TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Dec 05, 2024 3:32 pm

The RIMA foundry took over casting the magnesium cases years back under license agreement with VW. RIMA continued to manufacture cases with the VW logo after the license expired and was ordered to stop production leading to the case shortage a few years back. The cases have been plagued by various issues since the beginning. Line bore issues were the first and looks like oil gallery drillings are the latest.

Motorav is the new name brand in Brazil selling the non VW logo magnesium stock cases which are still being cast at the RIMA foundry.

Here is the bulletin from Rima on the repair of the oil gallery that was not drilled correctly.

Greg posted this on Facebook and thought it would be useful here as well

Fri Dec 06, 2024 9:19 am

What is the approximate manufactured start date for this issue?

Fri Dec 06, 2024 9:24 am

1 that's real nice that they screwed that up
2 great that you found & posted this
3 maybe there's a source for that plug now?

Fri Dec 06, 2024 10:09 am

It would be nice if someone on their end prefaced the entire documented process by clearly describing the problem, FIRST. The user (who is sometimes bone-headed, like me) has to deduce after reading the first couple pages.

Something better might be: "During the manufacture of cases from the period of blah blah blah to the period of blah blah blah, it was discovered that the drilling of the gallery that (insert bearing number or other purpose of the particular gallery here) was not drilled deep enough, resulting in blah blah blah, etc. As a result, the gallery must be opened up at the blah blah location plug and reworked to finish the drilling process to the required depth to effect normal operation of the engine housing (or, "case" as we call it)."

Did I perceive the problem correctly? I've never de-plugged/re-plugged a case, I've always crossed my fingers as to cleanliness and just been lucky, I think.

Sorry, just ranting as an engineer who has to write peer-reviewed documents for an aerospace firm. :wink:

Fri Dec 06, 2024 10:27 am

Yes you got it right, they did not drill deep enough to reach the oil gallery which feeds the #4 (pulley) bearing.

Sorry I didnt add more to the original post, the pages on FB had video of the inspection process of a case where the issue was found. Another poster who was aware of the issue and had the bulletin sent them to Greg via PM.

I got excited on finding this information and posted as soon as I read it.

I wonder if they ever found case "0" with the broken off drill bit lodged in the oil gallery.

What I find disturbing is that the distributors did not give this information to the public. Being that SCAT is on the import list and they purchased a huge amount of cases a year ago Im sure they have been aware for some time.

Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:27 am

AlteWagen wrote: Yes you got it right, they did not drill deep enough to reach the oil gallery which feeds the #4 (pulley) bearing.

Sorry I didnt add more to the original post, the pages on FB had video of the inspection process of a case where the issue was found. Another poster who was aware of the issue and had the bulletin sent them to Greg via PM.

I got excited on finding this information and posted as soon as I read it.

I wonder if they ever found case "0" with the broken off drill bit lodged in the oil gallery.

What I find disturbing is that the distributors did not give this information to the public. Being that SCAT is on the import list and they purchased a huge amount of cases a year ago Im sure they have been aware for some time.
Disturbing for sure, and I didn't realize there was a tool that broke, leading to this fiasco.

No fault of yours rushing this info to post, you're doing a service to the community :!:

Fri Dec 06, 2024 2:54 pm

I:M Damn glad you posted this !! Or I'd be putting together a motor that would take a shit in the 1st 2 miles or less. in the great state of oregone. I would cost me over $200 to have the plug replaced. I'd be lucky to get it pulled out for $100 +.

I just received case # 30823 A, which shows up 5 times on that list.
These reject cases are being sold ! So scat gets them in,, they sort out the motorav - 3 and # of the listed case. Then sell those to Pacific international
who either drop ships or sell to the ebay bullshitters. who sells these knowing defective. But sold as BARE cases. @ 950 shipped.

I gathered all this via the shipping labels. Plus the motorav box had to other boxes over theses and a bag of dry the air stuff inside the case.

Wed Dec 11, 2024 1:25 pm

I just got a case from SCAT (03523A) which doesn't appear to be on the list.

Casting info on the bell end says 23/10 on one side and 18/V, 22/11 on the other half.

Thu Dec 12, 2024 5:28 am

Appears a few of us got screwed, does not appear to be that hard of a repair to do except does anybody know where to get the sealing plug? Part 040 101 112 1 that is listed, I did an internet serarch and came up with nothing.

Thu Dec 12, 2024 6:47 am

I have (6) cases I need to check.
Much thanks for the info.

Thu Dec 12, 2024 7:09 am

busman78 wrote: Appears a few of us got screwed, does not appear to be that hard of a repair to do except does anybody know where to get the sealing plug? Part 040 101 112 1 that is listed, I did an internet serarch and came up with nothing.

It's tough to read the dims on the plug, but it looks like 6.3 plug dia. in a 6.76 hole, should be 6.8, probably just can't see it clearly, I will make some plugs if people need some, PM me, I have a case here also for a customer he says his case is exempt.

Sat Dec 14, 2024 3:05 pm

Anybody that has a case on the list needs to do the qualifying test at the end of the instructions, I did mine that were on the list and they flow, no blockage. Even pulled an original case and the water / air flow out the third bearing oil port is the same.

Check em'

Thu Dec 19, 2024 7:24 pm

I'm working on one now, oil pick up tube is 16 mm vs 18mm like a 1600 DP, styled more like a 40hp -1500 style pick up tube, bent and choked a bit vs. the 1600 DP case pick up with it's wide manifold area above the pick up, also the oil return galley dia. from cooler to case is 10 mm vs. 12mm for a 1600 also.
I would suspect reduced flow, (gpm) in the oil system with this case.
I'll try to post some pics later.

Fri Dec 27, 2024 6:20 pm

here is an old pic i found of the restrictor

Sat Jun 21, 2025 4:39 am

You would think Motorav would be able to supply the plugs. They must have 1000’s of them on hand.

Sat Jun 21, 2025 5:14 am

I would like to pull that plug out of the two cases I have even though both passed the water squirt test, unfortunately no access to replacement plugs. I did send an inquiry to Scat if this plug was available, no response. Then sent a request to Motorav for spares, offered to pay, even offered to buy in quantity if required. No response. If anybody comes up with source for those plugs post it.

Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:20 am

I was about to pull the trigger on a new mag case but saw a ton of complaints on FB about soft cases leading to worn lifter bores even on stock builds. Today this was posted about poor line bore from the factory. Anyone else seeing this?

Anyone hearing of issues with the aluminum stock case from autolinea? Thinking might just go that route just based on strength of the aluminum vs. a modern "H" case that might be pulling studs after a while.

Mon Sep 29, 2025 1:30 pm

Looks more like miss-matched case haves than a bad boring job.