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Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:39 pm

Guys, I took the car on its first real test drive today. It was a 40 mile round trip on the highway, going 65-70mph. The ambient temp was 70 degrees F. I had two passengers with me at the time. I have freeway flyer gears.

Halfway into the trip, my oil temp dipstick started flashing the green oil light. It never went solid green but flashed consistently. Would you expect this?

Also, today I noticed the prior owner put an EMPI 30PICT-1 carb on my dual port motor. Why would he do this. Should I replace it with something else.

The car is peppy as I go through the gears except when I hit third, it bogs down.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you

Fri Dec 15, 2023 4:52 pm

Who knows why your PO put that carb on there. Maybe he thought it would be better. Probably be better to get a real PICT 34. I believe Volksbiz is the place people are buying these, or at least having them rebuilt there.

As far as your flashing light. It’s been a while since I looked at those dipstick warning lights. But I think they come on at like 210°, that’s totally fine. 220° - 240° is a good normal operating temperature. Having a larger motor in a ‘65 with no deck lid louvers will certainly heat things up a bit.

I run a 2109cc in my 65. I think it runs a little warm, so I just put a VDO oil temperature and VDO oil pressure gauges on it to verify. I also put a deep sump on it, which should help with the temps as well.

Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:07 pm

Oil discussion here,
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=220755

I'm with Mr. Parker on the carb. A 34m pict 3 carb with a 034 distributor make a great running dual port stock engine.
I recently replaced an Oh OH 9 distributor with a 034 vacuum advance. The engine runs much smoother.
The current MPG is 27.5. Not great but, better than with the 009 distributor.
YMMV.

Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:32 pm

67rustavenger wrote: Oil discussion here,
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=220755

I'm with Mr. Parker on the carb. A 34m pict 3 carb with a 034 distributor make a great running dual port stock engine.
I recently replaced an Oh OH 9 distributor with a 034 vacuum advance. The engine runs much smoother.
The current MPG is 27.5. Not great but, better than with the 009 distributor.
YMMV.

Is my distributor on the car good. I don't even know what it is. :wink:

Fri Dec 15, 2023 6:47 pm

How loose is the belt?

Light on could be oil thinning out due to low fan output. Maybe not enough cooling being produced. I would check that belt and the back side of the shroud for a rag or rats nest!

Fri Dec 15, 2023 10:33 pm

The deck lid needs to be propped open when the larger engine is installed, the early decklids have no louvers and thus must be propped open, about half inch at bottom does wonders.

That aftermarket fan house is questionable, does it have the correct factory vanes inside?

Id get a real read on the oil temperature and pressure.

Fri Dec 15, 2023 11:25 pm

zerotofifty wrote: The deck lid needs to be propped open when the larger engine is installed, the early decklids have no louvers and thus must be propped open, about half inch at bottom does wonders.

That aftermarket fan house is questionable, does it have the correct factory vanes inside?

Id get a real read on the oil temperature and pressure.

I have an after market 36hp shroud on my engine and mine has vanes. The issue I see with them is they aren’t set up to run flaps. I had to drill holes in mine to install the flaps. IMO, Flaps and a t-stat are a must have.

If you prop that deck lid, don’t plan on using the heat. The fan will suck exhaust fumes in which will gas you out in the cabin.

I bought a VS stand off and immediately removed it because of the fumes in the cabin. Now that I have gauges I’ll be able to trend the oil temps and see how hot it’s really getting. This time of year isn’t a problem, but I’m interested to see how hot it gets in the summer without and with the stand off.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:20 am

I have those dipsticks on all my cars and I sell a lot of them. In my personal experience I've had that dipstick light come on when I let the generator belt get too loose. I've also had it come on when I tar board came loose and got into the fan.

Get a tennis ball and stick it in the lock mechanism to lift the decklid up a little bit and provide a bit more air. That should help make the flicker go away.

I think you might also be able to calibrate those dipsticks but I use them as they come.

As for the carburetor and distributor, you will get better performance going to a 34 PICT 3 and pairing with it with 034. Here's a rebuilt 034 here. It come with a new Bosch vacuum canister.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2181010

Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:43 am

heimlich wrote: As for the carburetor and distributor, you will get better performance going to a 34 PICT 3 and pairing with it with 034.
Not worth the cost of replacing both the carb and distributor.

Te current carb and distributor are working just fine together.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 9:54 am

Glenn wrote: heimlich wrote: As for the carburetor and distributor, you will get better performance going to a 34 PICT 3 and pairing with it with 034.
Not worth the cost of replacing both the carb and distributor.

Te current carb and distributor are working just fine together.

I'd usually agree with that statement but he said he's having some trouble in 3rd gear. So, if he's going to replace the carb then maybe go for both.

Plus, that's a 40HP vacuum canister on that distributor. It doesn't make that much advance or a very good curve.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 10:56 am

heimlich wrote: Glenn wrote: heimlich wrote: As for the carburetor and distributor, you will get better performance going to a 34 PICT 3 and pairing with it with 034.
Not worth the cost of replacing both the carb and distributor.

Te current carb and distributor are working just fine together.

I'd usually agree with that statement but he said he's having some trouble in 3rd gear. So, if he's going to replace the carb then maybe go for both.

Plus, that's a 40HP vacuum canister on that distributor. It doesn't make that much advance or a very good curve.
The distributor is a 205K or 205M and works fine with a 30PICT-1

I think his problem might be related to the transaxle.
DesertG wrote: I have freeway flyer gears.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:01 am

Glenn wrote: heimlich wrote: Glenn wrote: heimlich wrote: As for the carburetor and distributor, you will get better performance going to a 34 PICT 3 and pairing with it with 034.
Not worth the cost of replacing both the carb and distributor.

Te current carb and distributor are working just fine together.

I'd usually agree with that statement but he said he's having some trouble in 3rd gear. So, if he's going to replace the carb then maybe go for both.

Plus, that's a 40HP vacuum canister on that distributor. It doesn't make that much advance or a very good curve.
The distributor is a 205K or 205M and works fine with a 30PICT-1

I think his problem might be related to the transaxle.
DesertG wrote: I have freeway flyer gears.

Thank you. How would the gearing make my car get hot.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:17 am

DesertG wrote: Glenn wrote: heimlich wrote: Glenn wrote: heimlich wrote: As for the carburetor and distributor, you will get better performance going to a 34 PICT 3 and pairing with it with 034.
Not worth the cost of replacing both the carb and distributor.

Te current carb and distributor are working just fine together.

I'd usually agree with that statement but he said he's having some trouble in 3rd gear. So, if he's going to replace the carb then maybe go for both.

Plus, that's a 40HP vacuum canister on that distributor. It doesn't make that much advance or a very good curve.
The distributor is a 205K or 205M and works fine with a 30PICT-1

I think his problem might be related to the transaxle.

DesertG wrote: I have freeway flyer gears.

Thank you. How would the gearing make my car get hot.

What does a FF transaxle do? It lowers the rpms which allows you to go faster. So at 3200 rpm you can go like 75+ instead of 70. Lower rpms, lowers the fan speed, which means there’s less cooling.

So if you’re bopping around town, your fan speed isn’t fast spinning fast enough to cool your engine. Which will create higher temps.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 11:25 am

Glenn wrote:
The distributor is a 205K or 205M and works fine with a 30PICT-1

I think his problem might be related to the transaxle.

That's the 40HP style vacuum canister from when VW switched to aluminum bodies. It's good with the 28PICT1 signal. The 30 PICT 1 will make a different signal.

Here's a reference picture of the vacuum canister.

Sat Dec 16, 2023 12:07 pm

Glenn wrote: I think his problem might be related to the transaxle.
DesertG wrote: I have freeway flyer gears.
This ^^^ It explains the sudden bog in 3rd.

And, yes, I complained about the chrome shroud and tins on Day 1.