Phoenix - A 1971 VW Westie returns from the Ashes

[williamM]

I think they did that alot- I've a set T4 heads- stamped GEX- so maybe their heads outlast their lowers.
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some days I get up and just sit and think. Some days I just sit.

opinion untempered by fact is ignorance.

Don't step in any!

[peteandvanessa]

Drained the Fuel tank yesterday. Here's the tank after the firewall was removed:

Here's the fuel filler hose, this will be renewed:

The center fuel vent hose showed evidence of a small leak. This will be refreshed as well:

The right hand fuel vent hose also showed signs of a small leak, time to renew this as well:

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My 1974 Standard Build Thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568220&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

My Son's 1971 Bay Window Westie Build Thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7295189#7295189

[peteandvanessa]

Replaced all the fuel lines and filler hose on the BUS.

While the engine was out we inspected the GEX Heads.

The motor had been burning a lot of oil, found that one of the heads was cracked between the exhaust valve and spark plug hole. The other head wasn't too clever either. Decided to fit new heads, barrels, pistons and piston rings. Didn't measure the compression, but we knew the compression was probably pretty low, since the motor lacked power and the heads, valve and plugs were covered in an oily mess.

While we were in there, we also inspected the valve train, which was pretty worn. Once of the rocker mounts was broken as well (we suspect that when GEX supposedly rebuild the motor they just fitted crappy used heads and valve train).
So the valve train is being replaced as well. The 3/4 cylinders were also missing the cylinder deflectors, which wasn't helping and the oil cooler at the rear was missing the seals, so they were refreshed as well.

Just for fun we are putting the altitude compensation, throttle positioner back in and the charcoal evap canister


Starting to build the engine up again after the top end refresh (as far as we can tell the bottom end looks ok, with no real issues with end play).

Here's some of the rebuild so far, planning on finishing it up this weekend and firing her back up.

_________________
My 1974 Standard Build Thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568220&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

My Son's 1971 Bay Window Westie Build Thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7295189#7295189

[peteandvanessa]

Got the Engine back in.

Still tidying up a few items. But she's alive and running again:

Altitude Compensator:

Throttle Positioner (not fully operational yet, need new throttle arm)

Motor Installed:

Link

_________________
My 1974 Standard Build Thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568220&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

My Son's 1971 Bay Window Westie Build Thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7295189#7295189

[Tcash]

Can you please post a picture of the charcoal canister, to complete the vent line pics.
Thank you
Tcash

[peteandvanessa]

[peteandvanessa]

I think the previous owner cut out part of the bracket for the charcoal filter, so I had to improvise.

First I pop riveted the mounting bracket into the engine bay:

Then mounted the charcoal filter:

It was alittle tricky to connect the filter to the gas tank vent lines. The outlet of the gas tank vent line was about 8-10mm, where as the inlet to the charcoal filter was about 4-5mm. So I used a larger piece of pipe left over from the brake hose vacuum lines and inserted some fuel hose into it and then connected it to the charcoal filter. The other end that connects to the gas tank vent line worked just fine with no issue. Just used some hose clamps to snug it all down:

The other larger hose on the charcoal filter (next to the vent line) goes to the air filter, like this (I think, since there are two connections on the air filter, the other one goes to the oil filler neck):

I ran out of hose, but the other side of the charcoal filter goes to the nipple on the fan. I just didn't connect it yet because I didn't have enough hose.

Here's what the engine bay looks like now:

_________________
My 1974 Standard Build Thread:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=568220&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

My Son's 1971 Bay Window Westie Build Thread:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=7295189#7295189

[bearrowland]

Great job!!!
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The bag isn't for what I'm taking along. It's for what I find along the way! MacGyver

[mattlockwood]

Wow! Very inspirational thread. Just read the whole thing thru. Maybe the best thread on the bay window forum.

Question: what did you use on the sides of your wood headliner to support it?
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1970 Bay Window Bus.
110 hp 6 cyl Aircooled automatic

[peteandvanessa]