Adjusting valves on Air-cooled Vanagon, Help!

[mg93108]

Hi
Does anyone have a link to a site that goes through step by step instructions on how to adjust the valves on an aircooled vanagon?
I'd really appreciate some idiot-proof instructions.
Thank you very much.

[spacecadet]

Maybe find someone local with experience?
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Daily Drivers Only
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1990 Volvo 740 Turbo(Sold)
1986 Mercedes 300 Coupe (Sold)
1954 Volvo PV544 (Sold)
1990 Dodge D250 Cummins (Totaled)
1990 Vanagon GL 2.1 Automatic (Sold)
1968 Ford F250(Current)

[Wildthings]

The air cooled will the same as a watercooled assuming they still have the stock hydraulic lifters.

[wolfej1]

[SyncroGhia]

As written above, the tappets should not need adjusting on an air-cooled Vanagon. If they do then you have issues with the hydraulic followers and should research checking and possibly replacing these followers.

MG
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T3 Syncro 16 S6 Westfalia Limey SOLD
T3 Syncro 6x6 SOLD
T3 RS6 Bluestar
T3 Tristar Syncro 16 SOLD
T3 Tristar Syncro RHD SOLD

[Microbusdeluxe]

Gotta disagree with you SyncroGhia. While the hydraulic valves do not need the constant adjustment of the old solid lifters, they definitely can get out of whack and need to be brought back into spec.

To the original poster. you need to buy a manual, preferably the Bentley. You also should do a search on the bay window forum as the later window bays use the same engine as the early vanagons. Valve adjustment is not difficult and only needs to be done every 12,000 miles or so.
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'69 Squareback RIP
'65 21 window deluxe sold before the price spike, damn it.
'70 rhd bay now a taxi in South Sudan
'81 Westy sold
'89 hightop Westy Joker syncro 16" now with Bostig!

[Terry Kay]

From: Karl ([email protected]) You moved this message to its current location.
Sent: Sun 8/26/01 7:14 PM
Cc: [email protected]


I keep seeing people trying to adjust valves using the distributor when it is inthe wrong position.
Forget all that goofy crap way of doing it by turning the engine backwards and trying to remember which ones to do.
The EASIEST way to doit is with a remote starter button and not worrying where the distributor is.
Takes longer to R + R the valve covers then to adjust them!:
Remove both covers.Connect a remote starter to the solenoid.Watch ANY pair of rockers.
Turn engine over with remote.Just as the exhaust valve starts to open,
STOP.
Adjust the intake.Turn engine, exhaust will open and close, intake will open and close.
Just as the intake closes, STOP.
Adjust the exhaust.Go to the next cylinder.

As the exhaust just starts to move, adjust the intake.
When the intake just closes, adjust the exhaust.Real simple, real quick, real easy.
The valve you are adjusting will always be on the heel of the cam. When you are done and before you put the covers back on, you can check theposition of the distributor.

Turn engine in direction of rotation and watch #3 valves. When the exhaust opensand then just closes, STOP.

At the instant the exhaust closes the intake willstart to open. You want the valves to be at 'rocking' position, either way you move the crank one valve will move.
This is TDC to fire #1. Look at your crankpulley. If you have a zero degree mark, it will be at zero.
Your rotor should beat the index mark also. [a high lift or long duration or high overlap cam makesno difference, rocking valves is rocking valves]If you are NOT at TDC zero mark when the valves are rocking, your cam timing is OFF. ------------------------------------------------
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T.K.

[Macwesty]

I have to agree that the valves on a hydraulic lifter engine do need to be checked occasionally. The engine in my 82 westy is a Canadian VW factory reman of unknown mileage and even though the bus has under 100k on it now I checked the valves and found a couple pretty far out of spec.

I had a lot of experience adjusting 4 cylinder air cooled (non hydraulic) valves on my first car, a VW bug and a Porsche 356 engine I rebuilt with my dad when I was 13 so the procedure for this engine came back quick but I found the article over at http://www.itinerant-air-cooled.com really helpful.

Create an account and then go to the "Engine" section and look for the "Hydraulic Lifter Adjustment" article.

My engine was really clacking away before I adjusted the valves and it quieted down dramatically on the test drive after the adjustment.
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'82 Vanagon Westfalia
Subaru SVX power!