TheSamba.com :: View topic - "Helga" Matt's 65 bus restoration thread

Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:42 pm

Little bit by little bit!!

You should get the hose clamps on the fresh air tubes going from fan shroud to the heat exchangers. If one of those tubes pops off the engine and especially that head gets way hotter.

Have you considered upgrading to a type 4 cooler in the DH shroud?

Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:51 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Little bit by little bit!!

You should get the hose clamps on the fresh air tubes going from fan shroud to the heat exchangers. If one of those tubes pops off the engine and especially that head gets way hotter.

Have you considered upgrading to a type 4 cooler in the DH shroud?
I'll add the clamps. I hadn't considered doing a type 4 oil cooler. I figured, since i've ran non doghouse for 3 years and been okay (in TX) that I should be good with just moving to Doghouse.

Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:04 pm

Longboardluv wrote:
I'll add the clamps. I hadn't considered doing a type 4 oil cooler. I figured, since i've ran non doghouse for 3 years and been okay (in TX) that I should be good with just moving to Doghouse.

Might try an oil temp and pressure gauges. Was an eye opener for us when we finally did that. Did a lot of upgrades to bring engine temp down. Now got over 150,000 miles since last rebuilt on the 1641 cc SP engine we have been running nice and cool.

Hopefully your crankshaft pulley and cooling fan are the DH type that are biggest made for the 40 HP and later engines. DH fan changed three times getting wider.

Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:06 pm

Eric&Barb wrote: Longboardluv wrote:
I'll add the clamps. I hadn't considered doing a type 4 oil cooler. I figured, since i've ran non doghouse for 3 years and been okay (in TX) that I should be good with just moving to Doghouse.

Might try an oil temp and pressure gauges. Was an eye opener for us when we finally did that. Now got over 150,000 miles since last rebuilt on the 1641 cc SP engine we have been running nice and cool.

Hopefully your crankshaft pulley and cooling fan are the DH type that are biggest made for the 40 HP and later engines. DH fan changed three times getting wider.

do you have a link to any of the gauges you would recommend?

Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:44 pm

Longboardluv wrote:
do you have a link to any of the gauges you would recommend?

Have always picked up good used gauges for very little at the swap meets, or the classifieds here. Most of those for $5-10 each, so if one out of four is bad, it still does not add up to the cost of one new gauge. Have had great luck with the German made VDO gauges from the 1970s thru the 1980s, and prefer those that have the metal not the plastic bodies. Then when needed get new senders for them.

Will advise against any mechanical gauges, especially the cheaper ones out there.

What ever temp gauge you get, do get a meat or candy thermometer to cross check every few years at least that the gauge you have in/on the dash is at least close to correct. Probe needs to be at least 6" long and dial about 1" to clear in the tight space with the engine case so close to the dipstick tube. Of course check meat/candy thermometer with a pot of boiling water to make sure it is correct, and do remember you need to adjust for you altitude if you are much above sea level.

Mon Jan 21, 2019 10:51 am

Hi Matt,

I've really enjoyed your refresh of this Transporter, making it your own. It seems like you are fearless about making it personalized and functional. Great documentation of your procedures and fixes! And you certainly not afraid to use her! I hope to meet both you and Helga someday! I get to Austin occasionally for work (flight attendant for AA) so "hell, it could happen". Take care of that Bus!

Bill Bowman
"BulliBill"

Mon Jan 21, 2019 10:55 am

BulliBill wrote: Hi Matt,

I hope to meet both you and Helga someday! I get to Austin occasionally for work (flight attendant for AA) so "hell, it could happen". Take care of that Bus!

Bill Bowman
"BulliBill"

Hey Bill thanks! Glad you like the thread. We meet the 1st Wed & Thursday of the month and 3rd Saturday of the month. Here's a link to our new youtube channel called VW Life. You can see all kinds of antics and stuff there..
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6shQNsfSrwm-BBx57hgEVQ/featured?view_as=subscriber

Mon Oct 28, 2019 6:25 am

my transaxel was popping out of 4th. was able to get a rebuilt one installed along with a mid mount from Wolfgang Int.
this is the only pic i have of the day long install :)

Mon Nov 18, 2019 7:22 am

pulled the motor to swap over to a doghouse oil cooler

the studs on the adapter were too big so i drilled the holes out with a 8mm bit

all back together, pretty fun doing this over a weekend but..

figured my rear mail seal was leaking and found my gland nut was messed up. something was squeaking in big bend i think this was it.

confirmed, it's leaking.

Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:23 am

Those cast tabs that hold the oil cooler are pretty weak as is. DH ones are cast beefier. Better to install 6 to 8mm studs instead.

Lots better to use household door foam tape to seal up the DH exhaust steel and tube tins. That duct tape just makes a mess when you have to take that apart.

Flywheel is going to always leak, the workshop manual shows that. So the question is how much. If one wants to reduce how much it leaks drilling a second drain hole for that area back into the case is a must.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=523735&highlight=oil+drain+hole

Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:26 am

Eric&Barb wrote: Those cast tabs that hold the oil cooler are pretty weak as is. DH ones are cast beefier. Better to install 6-8mm studs.

Lots better to use household door foam tape to seal up the DH exhaust steel and tube tins. That duct tape just makes a mess when you have to take that apart.

Flywheel is going to always leak, the workshop manual shows that. So the question is how much. If one wants to reduce how much it leaks drilling a second drain hole for that area back into the case is a must.

okay okay good info thanks for sharing! hopefully the tabs hold up. that's why i drilled them 8mm exactly to match the studs.

Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:34 am

Longboardluv wrote:
okay okay good info thanks for sharing! hopefully the tabs hold up. that's why i drilled them 8mm exactly to match the studs.

Good! Just want to mention that more for the next fellow.

Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:35 am

Eric&Barb wrote: Longboardluv wrote:
okay okay good info thanks for sharing! hopefully the tabs hold up. that's why i drilled them 8mm exactly to match the studs.

Good! Just want to mention that more for the next fellow.

okay yeah cool. :)

Mon Nov 18, 2019 11:11 am

Cool to see your plugging along. I am just getting back into my 64. I like your common sense solutions, that I didnt think of. Like the heat ducting tape on the doghouse, the plasti dip on the strap hooks, genius.

Mon Nov 18, 2019 8:35 pm

Nice work Matt J.
Looks like you will be ready for another Big Bend Bus Bash in Dec. :D

Tue Nov 19, 2019 7:47 am

silkvw wrote: Nice work Matt J.
Looks like you will be ready for another Big Bend Bus Bash in Dec. :D
yes sir, want to be ready.
still need to adjust front brakes, change oil, adjust valves and rainX

Fri Dec 20, 2019 5:45 am

we installed a disc brake kit on Helga!

Fri Dec 20, 2019 4:52 pm

Awesome, sometimes, all I ask is for a brother to walk me through something once! Thanks for posting.

Fri Dec 20, 2019 6:57 pm

Agreed. Thanks for posting. Great video

Sun Nov 22, 2020 7:09 am

i got a Koch steering wheel!