Scored a local '65 Deluxe, The Monster

[richparker]

Very eventful day today. There I was going 70 on the highway at 40 psi and 180° temp. I smelt like a burning smell, thought it was weird, I checked the gauges and everything was perfect. Looked in the rearview mirror and thought to myself, it’s not on fire. Then I saw a gigantic plume of blue/gray colored smoke. I immediately shut it off, put it in neutral and coasted to a safe location to pull off. WTF just happened?

I called my wife, she came down with the truck and we towed the car home. I was only about a mile away.

After it cooled off I check the oil and it was really high. It didn’t smell like gas, so I’m assuming the anti-drain back valve in the filter failed. The crank still spins freely, there seems to be compression in all four cylinders and there’s oil leaking from anywhere.

Tomorrow I’m gonna check the valves, put a new filter on and check the plugs.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[VW_Jimbo]

DAMN! Hope nothing fried! Sounds like something gave up. Hope it was nothing. If those valves are tight, the engine cooked. Maybe it was a ring having an issue, because of the smoke.

Fingers crossed.
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Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[richparker]

[scrivyscriv]

I hope you find an easy, kick-yourself-in-the-butt fix for it.

Ya know ten years ago I saw guys (usually older than me) posting things like this here, and then being scared to daily whatever it was they were driving. And I remember thinking, geez, why give up daily driving such a cool vintage car/bus when it's just small maintenance and repair stuff that comes up?
I'm 40 now, with a great daily driver older F150, and a pretty decent '67 beetle in the garage that I know I'm just subconsciously worried will leave me stranded. Ten years ago in my MUCH WORSE '71 bus that needed WAY MORE I had no problem jumping in and going to work every day!

It's the things like this, that can suck the fun out of the vintage driving experience, if you let it. I think part of the problem is sub-par, no-QC parts that we almost can't avoid. You take a certain gamble when going to higher performance, as you well know Rich, but the unknown gamble is still parts quality.

Just rambling some thoughts. I've enjoyed following your topics. Summing up your problems makes it seem like you arrived at the conclusion in a snap, but we all know it takes time and frustration to hunt down issues, like your gassy oil fiasco.
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[richparker]

Just checked the valves and pulled the oil filter (Mobil 1 301A). #2 intake, 3 and for were tight. # 1 was perfect. There was some oil in the filter but, no oil came out when I removed it. So the anti-drain back failed.

The car is sitting level from side to side and when I pulled the 1/2 valve cover about an half quart of oil came pouring out. Was not prepared for that. I did catch some of that oil in the valve cover and inspected it in the sunlight. I used a screwdriver to swirl it and I would say it was glittery.

Everything I can see and inspect on the valve train looked perfect. Belt is new, I haven’t adjusted it since I installed it and it was loose, I tightened that.

I guess I’m gonna change the oil, only 200 miles on it, put a new filter on and fire it up.

Thoughts?
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[richparker]

I checked all the plugs, they were perfect. I installed a new filter, I did not prefill it. I primed it until the oil light went out, then I fired it up. There was a bit of smoke at first, but then I took it for a drive and it cleared out. Seems to be fine now.


Link

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[scrivyscriv]

Sounds good, and settles into a real nice idle.

I see those double carbs and recognize that this is easy to say from Tennessee… but…. You could always pull plugs and do a compression test if you’re any further concerned about a ring or valve problem


Or just drive it, and see what happens!
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Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help.

[richparker]

[richparker]

I believe this to be the first odometer flip.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[richparker]

I guess I didn’t realize it’s been 3 months since I updated this thread. The car has been fine since the smoke issue and hasn’t used any oil. Totally weird.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[mtnbus]

pretty cool you flipped the odometer ! fresh start

[richparker]

Took a nice 100 mile trip to Silverton, Co for my son’s XC meet this morning. Car ran beautifully and was a pleasure to drive. It was 50° when we left and 40° when we got to Silverton. Oil temp was nonexistent and the pressure was perfect. We crossed four 10,000’ passes, two in each direction.

Stopped at Samba member MTNbus and picked up a beetle tow bar. I’m going to look at a ‘67 deluxe tomorrow afternoon and I think I have a line on a ‘71 DC. Can’t buy them both, but hope to get at least one of them.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[richparker]

I've stopped riding my bike for the season, so been driving the car a lot. It’s always a blast to drive. It’s been ~2500 miles since the smoke incident and everything has been working as it should.

Today I changed the oil, Mobil 1 15/50. Changed the oil filter, Mobil 1 301A. Adjusted the valves, #4 exhaust and #1 intake were a little tight and the rest were perfect. I installed new FelPro cork gaskets as well.

I was planning on installing new window scrapers this fall. But since I recently bought a double cab and all extra funds are going to that now, that won’t be happening any time soon. The passenger side window regulator has become very stiff and I was going to address it when I installed the new scrapes. So I decided to do that today. I broke down the door, used white lithium grease spray on the regulator and silicone spray on the channels. The window is working a lot better now.

We went to the ABC Jamboree in Flagstaff 2 weeks ago. Link to that adventure, if you guys are interested.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=722695&start=280

Stoked on the amber parking lights!

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[Apostle_]

Love that car!

[ppilotmike]

there is some thing so right about this car. i think the wheels and tires plus the stance is what does it for me!

[richparker]

[ppilotmike]

thanks for the info Rich. I have the back suspension apart on my car right now, will put that to good use when I reindex my torsion arms!

[richparker]

Made these carboard inserts for my defroster extenders. They deflect the air to cover more of the windshield when it’s frosty or foggy.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab

[Bobs67vwagen]

I wish I had thought of the defroster mod 50 to 55 years ago when I needed to keep an ice scraper inside the car during winter. Nice work.

[richparker]

Today I adjusted the brakes, the pedal was feeling a bit low. I’ve been noticing a grumbling sound at highway speeds. Said to myself, that sounds like a loose rear wheel bearing. Turns out I was right, both rear caster nuts were loose. Those are new German drums and I didn’t install them.

I busted out the 3/4” breaker bar, the extension pipe and tightened both nuts. Got 1/2 turn on both. I bet it’s a lot quieter on the tomorrows commute.

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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’71 Double Cab