1800cc (1799cc) Engine Build

[boxer74]

[Alstrup]

Thats a controversial question. But, once you are reasoably sure that you are not running overly rich or lean, drive it fresh for the first 200 km then the whip for the next 300 and be done with it.
As I use to say, a curvy road, preferably a little hilly is the best, so you can get on and off the throttle many times. - Or create such an "enviroment" on a flat back road.
Then on a chassis dyno to get it 100% dialed in.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435993

[chrisflstf]

A leakdown test is a good indicator of ring sealing ability

[hulbyw]

Well done David!! And thanks for this thread as I am sure many of us on here have learn't a huge amount as we have followed your journey. Your openness to asking sensible questions and politeness has created a thread with straight questions and straight answers without the angst that occurs on some threads on here. Enjoy the drive

[Murt]

Thank you @hulbyw, that's very kind of you.
I thought I was about to wrap up this thread, and sail off into the sunset enjoying the Bus and the good weather.
Unfortunately, disaster has struck !!! well, not really disaster I suppose, but something that needs doing, so will probably need some more advice ?
Anyhoo, 3 days of fault free running, went out today and did another 30-35miles in him (that's nearly 100 miles in 3 days). Had just started to come off the dual carriageway (70mph speed limit) I guess you guys call it the freeway ? he was running superbly, I was doing about 50mph at about 3k revs, when I heard a quick noise, I looked down and saw pressure gauge on zero, and the green idiot light on. I immediately turned him off, and coasted off the freeway to a safe spot.
Couldn't believe it, as was only half a mile from home !!!
Anyway, exited the bus, and could see a small pool of oil from below the filter, but worse than that, on opening the hatch, found this

I had fitted the CB Oil Breather/Filler tower, and it looks like it has just come loose ? I fitted it using the special tool, but here lies my question ? Do you guys use Loctite or something to ensure this doesn't happen ? I know that sometimes the tool is a bit sketchy, and should of bought one of those 'inner' pipe wrenches probably ? I am using the vent 'C' to a road
draft tube for pressure relief

I need to investigate the oil leak from below the filter now to find out where that oil is coming from (haven't had time yet )

As I said, luckily only half a mile from the farm, brother in law was baling at the time, but jumped out of the tractor, got in the pick up and came and got us

I now need to get the bus back on the ramp, and get it fixed not today though !! having a beer as I speak
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1966 VW Beetle ‘Jules’
1967 Kombi Splitscreen ‘Barney’
2018 VW Caddy Maxi R Line
2017 Golf GTD saloon
2008 VW EOS 2.0 TFSi

[Glenn]

Wow, that sucks , but luckily you got it in time.

I've installed a dozen of them and never had a problem. Never used thread lock either.

I've seen someone, maybe csp make a glandnut that has a large hex opening. It comes with a matching male hex tool that is driven with a 3/8 ratchet.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[Glenn]

Found it

https://www.coolairvw.co.uk/category/shop-by-vehic...ller-nuts/
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[BFB]

That breather coming off isnt going to cause loss of oil pressure
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"how am i supposed to torque the rear wheel nut to 250 ft lbs??? " - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
Most experts aren't.

[Murt]

Thank you Glenn
I am going to get on that
Hi BFB, yes, there was obviously no oil coming from there ?, it seems to be coming from the filter location? I did quickly lay down under the bus, and check the hoses to the cooler, and they were good, but tomorrow I need to see if the actual oil loss was from one of the 4 unions on the filter head or the filter itself maybe. I don't know what or how they could be related though, was sort of hoping you engine guys had maybe come across a similar problem ??

It was difficult at the time to diagnose fully, as we were on a bit of a bend, and my wife was trying to watch for traffic
Luckily as I said my brother in law was there within a few minutes, and we towed the Bus back in to the Barn. Once I come to terms with a way forward, I'll be on it. Like Glenn said, need to ensure that I lock down that filler tower properly next time, and going to look at the CSP stuff he's linked
Cheers
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1966 VW Beetle ‘Jules’
1967 Kombi Splitscreen ‘Barney’
2018 VW Caddy Maxi R Line
2017 Golf GTD saloon
2008 VW EOS 2.0 TFSi

[Glenn]

I've see the threaded fitting for the filter not perpendicular to the base so the filter doesn't sit square and completely seal.
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Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[Zed999]

Just once I had a filter unscrew itself and saw my oil pressure plummet so fast the oil pressure gauge actually caught my eye! I did same as you and coasted to a stop. My oil was cold, I'd only travelled about 1/2 mile. It never happened again but these days I keep my revs down until the oil warms a bit.

[Alstrup]

Use Loctite 572 on the head and threads.
If possible use that CSP nut . MUCH better.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=435993

[Murt]

Thank you @Zed999
Yes, I have a Speedhut USA (VW) Speedo/Tacho combined gauge fitted and have the rev limit warning set at 4k, normally wouldn't get near that If possible. But...we had stopped at a vendor selling cherries in a layby, about 800 yards from the slip road, and I did pump the gas a bit (not 4k though) to get back up to speed to re-join before we exited a bit further up the road if that makes sense ? Oil would have been definitely up to temp, so maybe it was that quick step on the throttle ?

Hi Torben, yes, thank you, I have just ordered the the CSP parts from VW Heritage on express delivery, and will Definitely be re-fitting with some Loctite 572
Cheers
Dave

I guess this is all part and parcel of why we love VW's ??
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1966 VW Beetle ‘Jules’
1967 Kombi Splitscreen ‘Barney’
2018 VW Caddy Maxi R Line
2017 Golf GTD saloon
2008 VW EOS 2.0 TFSi

[Clatter]

What a great thread!

Having done so many of these engines for so long it's good to see the process from a beginner's perspective.

Also, MOST refreshing to see someone take their time and do their best work.

So,
How did this play out?
Is the bus currently perched beautifully atop a cliff in Spain somewhere?
Inquiring minds want to know!


PS
I myself -detest- external oil coolers.
Only run one of those as a last resort if you absolutely cannot tune the thing to cool running.
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Bus Motor Build

I have excellent news for the world...
There is no such thing as patina.
It does not exist!

[Murt]

Hi @Clatter.
Thank you for your comments.
As you probably know, I was as Green as Grass a couple of years back. We invested in what turned out to be a very Bling Bergmann POS, to the tune of £9500.00p ( $12500 ?) only to get 250 miles
I told myself that as I had planned to retire, I was going to try and learn all I could about VW air cooled engines, with a view to building one myself from scratch, and when I had taught myself, I was going to fix that damn Beetle
Anyway as you probably guessed from this thread, I studied just about every build on here, including your excellent build thread

I read, and I cleaned and measured constantly and I asked questions all the way through the build, and followed advice almost to the letter and to the best I could.

I had some fantastic advice from on here, and lots of PM private support and advice as well.

The Bus Engine is a pleasure to drive.
Starts well, Pulls well, and runs cool (55mph @3500rpm on RGB's). We have been doing lots of trips this past summer, getting to know her if that makes sense ?

Loads of smaller journeys of about 40 - 60 miles each way, and although I still watch for the Oil Pressure idiot light and the gauge like a hawk after a minor scare, I have a real confidence that next year, that we can take on some fairly decent runs abroad into France/Holland/Belgium etc, as we only live 12 miles from the Channel Tunnel, and a crossing to France only takes 35 minutes.
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1966 VW Beetle ‘Jules’
1967 Kombi Splitscreen ‘Barney’
2018 VW Caddy Maxi R Line
2017 Golf GTD saloon
2008 VW EOS 2.0 TFSi

[vamram]

Great thread, amazing work. Looking forward to videos crossing the chunnel! What ended up causing the loss of oil pressure a few months back?
_________________
"Men are qualified for civil liberty in exact proportion to their disposition
to put moral chains upon their own appetites. -Edmund Burke

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...we hardly knew ye. Sold 2025 for peanuts.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[Murt]

Hi @vamram.
Thank you, yes, roll on next Year
As for the 'problem', It was self inflicted I'm afraid

I was using Rubber Oil hose onto Barb fittings, and one of the clamps at the filter head wasn't correctly tightened all down to ME

I will be changing the fittings on the CSP Easyflow 'In/Out' Pump next oil change and and will get some M18x1.5 to AN08 adapters installed, and replace the oil lines with proper Braided AN Hoses.
_________________
1966 VW Beetle ‘Jules’
1967 Kombi Splitscreen ‘Barney’
2018 VW Caddy Maxi R Line
2017 Golf GTD saloon
2008 VW EOS 2.0 TFSi