like some snapped exhaust studs.....welder trick works good there.
6. Nice shifter
7. Creative steering column...ouch! Fix that up for sure.
8. Love the diamondplate "patches" to cover the old stock VW tail lights. I'd go back to them.
9. Lose 25lbs on the weight by just removing some of those lights.
10. Body looks solid. Just needs some sandpaper and glass work.
Great start! |
I agree with all of the above plus no biggie but the screen's on back-to-front and the roll bar's a bit high for my liking.
Great start though. |
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new-n-old-vdubs Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2009 Posts: 587 Location: feeding hills mass
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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sweet , another person to meet up with in the summer! idswitch the lights and drive it like it is geat snag man |
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Russ Wolfe Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2004 Posts: 25187 Location: Central Iowa
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 4:43 pm Post subject: |
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That engine still has the throttle positioner for the emission control system on the carb. _________________ Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey
Gary: OK. Ima poop. |
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madarcher Samba Member
Joined: October 14, 2009 Posts: 101 Location: kentucky
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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i have ran spring loaded pushrod tubes for years with no leaks. |
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onthefly Samba Member
Joined: December 14, 2009 Posts: 21 Location: Newburyport, Ma
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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would you recommend changing out the spring load pushrods if it is possible? |
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Russ Wolfe Samba Member
Joined: October 08, 2004 Posts: 25187 Location: Central Iowa
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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If you have the heads off, put stock pushrod tubes in. _________________ Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up, you end up with a lot of scum on the top!--Edward Abbey
Gary: OK. Ima poop. |
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veeweeman Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2009 Posts: 940 Location: New Port Richey, FL
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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madarcher wrote: |
i have ran spring loaded pushrod tubes for years with no leaks. |
I'm sure you have...the only thing their good for is a quick side road fix...I'm not saying that they are total junk...I'm just saying that yes, a good decent expensive set works that are made of machined aluminum and uses dual o-ring seals do work great...it's those cheap plastic ones that EMPI sells that leak like a dripping facet...I installed a set and drove it downtown and back, about 25 miles, by the time I walked to the back of the car to check for any leks the damn thing was dripping is 6 spots
Those tubes in the pics look like the plastic ones
VWM |
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new-n-old-vdubs Samba Member
Joined: June 10, 2009 Posts: 587 Location: feeding hills mass
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Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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i have the plastic ones (JUNK) im gonna replace them with aluminum ones mentioned in the summer. i just hate having to loosen / take the head off to replace a tube but ovrall i wish min looked like that when i started |
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5157
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 6:47 am Post subject: |
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I would suggest taking the compression test first. If its good then I would remove the motor (just 4 bolts/nuts) and get it on a stand or the bench.
This will give you the chance to disassemble it down to the longblock.
Once its down to the longblock you can repair those exhaust studs, remove the heads to inspect them and replace the pushrod tubes, and paint/detail all the little parts.
This is a good way to understand the workings of the engine without getting too deep into the actual case. |
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nachoyosa Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2007 Posts: 47 Location: Spain
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 7:55 am Post subject: |
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The windshield is not installed on the other side (180 º turn)?
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jspbtown Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004 Posts: 5157
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:06 am Post subject: |
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The windshield is not installed on the other side (180 º turn)? |
Yes it is...but if you do not plan on ever installing a top of any kind then it looks a little cleaner this way IMO.
And I just noticed that big old ugly rear bumper has a trailer receiver on it. |
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