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Fri Apr 25, 2025 12:56 pm

New problem.
Grey/blue smome and oil coming out of the exhaust.
I have to be cursed.

I pulled the plugs and did a compression check.
Still the same:
1. 105
2. 113
3. 105
4. 112

(Plus or minus 3 pounds or so.)

Then I did a leak down test cold:
(Percent loss was good across cylinders but this was cold)
1. 10%
2. 17%
3. 23%
4. 22%

Then took some pictures inside the cylinders.
This looks no bueno compared to the numbers.

Fri Apr 25, 2025 1:02 pm

This looks like way too much oil to me.
I know I should have done the test hot but if something was actually really bad I thimkit would have given me a hint at least. Right??

Other than bad rings I don't know what could introduce this much oil into cylinders.

Thu May 01, 2025 3:10 pm

I hate to admit defeat but after seeing only one set of Kads at Bugapalooza and speaking with several mechanics there as well as my very local guy, I decided on going another way. After all, the last iteration had them washing down my cylinders.

I had a set of Empi 44s thay came with the Thing so I rebuilt them and then ripped out the Kads yesterday and replaced them with the 44s. Had to make a mount to relocate the coil obviously and lengthen or reroute some wiring. That was yesterday.

Today after fighting with a leak at the carb filter as well as a stuck float I got them pretty dialed in.

While it still may be a bit rich I would say 2 to 3 full days messing with getting the 44s to run vs 6 months or more playing screw around with the Kads speaks for itself.

I was able to find a bit of documentation.on the engine. It is a 2180 so.I followed Empi's suggestion of 1.60 mains but I will stick the AF on there next week and see if 1.55 mains may be more appropriate.

I may keep the Kads for the Ghia....or toss them.in the river.

Thu May 01, 2025 3:13 pm

For posterity, here is engine info I was able to find hidden online.

Built by David Simmons of Simmons Garage, State Road, NC. (Don’t know when)

2180cc
Stroked crank
120 cam
042 heads MOFOCO
Chrome moly push rods
8 dowl flywheel
2nd ring no leak
Full flow External oil filter
Dual carbs
External oil sump
Pertronix
SVDA distributor
95 amp alternator
92mm bore with an 82mm stroke.
Compression around 8.4:1

Mon May 05, 2025 7:49 am

Heiferman wrote: This looks like way too much oil to me.
I know I should have done the test hot but if something was actually really bad I thimkit would have given me a hint at least. Right??

Other than bad rings I don't know what could introduce this much oil into cylinders.

Hey Heiferman, just curious but what type of oil are you running?
I had a issue once when I switched to synthetic 30w, on a local road trip I noticed higher than normal oil consumption, so I switched back to dyno oil and prob cleared.

Also noticed when I removed my single carb and went duals I could see evidence of pooled fuel remains/stains whatever because I always had a hot start issue (which has now been eliminated).

But I can still see cross hatch patterns in your pic's of the cylinders so visual wear don't look bad unless it is a piston ring issue, but oil type could be a possibility.

I've heard synthetic can make some cars leak where they didn't before but in my case was the first time
I've seen it make the car use more oil than normal.

Anyways, just wanted to mention my experience hopefully it's nothing major.

T

Mon May 05, 2025 8:38 am

doublecanister wrote: Heiferman wrote: This looks like way too much oil to me.
I know I should have done the test hot but if something was actually really bad I thimkit would have given me a hint at least. Right??

Other than bad rings I don't know what could introduce this much oil into cylinders.

Hey Heiferman, just curious but what type of oil are you running?
I had a issue once when I switched to synthetic 30w, on a local road trip I noticed higher than normal oil consumption, so I switched back to dyno oil and prob cleared.

Also noticed when I removed my single carb and went duals I could see evidence of pooled fuel remains/stains whatever because I always had a hot start issue (which has now been eliminated).

But I can still see cross hatch patterns in your pic's of the cylinders so visual wear don't look bad unless it is a piston ring issue, but oil type could be a possibility.

I've heard synthetic can make some cars leak where they didn't before but in my case was the first time
I've seen it make the car use more oil than normal.

Anyways, just wanted to mention my experience hopefully it's nothing major.

T
I have Castrol High mileage with zinc 10w30 in there now. When I got the car there was no oil in it and I do not know for how long. It had not been run sans oil. Dude just pulled the engine from his bus and put it in the Thing with hopes of upgrades. Given the condition of the car it would never have started. The manifolds were not even attached. I had planned to tune it up and then change that oil and filter again.

I have no idea what the PO may have run in that engine. Given what I found electrically and mechanically it may have been Crisco cooking oil. (j/k)

Given the compression and leak down numbers I think condition is fine. Pretty sure I had a float stick on the Kads or something similar. Since I got the 44s running the smoke has cleared up and the ridiculously rich condition has too. I was away all weekend so this week I plan on tossing the AFR meter back on and maybe dropping a main jet size from 1.60 to 1.55.

Which of the Dyno oils are you running? I kinda feel like non-sythetic is still the way to go. Oil discussions are always so convoluted.

Sat May 17, 2025 4:53 pm

Waiting on Ghia body panels so I thought I would get back to Thing things.
The PO hackeed the frunk floor all up to attach an 8000 pound electric winch and ruin the bumper mounts. It is a mess.
But I am making progress.

Wed May 21, 2025 6:03 am

I bought an inexpensive bead roller to try to replace the lower 2 inches on the front of the frunk. Let's see how that goes....

Sun May 25, 2025 7:36 am

The PO did me no favors on the front bumper mounts.
He had tried to beef them up with 1/4 inch plates and booger welds to mount an 8000 lb winch. Since Thing Parts lists replacements as out of stock I decided to try to save these and got a good start.

Sun Jun 08, 2025 4:00 pm

At the risk of being too "chatty....."
Honey dos take precedence over hobby cars.
The deck is finally done and building all the hog fence panels in the shop is no longer taking up all the room (no pics of that are allowed I guess) so it is time to get back on the frunk.

I have been making some patch panels for inside the frunk where the PO did some serious damage with a sawzall and grinder as well as getting the bottom fitted. I bought an Eastwood bead roller and rolled a narrow panel to match the bottom bead of the front panel. I did not feel the need to replace the entire front with a 4-5 hundred dollar price tag. Hopefully I can get it all neatly in place. Pics of all that to follow.

Wed Jun 25, 2025 4:41 pm

Minor progress on the frunk.
Cut out the rot and bead rolled a replacement. It won't be perfect but nothing about this car is. I think I can make it acceptable. There was so much damage it has been a challenge.

Still need to weld in the PS repair panel and then the actual floor. Then lean up the welds on the front.

I was hoping to get it out to Gadsden, Alabama Saturday for the Show and Shine at Ed's Foreign Car Parts this Saturday but that may not happen.

Wed Jun 25, 2025 5:12 pm

Heiferman wrote: "It won't be perfect....."

May not be perfect, but it looks pretty damn good!

Sat Jun 28, 2025 8:06 am

Got side tracked by my F150 going down so am not going to be able to drive the Thing to Gadsden, AL for the show and shine today. Bummer. But we are headed out there shortly in the CRV. Pics to follow!

Sat Jun 28, 2025 5:04 pm

Fun day at #Ed's Foreign in Gadsden, Alabama.
Ran into Dan Leadbetter!
Cool rides from nearby and the wife won some of the 50/50!

Wed Jul 09, 2025 6:18 pm

We were gone for nearly a week over the 4th and have had another break down in the fleet. With that, I am trying desperately to get things in order for the drive to Athens Friday.
No pics of the outside yet as I don't want ridicule for the amount of filler I slapped on to cover the little seam I welded in. :lol:

Wed Jul 09, 2025 6:32 pm

You’re doing good. Hope to see you Friday

Wed Jul 09, 2025 8:06 pm

fastmc25 wrote: You’re doing good. Hope to see you Friday
We will be there - Thing or no Thing!

The list for tomorrow (and maybe Friday morning)
Sand the front clip
Apply two coats of primer
If time allows apply two coats of paint (doubt it)
Put the computer on it and see how happy the carbs are
Go get a tank filled with non-ethanol
Clean off the saw dust and treat the soft top

Or give up and drive the CRV

Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:33 pm

Well. I made progress. Far better than it was. Still have some ridges and cracks but at least there is not a piece of angle iron booger welded to the front if it.
The piece leaning against the headlight was what was cut off the bottom of the front clip. The inner frame rails I made from scratch.

Thu Jul 10, 2025 12:34 pm

Maybe a dumb question:
What is the stock location for the horn? On the bumper?
Also, where are the horn wires supposed to pass through? Been searching and failing.

Edit: found it
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=403747&highlight=horn

Thu Jul 10, 2025 7:24 pm

Tried to hustle to get Kubel on the road for tomorrow but it does not look good. Hit it for 10 hours and ran into unexpected issues.
When going to mount the horn I discovered the dozen 2 inch #6 sheet metal screws the PO used to mount the fender were not making it. (I knew they were there but was ignoring it.) So this happened...

I got M8 nutserts in where they were supposed to go and got rid of a few more pounds of body filler. I was able to get the old beat fender back on pretty straight and true. This car must have had a helluva wallop on the left front.

Anywho, in the process I discovered this:

I have owned 10 balljoint front end VWs and have never experienced this. I am perplexed. I tapped the plug back in place and tried to tin the edges a little but had no success. So I cleaned it really good and put a bead of gasket sealer around it. Super weird to me. I recently greased the front end and grease oozed slightly around the seals. Can't imagine it blowing that plug out.

Back together and got a little paint on it. The darn humidity screwed that plan. The tan all will have to get sanded off. It went on like a powder.

I was really hoping to get in a shake down run before heading to Athens. I have not driven it since I swapped the carbs because I had the frunk all ripped apart.

We will see what the AM brings. But the right now brings bourbon.

We will be there Friday with or without him.