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Robert H
Samba Member
Joined: January 19, 2014
Posts: 91
Location: Wichita, KS
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 Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 6:36 am Post subject: Engine case material |
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| Can someone clear somethingup for me? I have heard that VW-made engine cases on earlier models were magnesium, and later changed to aluminum. I have also heard that all VW-made engine cases were mag. Ane what about after-market cases? Aluminum, mag?? |
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*Darren
Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2013
Posts: 917
Location: MD
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 7:46 am Post subject: |
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| actually cases were aluminum until early 1951. Then went electron (magnesium) and eventually again aluminum. |
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Aussiebug
Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2002
Posts: 2162
Location: Adelaide Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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| *Darren wrote: |
| actually cases were aluminum until early 1951. Then went electron (magnesium) and eventually again aluminum. |
Errr not quite.
The "magnesium" cases had about 1% aluminium in the alloy.
The later so called "aluminium" cases were still mostly magnesium, but the aluminium content was increased to about 4%. This made the metal more malleable (machinable) and it doesn't go brittle with age the way the older cases do (with the lower aluminium content in the alloy). So the later "aluminium" cases (with AS21 or AS41 cast into the sides) make a much better case for rebuilding.
_________________
Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.vw-resource.com |
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glutamodo 
The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004
Posts: 26528
Location: Douglas, WY
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| Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Weren't the Type 4 engine blocks cast with a high-aluminum-content alloy? |
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