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Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:17 pm

I inherited 1974 Bug (flat windshield with crank sunroof) from my dad who recently passed away.

He bought fully restored and proceeded to park it in his barn.....yeah. : (

He did drive it occasionally...but probably put less than 500 miles on it ..during his ownership...

It sat in the barn for the last 2+ years....long enough for the engine to set up

Before he passed away he had a local mechanic replace the engine...and YES the engine is a GEX. : (

Everything that I've read on this forum suggests that the engine is worse than the black death??

Thus far the engine probably has less than 200 miles on it.

Thankfully i talked him into keeping the original engine....

So am I doomed?? Should I be watching and listening for anything??

I figured I would break the engine in like I would new motorcycle engine... : )

Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:31 pm

this is a buyer/seller feedback forum..not really for conversation....try calling them or the mech. guy and going from there.

do a search on a seller/buyer for GEX and maybe reply to that...this will tell what to look for and what to expect.

good luck with your beetle.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 5:46 pm

Although I was worried, I too had a gex motor in a notchback that bought. No issues at all, it was strong and never let me down. Even broken clocks right 2wice a day right? Check it, but if it runs well that's the end of the story

Thu Jun 09, 2011 6:39 pm

:( First of all am sorry to hear of your dads passing. My condolences to the entire family.

Do not believe the post was a conversational mandering type of thing as he was asking what to look for in the upkeep compared to that of a moterbike. GEX being a naughty word in some circles is another story.

I am familiar with them being in Baldwin Park Ca many yrs back before leaving the state. I lived close by and had some dealings with them..another story best not worth going over.

Maintenance is the key word...a lot of it and they will keep on running along. Adjust the valves, change oil often and do the tune ups.

Steve (VW mechanic)

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:24 pm

HRVW wrote: :( First of all am sorry to hear of your dads passing. My condolences to the entire family.

Do not believe the post was a conversational mandering type of thing as he was asking what to look for in the upkeep compared to that of a moterbike. GEX being a naughty word in some circles is another story.

I am familiar with them being in Baldwin Park Ca many yrs back before leaving the state. I lived close by and had some dealings with them..another story best not worth going over.

Maintenance is the key word...a lot of it and they will keep on running along. Adjust the valves, change oil often and do the tune ups.

Steve (VW mechanic) yup, that sounds good to me also.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:32 pm

Sorry to hear of your dad.

How does it run? Make sure it's got oil and check the valve lash. Take it for a drive around the block and see.

If it checks out, then run it until it gives you a signal to start building a new engine.

Thu Jun 09, 2011 11:44 pm

whats a GEX? :lol:
sorry i have no idea :oops:

Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:23 am

XLR8 wrote: whats a GEX? :lol:
sorry i have no idea :oops: Better that way....1/2 step above Bernie Bergmann.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 2:13 pm

German Engine Exchange or GEX is a company that rebuilds VW engines very cheaply and low quality standards.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:20 pm

RockCrusher wrote: XLR8 wrote: whats a GEX? :lol:
sorry i have no idea :oops: Better that way....1/2 step above Bernie Bergmann. dang thats bad. the heads off this 2387 have 40x 35.5 ss valves, 9mm ex stem, and the seats dont seat on the 45 degree angle of the valves, but on the swirel polished portion. must be stock size Id seats for stock size valves. no wonder this thing was a slug. I had to get another set of glasses to confirm what I saw,then the calipers. I now wish I had fixed these heads instead of having the customer get a set of cb's mini wedgeports. witch have now changed on the site in the discription.now says there 65 cc' these were 61cc, weve had them about a month.I think the spring ht has also changed.I never thought these would of had the thick wire springs.

Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:11 pm

thank you for your posts

i will repost in a more appropriate area

Fri Jun 10, 2011 7:03 pm

Evey once in a while, GEX lets a decent one slip through.
You might have gotten lucky there.

Sat Jun 11, 2011 8:20 am

mark tucker wrote: RockCrusher wrote: XLR8 wrote: whats a GEX? :lol:
sorry i have no idea :oops: Better that way....1/2 step above Bernie Bergmann. dang thats bad. the heads off this 2387 have 40x 35.5 ss valves, 9mm ex stem, and the seats dont seat on the 45 degree angle of the valves, but on the swirel polished portion. must be stock size Id seats for stock size valves. no wonder this thing was a slug. I had to get another set of glasses to confirm what I saw,then the calipers. I now wish I had fixed these heads instead of having the customer get a set of cb's mini wedgeports. witch have now changed on the site in the discription.now says there 65 cc' these were 61cc, weve had them about a month.I think the spring ht has also changed.I never thought these would of had the thick wire springs.

Who built that motor?