TheSamba.com :: View topic - 1600 based engine in an early (36hp

Thu Mar 08, 2018 5:05 pm

This was discussed in another thread lately, and thought I'd post some pics. It's not hard, but maybe daunting if you haven't done it before.. Here are a few pics from removing a 1600 from an oval, as I have a 56 in the shop for heater channels, floors, and a motor evaluation.. first had to fix the car a bit, so there was something to put the lift arms against..

and on to the not run in 20 years 1600, which is a replacement case engine

get an idea as to how much smaller the engine space is by how the rear tin has been cut

Crusty. Of course the top driver side bolt was MIA. Thank god for that actually

As far back as it goes, pulley against the rear apron

Dropped the rear a bit, at this point the clutch centering ring is still around the trans input shaft. Also see how the distributor is in the way. I unbolted the bracket and pulled it.

As soon as the pulley gets below the rear apron, give the engine a tug to the rear and the clutch will be free of the input shaft, but still stuck in the bell housing

If you have heater boxes, they may get caught on the forward rubber seal when you drop the rear of the engine, I had to give it a pretty good pull...
At this point, the engine is out, but stuck on the generator nut.
raise it a touch, tilt the rear up, and the clutch plate ring will drop free of the bell housing, and the engine is out.
Easy right?
BONUS:
behold the carnage, Fred Flintstone clearanced the bell housing with a rock!

look closely, there is a spot clean through the bell housing.

starter bushing be damned! :shock: Thankfully there is the auto stick starter..

SD

Thu Mar 08, 2018 7:53 pm

Perfect….. :D

Thu Mar 08, 2018 8:43 pm

Build a 78 stroke 2007, 2074, or 2165 engine with 5.325 rods and B pistons, then shorten the cylinders to fit. You'll have an engine narrower than a 1600 and will slip into an early Bug like butter.

Thu Mar 08, 2018 10:06 pm

Issue isn't the width, it's the front to back dimensions. Yeah, they need to be as narrow as a 1600, but I remember having to trim that breastplate after it was in. I fought like hell to get that engine into a '60 European import.

Might be better to leave the pulley off, and shorten the lower studs.

Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:20 pm

It fits, just barely. Maybe, if you had new rubber in the channel around the engine, you would be better off removing the pulley. Or, if you upgraded to the later throw out bearing, so you didn't have the centering ring on the pressure plate, that would give you and extra 10mm. And yeah, the width can be a factor, but not with the stock width of a 1600. But my 2161 needed 3/8" cut off each cylinder tin to fit, and the passenger side valve cover was very close to the sheet metal under the rear bumper bracket. Close enough to need trimming and bending so they didn't rub.

Thu Mar 08, 2018 11:59 pm

Two words: removable apron :D

Fri Mar 09, 2018 5:44 am

Slow 1200 wrote: Two words: removable apron :D

Amen to that!
For my own car, I've taken that advice.. without it I had to have the engine half disassembled to get it in. No fun at all.

Sun May 27, 2018 6:56 pm

FWIW, I recently reinstalled this engine after cleaning and resealing it, and installing new heater boxes. The heater boxes have to be off for the engine to fit. To tip the engine in, so the pulley clears the rear apron, and the pressure plate collar gets around the input shaft, the forward ends of the heater boxes always gets caught on the body. I tried several times with no luck, and as soon as I unbolted the heater boxes, the engine slipped right in.

Tue May 29, 2018 6:58 am

On my 58 I found it was easiest if you pull the generator and distributor first, and strangely I don't remember the heater boxes interfering. The rear tin did take some finagling to fit correctly, I remember trimming and bending a good bit to make it look and fit correctly.

Wed May 30, 2018 10:48 am

I take the original rear tin and flip it over onto new one, mark it and hit it with a jigsaw. Fit perfect every time. I only drive earlies.