TheSamba.com :: View topic - Help Needed

Thu Aug 01, 2024 9:37 am

Hello all, this is a new to me '66 baja. The motor is a 1600 Brazillian frankenstien. I know nothing about it other than it leaks oil and runs pretty good.

I recently fixed a major oil leak at the oil sump and was bummed to find it still leaking.

Take a look at the pics and please any advice or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

thanks!

CB

Thu Aug 01, 2024 11:08 am

My bet would be on the main seal behind the flywheel.

Thu Aug 01, 2024 1:09 pm

I was really hoping someone wouldn't say that...

How dangerous is it to drive it in this condition?

Schepp wrote: My bet would be on the main seal behind the flywheel.

Thu Aug 01, 2024 4:46 pm

The 2nd pic looks like a JB weld repair to me.

Thu Aug 01, 2024 7:03 pm

cbecker799 wrote: I was really hoping someone wouldn't say that...

How dangerous is it to drive it in this condition?

Schepp wrote: My bet would be on the main seal behind the flywheel.
Oh, please! Taking an engine outta a Baja is a piece of cake, compared to a full bodied sedan.
I could get that removed in less than half an hour. And I'm 64y.o. :shock:

You can still drive the car. But be aware, you take the chance of oiling your clutch.
Then there is more added costs to the minor repair of changing a forward main seal. $10 plus shipping.

If you keep driving the car. Keep an eye on the oil level, so you don't cook your engine.

Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:40 pm

Oil leaks are hard to trace on a VW air cooled engine. Besides having over 30 places for oil to escape, the windage from driving (especially an open baja engine) blows the oil all over the place.

While it may be the main engine seal, it could also be the oil tower in the fan shroud.

Best bet is to buy a gasket set and replace as many as you can after pulling the engine, and yes like 67rustavenger said it is that easy.

You need a floor jack, remove your engine cage, disconnect fuel, electric wires, and accelerator cable. Place a 1/2" board about the same size of the engine case on the floor jack and get it high enough to put some pressure on the engine. Remove the 4 17mm bolts in each corner (the starter one may be the most difficult or interesting) Gently but stoutly pull on the engine to the rear about 1" to 2" out. This gets your drive shaft removed from your clutch disk and the case removed from the lower two transaxle studs. Check that you can see the end of them. Then lower the floor jack slowly keeping the engine balanced on it and drag the jack away from the car. Done.

Fri Aug 02, 2024 6:11 am

Back in the Bug In days the record for removing the engine, dragging it 20 feet and reinstalling it was somewhere in the 2 minute mark. Two guys, wrenches, jack stands and a floor jack.

Thieves have done it on a full bodied Beetle in the time it takes to buy a pack of smokes in a 7/11.

Fri Aug 02, 2024 6:55 am

Thanks for the help everyone, I'm trying to work up the nerve to pull the motor...

As I just got this thing, I am also prioritizing my list of wants / needs.

Oil Leaks
Leaking rear axels
Brake master cylinder needs replacing
Needs tires all around
Shifter is super sloppy
Interior is a mess

I gotta say I love everything about this and am excited to have this thing as a project!

YDBD wrote: Oil leaks are hard to trace on a VW air cooled engine. Besides having over 30 places for oil to escape, the windage from driving (especially an open baja engine) blows the oil all over the place.

While it may be the main engine seal, it could also be the oil tower in the fan shroud.

Best bet is to buy a gasket set and replace as many as you can after pulling the engine, and yes like 67rustavenger said it is that easy.

You need a floor jack, remove your engine cage, disconnect fuel, electric wires, and accelerator cable. Place a 1/2" board about the same size of the engine case on the floor jack and get it high enough to put some pressure on the engine. Remove the 4 17mm bolts in each corner (the starter one may be the most difficult or interesting) Gently but stoutly pull on the engine to the rear about 1" to 2" out. This gets your drive shaft removed from your clutch disk and the case removed from the lower two transaxle studs. Check that you can see the end of them. Then lower the floor jack slowly keeping the engine balanced on it and drag the jack away from the car. Done.

Fri Aug 02, 2024 7:51 am

It's a couple bolts and nuts, unplug a couple wires/hoses. With some brute wiggling its out. Literally took me an hour the first time I did it.
It'll take a half a day of casual paced work with a few cold snack breaks to reseal the engine and have it back in. The fan shroud, Gen/Alt & stand can come out as one big piece.
If you have that handy torque multiplier tool for the gland nut on the flywheel its a breeze to remove/install.

Don't loose your flywheel shims! Also get one of those cheap clutch alignment thingy's.

Did you buy the "How to keep your vw alive" book yet?

Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:10 pm

QRP wrote: The 2nd pic looks like a JB weld repair to me.
Looks like someone tried to fix a crack with JB weld, check over that area.

Sat Aug 03, 2024 12:01 pm

Before you pull the motor give it a good power wash.
It'll make life much easier.