Craigslist find - hotrod 36

[avus]

Here's my setup for degreeing the camshaft.

I checked timing at .001, .006 and each .010 up to .050". This seems like a rather radical grind for a supposed "mpg engine". I don't do this often, so I repeated the process a few times and verified numbers within a degree or so. Here's what I got:

[avus]

The combustion chamber volume measures 48cc. With a deck of .040" compression ratio is 8.3 : 1. The valves show considerable wear, though they are not leaking. And one valve guide was found loose in the head, so I'll touch up the valve job and guides. Other than that, and a little clean up it will go back together as found. More compression is tempting, but I think this will be a nice street engine as is.

[Roadcow]

Go ahead, give in to temptation.
_________________
71 Westy Roadcow
67 Panel
63 Bug
66 Ghia Bonneville 2014
74 Ghia Vert
69 Bonneville Ghia 150 in Chico
69 Bonneville Ghia in Ireland
80 Cabby 2.1 16v
98 Passat

[avus]

Closer inspection revealed that the ring grooves in the pistons were badly worn, and so were some valve guides. I replace the sloppy guides, sent the heads to Marty at WSK machine with some new 33 mm intake valves, and sent the pistons to Kevin at Total Seal for some machine work and ring groove inserts.

In cleaning the lifters, I found that some of the pushrods were completely plugged, and couldn't be cleared with air pressure or baling wire. These are early-style lifters, but in very good condition, so I decided to remove the "chopsticks" and reuse them.

My method is to pry the end of the pushrod off using an old flaring tool vise and two pry bars.

Most of them came apart like this. Some so stuck I had to drill through the oil hole to get the wood out of the pushrod tip.

The sticks are quite intentionally designed and machined, with the lower (lifter) ends having a distinct groove, probably designed to allow oil passage. However, the upper ends seem incongruously made to plug the oil exit to the rocker arms. The pointed tip could be a result of wear, so it's hard to know what a new one would look like.

It would be interesting to know the actual design rationale behind The pushrod chopsticks, but in any case I feel better knowing that the rockers and valve guides will get steady lubrication.

Heads will go together this afternoon, and pistons will be here Monday. Progress! Wahoo!

[alanhall]

I have heard two versions of why the chopsticks are in there. The first is to take up volume so the oil pressure comes up sooner, and the second is that the wood moving back and forth helped to pump oil to the valve train. I suspect the first is more likely. By the way the cam is probably a 2-pc case 356 super cam which had timing of 19, 54, 54, 19 at 1mm clearance. Very close to the 18, 54, 56, 18 at .040 inches you measured.

The cylinders are probably sleeved 2-pc case 356 cylinders. Ray Litz at Competition Engineering in Pasadena, used to do this back in the early 70's. He would machine out the cylinders to just the finned section and shrink fit them to an iron sleeve he had made by L.A. Sleeve. He would do them in bore sizes of 80 or 82.5 mm for use with 356 pistons and I'm sure he could have done them in 82 for use with a VW piston.

All in all this was probably a pretty hot engine back in the day!!

Alan

[avus]

[alanhall]

The other possibility for the cam is that it is an Isky 2J re-grind. The timing was very similar to the Porsche super grind (I think, but Isky didn't say what clearance their numbers were based on) and their lift was .335 inch.

The pistons don't look like they started life as anything from a Porsche and if they are not VW then it's a good question what they are from. I assume the engine has a 356 crank and rods, so the piston would be 82mm diameter with a 22 mm pin, maybe from some Japanese or European motor. If you ever get a look inside the piston there might be some markings as to who manufactured it.

I'm looking forward to hearing how it runs!

Alan

[avus]

Longblock back together, no valve or cylinderhead leaks. Still need to work on the rockers, though. The rocker/ valve stem contact is all over the place. I'll do some parts and shim swaps tomorrow. I couldn't resist a picture, though. I love VW engines at this stage, and almost regret having to clutter things up with cooling tin. The ally cylinders are, to me, especially photogenic.

The tin is all cleaned up, so things should go fairly quickly from here. However, the pci30 carb, I think, is not legal in 36 sss category, so I will find a 28 pci to use just in case this engine makes it to Bonneville. Maybe this will help:

I hope Roger doesn't mind. If so, I'll probably disappoint him a bit more before this is done.

[36hplandspeedracer]

Someones having fun, huh Jerry! See you on the salt, or maybe in June ? ? ? ?

Burly

[Roadcow]

Engine porn Jerry!
_________________
71 Westy Roadcow
67 Panel
63 Bug
66 Ghia Bonneville 2014
74 Ghia Vert
69 Bonneville Ghia 150 in Chico
69 Bonneville Ghia in Ireland
80 Cabby 2.1 16v
98 Passat

[avus]

[avus]

I lives!

Carburetor jetting was a hipshot, but with the timing set and ear tuning, it idles. O2 sensor hooked up, and carb tuning tomorrow. No leaks or noises so far, and it sounds strong. Wahoo!

Stinger thru decklid=no sss36 recognition But beaucoup aural enhancement, and perhaps additional thrust.

[Roadcow]

That's Bitchen Jerry! Tell us how it runs tomorrow. I may have to sneak up and see you tomorrow also!!!
_________________
71 Westy Roadcow
67 Panel
63 Bug
66 Ghia Bonneville 2014
74 Ghia Vert
69 Bonneville Ghia 150 in Chico
69 Bonneville Ghia in Ireland
80 Cabby 2.1 16v
98 Passat

[henry roberts]

[avus]

I decided to make the Rivets engine 36hp Challenge SSS compliant, so installed an exhaust header which allows a deck lid without holes. Nobody seems to make a merged header for 36hp but a 1600 header with slip jointed primaries should be easy to modify, right? So I ordered a header from a well-known supplier (who might get a good plug here had it not taken 3 weeks to receive my parts) and started fitting pipes to motor. I knew that 36hp engines were shorter and narrower than 1600 engines, but what I didn't know was that the exhaust flange bolt patterns are clocked differently by about 2 degrees. Meaning that all 4 exhaust flanges had to be cut off the headers and rotated 2 degrees to align the headers with the heads. Piece of cake for a good weldor--2 days of education for me. In any case, the deed is done. The apron also needed relief to clear. Looks like it will work. One more carb tuning session, and Rivets should be ready to rock.

[Roadcow]

Looks great Jerry! Can't wait. It would be nice if I had a day to run up and see how everything fits.
_________________
71 Westy Roadcow
67 Panel
63 Bug
66 Ghia Bonneville 2014
74 Ghia Vert
69 Bonneville Ghia 150 in Chico
69 Bonneville Ghia in Ireland
80 Cabby 2.1 16v
98 Passat

[Mr. Motorhead]

[36hplandspeedracer]

Klasssy idea Jerrry.................................Burly

[avus]

[John Moxon]