overheating oil issue in 1776

[hlwimmer]

hi all: i've been putting the vintage-speed 1776 back into action recently now that the weather is improving and have run into an issue: overheating. sorry for the long post.

unfortunately, my engine builder is unavailable and i might have to resort to tearing into it myself -- which is potentially dangerous as i'm more the "designer" than the "builder" type, but i'm about out of options here in norcal... thus the post to the community.

the motor is a 1776 with an 010 dizzy and dual zeniths. i think the cam is a 110, but i can't recall. i have a porsche-356 style bypass oil filter and oil-pressure and cylinder-head-temp gauges installed. the shroud is a doghouse style and the cooling system is otherwise stock, but i recall the fan being the "welded/balanced" type. the engine runs well. the carbs run a teeny-bit rich, but not terribly.

the problem: after a run up the freeway, the engine overheats to the point where (i suspect) the oil is thinned so much as to reduce pressure below the 10PSI spot. at this point, the motor is blisteringly hot (block / dipstick) but the head temps read about 200-250deg via the gauge... i've recently been running a deck-lid standoff and it's helping, but not completely solving the issue (i also have a 'vert decklid).

it's gotten to the point that i've had to run progressively crazy-heavy oil (presently trying 60W racing).

i'm thinking either:

(1) i have no idea what i'm talking about and should just find someone who can fix it properly. solution: find someone ... (ideas? i'm in the SFBay area -- specifically concord).

(2) the timing might have drifted causing some overheating issues. solution: re-time. (a little harder since i'm running a repop OT pulley, but...)

(3) a previous mishap with the cam/crank gear threw shavings into the oil stream and the cooler is plugged (backstory: shortly after the motor's maiden voyage, the helical gears went south when on the road to a show throwing shavings into the oil -- which looked like metallic paint. the builder replaced with "stronger" straight cut gears which have worked fine since, but now wondering about the cooler... not sure if the builder replaced it on the 2nd build). solution: replace oil cooler and shore-up everything in there. (i believe the hoover bit is installed)

(4) with the dual carbs, the engine just needs more air for both combustion and cooling. solution: find a way to get more air in there... like the standoff.

(5) the design of my CSP competition exhaust keeps hot pipes too close to the heart of the beast. solution: deal with it as the exhaust was so damn expensive (or maybe replace the heater boxes with j-tubes for a bit more space/air-flow down there -- i never run the heat).

thanks for any insight or wisdom that you can lend...

motor pix: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/798575.jpg

(i've just order a jay-cee standoff from CB to replace my home-made one.)

[RockCrusher]

Do you have all the stock tinware in place? And I mean ALL of it....

RC
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[hlwimmer]

[Max Welton]

[71_1302]

Sorry to read about your overheating troubles. You have a beautiful engine and car.

A couple of things come to mind, but I have questions first. What weight of oil were you using when the engine first started overheating? What were your cold and hot oil pressure readings with that initial weight of oil? What are these readings now with 60W oil? Just curious, since you appear to have a dual sender in your engine compartment.

Also, definitely verify your timing. This is the most likely suspect to me, since you appear to believe it may have changed at some point.

Best,

-S
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71' Super Beetle, now departed.

[hlwimmer]

[Max Welton]

[nsracing]

60W oil, huh? what is w/ the tranny oil?

Is this a high compression engine? Maybe your timing or too lean mixture.