Any known issues with dual port intake boots?

[richard123vmt]

I am talking about the usual red-brown boots that seal the end castings to the intake. I installed these only six months ago and possibly less than 500 miles since then but one boot is split open. (NOW I know why I have had backfiring.) The other side seems okay by carburetor cleaner spray test.
The same type of boot previously lasted 15 years. Is there a quality issue I should know about? Better alternative boot? This boot was not subjected to any abuse or even much service on the engine since it has been on.

[SGKent]

those boots have always been an issue. Usually the red-orange ones or poly ones last the longest.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[richard123vmt]

The ones that I had seemed indestructible. When I get some replacements tomorrow I will look into alternatives.`
Actually, I am glad I know where I stand. I haven't used the bus much--too busy with other things--but was concerned I might have burnt a valve. Hopefully not so. I don't think I have driven it enough for that. My spray test also implicated the carb gasket which I have already obtained replacement. So, hopefully I will be in a position to do some travelling soon.

[richard123vmt]

I took a closer look at the boot which I had just tossed in the car. It is not the tan material I took it to be. I took it to be the same as rear red silicone engine seals. But instead it is some jelly like crap that tears easily. Good vision helps! It looks like the old stuff but the old stuff was indestructible.

[richard123vmt]

I took a closer look at the boot which I had just tossed in the car. It is not the tan material I took it to be. I took it to be the same as rear red silicone engine seals. But instead it is some jelly like crap that tears easily. Good vision helps! It looks like the old stuff but the old stuff was indestructible.

[richard123vmt]

My two local sources had only the same soft urethane (?) stuff which is incredibly delicate. But one had a used red silicone boot in good condition which he gave me and I installed. I ordered a pair of red silicone boots online so now I will see what I get. I am hoping it will not be more of the same.
The air cooled VW hobby used to be familar with the expression You Get What You Pay For. But nowadays it could be replaced by You DON'T Get What You Pay For. Same idea.
Anyway I got the boot on and also replaced the carb gasket. Now the spray test shows no leaks on intake side and engine runs okay. Tomorrow I will replace calipers. Although April, it is getting hot by afternoon.

[SGKent]

the red-orange silicone ones used to last me about three to four years depending on the weather, and heat. The factory rubbers ones at that time might only have lasted six months to 2 years as I recall before they cracked and leaked.
_________________
“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[airschooled]

When installing them, you MUST tighten down the intake manifold bolts before tightening the boot hose clamps. The center section of the manifold has a slot that allows a few mm of movement on the vertical and fore/aft axes. Get the center section as close as you can to perfectly centered in the less flexible outer sections, torque the manifolds down, and THEN snug up the hose clamps- not tighten. Manifold vacuum will keep the air seal intact under normal operation.

I got tired of this and went single-port. Haven’t touched my manifold in three years now.

Good luck,
Robbie
_________________
Learn how your vintage VW works. And why it doesn't!
One-on-one tech help for your Volkswagen:
www.airschooled.com

[tootype2crazy]

http://www.siliconeintakes.com/intake-pipe-reducer/?osCsid=097ede5c59a48c4e6245065dede06619

Can't remember which size fits on a stock 1600 manifold cuz I drive a type 4 powered bus but I know they sell one that fits. You'd need to measure and stuff. Those are turbo silicone pipe connectors and will still be in good shape when we and the buses are rotting into the ground.
_________________
air-cooled or nothing for me
1978 Sunroof Deluxe Bus (daily driver)
1978 Transporter (mom's, making into a camper)
1970 Single Cab 2.1 turbo/EFI 6 Rib, 78 front beam, vanagon backing plates on rear (project)
2001 GTI VR6 (wife's)

[airschooled]

[tootype2crazy]

[Wildthings]

Thirty'ish years ago when I built the custom manifold I have for my Type 4 with a progressive, I designed it to use fuel filler hose instead of the problematic stepped Type 1 boot. Still running the same set of extremely tough boots today. I may well soon adapter similar boots to the Type 1 engine in my T-181.

[rkeller]

Now the engine is out of the single cab to address an improperly mounted generator, I thought replacing the boots would be a good idea. The closest set of the silicone reducers made for turbo and water cooling automotive applications are 1-1/2” x 1-1/4” ones. I’ll report back from in after install.
http://www.siliconeintakes.com/intake-pipe-reducer/pipe-reducer-p-122.html
_________________
71 single cab, 67 deluxe bug (to daughter), 67 custom ragtop bug (sold to pay for restoration), 71 super (1st car, long gone)

[skills@eurocarsplus]

as a side note, you need the correct clamps to have these last any length of time. a normal hose clamp will cut into them
_________________

[rkeller]

After Install:
Here's the parts that are the closest in size that I was able to find.

They fit pretty well but I did have to trim off 3/8" from the small end.

Here is a comparison between the two:

I heated up the new ones slightly and used some soapy water and they slid on no problem. I was able to reuse the original large clamp on the small end but had to go with a s.s. hose clamp for the larger end. Beefy!
Daddy Likes...
_________________
71 single cab, 67 deluxe bug (to daughter), 67 custom ragtop bug (sold to pay for restoration), 71 super (1st car, long gone)

[FullFender]

[sodbuster]

Just speaking here from my own experience. I put a set of Bugpack urethane intake boots on my 71 bus when I installed a new motor. I used proper boot clamps when I installed them.

I never had a single problem with them say for one. And it just required the clamps to be re-tightened once. They were in place fifteen years until the motor snapped a valve off last year.

At that point the boots were still serviceable and might have been reused but new motor new boots is the rule of thumb here. So I installed another pair on the new motor. So far so good. looking forward to another fifteen years on these intake boots too.

[rkeller]

That is one Kleen motor.
very nice!
_________________
71 single cab, 67 deluxe bug (to daughter), 67 custom ragtop bug (sold to pay for restoration), 71 super (1st car, long gone)

[rkeller]

[wcfvw69]

https://www.wagen-werks.com/intake-manifold-boots-dual-port-original-vw-pair/

These look like the real deal...
_________________
Contact me at [email protected]
Follow me on instagram @sparxwerksllc

Decades of VW and VW parts restoration experience.
The Samba member since 2004.

**Now rebuilding throttle bodies for VW's and Porsche's**
**Restored German Bosch distributors for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored German Pierburg fuel pumps for sale or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche fuel pumps or I can restore yours**
**Restored Porsche distributors or I can restore yours**