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Wed Aug 27, 2025 8:08 am

I’m reaching out to try and get some help with my dad’s bus. He’s got a 72 with a 1700 type 4 motor. When he bought the bus the tins were piled up on the interior. The question…. Is it possible to put the tins on with the motor installed? And if so is there any place I can find or resource that tells you the order of the install?

Wed Aug 27, 2025 9:40 am

A lot of the tins can be installed with the engine in the bus, but it is a lot more difficult. It’s much easier to go over the engine and replace tin if you drop the engine and tranny as a unit imo. Is the bus running and driving? Unless it is running really well in all respects and just missing the tin, I’d pull it and go through it.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 9:50 am

It runs and drives great which is what makes me hesitant to pull the motor.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 9:55 am

Hi and welcome. Can you post photos of what you have? If it’s running and driving without tin, it’s a time-bomb and/or the damage has already been done.

All the tin can be removed and replaced in the car. It’s more difficult because you can’t see half the screws, and as you’ve discovered the order of operations takes some experience.

If you can post a photo of all the tin you have, we can tell you which go on first and where.

Robbie

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6

Wed Aug 27, 2025 10:40 am

https://youtu.be/CB4soH8Wolk?si=mrd8adhA7Z7dFeXl

Wed Aug 27, 2025 10:57 am

lil-jinx wrote: https://youtu.be/CB4soH8Wolk?si=mrd8adhA7Z7dFeXl

Do NOT take your fan apart. It was made round and balanced by Volkswagen. Sand and paint it by hand if you must.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 12:20 pm

I’ll try and get some pictures and post them up! Thanks everyone!

Wed Aug 27, 2025 5:44 pm

Here’s some pics my dad sent me. I believe some of the tins are already on after looking at some of the pics. I’d like to hear what you guys think.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:01 pm

you're golden. you should have no trouble installing those pieces.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:40 pm

The under cylinder tins need to be installed during the engine assembly process, so show us a picture of the bottom side of the cylinders and heads.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:48 pm

What lil-jinx said. And, don’t forget to install an engine seal after the tins are in place.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:51 pm

I’ll see if my pops can get a pic of underneath. Again thanks for all your help!

Wed Aug 27, 2025 6:58 pm

It can be done and it will take a little more time. There is a method to the madness with some tins, especially the ones around the fan shroud, alternator and oil cooler area. Atleast the engine seal is pretty easy to install afterwards on a type 4.

Wed Aug 27, 2025 7:13 pm

don't forget a fan guard, and as Robbie wrote, leave the fan assembled. I made the mistake of taking one apart and even putting it back to the marks I made, it was out enough it shook the alternator and crankshaft awfully. I sent it to a friend here who spent a week almost with it on a lathe tweaking it a couple thousands at a time until it ran true again.