64 Kombi restoration (Formerly know as the "partial restore”)

[sgellis]

[ralexward]

I would guess it was around 3-4 degrees when we times it at max advance. Must have bumped it when we had it apart. Really weird it ended up that far out.

[sgellis]

Fixed the transmission… well not a great fix.

Just enough tension to hold in gear. It only pops out at low RPM under load. I will rebuild it this winter but have a few more trips to make. Hopefully it lasts.

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My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[sgellis]

Camping on the coast of Maine tonight. BBTB tomorrow.

Bus working good but running a bit rich I think. Ran out of gas at 195 miles. I usually go 200. Started walking to the gas station a mile away and a nice guy stopped and gave us some gas. We will be getting gas at 160 from now on.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[Eric&Barb]

[sgellis]

[sgellis]

Bit of a problem today. #2 exhaust valve decided to loose it's head. Borrowed a floor jack and pulled the motor. Removed the bits and reassembled without pushrods.

Got us to BBTB! 5 hours late. Works well considering.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[BulliBill]

Bummer! So you re-assembled and drove on with three functioning cylinders to an event, and got home too? Good trick to know... I'll be driving one of my Buses from Phoenix to St. Louis in a couple of weeks and don't expect issues, but it helps to store those "tricks" in your memory bank...

Bill
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I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[sgellis]

[Eric&Barb]

Good that the damage was so little that you could get it back on the road!

Old valves run hard and hot will do that.

A shop we trusted back in the 1970s- early1990s (when they closed) did some valve tests. Took SS and stock valves out of heads with over 100,000 miles. Stuck the valve stems in a vice and hammered on the valve head to bend the stem over. SS valves bent over a full 90 degrees without problem. Stock steel valves would just break off before bending.

They had also noticed when the national speed limit was 55 MPH that the type 4 engine in the bus would easily go 200,000 to 300,000 miles before needing a rebuild if maintained. Once the speed limit went up to 60 MPH or more, longevity dropped to more like about 125,000, when a valve broke or valve seat would drop.

You are probably have the older 7mm stemmed valve, VW went to 9mm for the FI type 1 and the type 4 engines. A n upgrade you should consider for your new or rebuilt heads.
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In Stereo, Where Available!

[sgellis]

We made it home. 700 miles on three cylinders. Bus will stay that way untill winter. No long trips though.

Was a fun weekend even with the breakdown. Fun story anyway. Sunday we caravaned back with Burlyhammer and his son to his place. Great fun. Somehow I always end up with a bunch of free stuff when we stop there.

Monday we made it to Saint John and got the boat to Nova Scotia. Power out everywhere here from the storm. Just got cell service back and may get power tomorrow. Nice to have a bus fridge. Driving the bus everywhere so the battery stays charged.

I have a rebuilt block assembled and will put new 1600 cylinder set on and get two heads rebuilt. Next year it should be dependable. This old engine was only supposed to run a few hundred miles when we put it together. That was 7000 miles ago.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[sgellis]

Leaching power from work to keep the battery topped up. Takes about three hours driving to recover the battery from running the fridge overnight. We may get our power back on tomorrow but wont be surprised if it takes a few more days.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[Burlyhammer]

[sgellis]

Happened to be in the barn so grabbed my new block. It was supposed to be completely rebuilt many years ago and never run. Has been re-stamped.

I will split it and inspect/measure everything. I can see the connecting rods were not done so definitely don't trust what's inside. I need to pick up some good measuring tools.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[sgellis]

Very nice day for a drive.

Still running on 3 cylinders with no problems. Was hoping to get another camping trip or two in this year but busy with house projects. Really should get the roof on before snow hits. . Also don't want to take the bus more than a couple hours form home with only 3/4 of an engine. We likely only have 6 weeks before it goes in for the winter. Last year first salting of the roads was Nov 16.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[sgellis]

Putting the bus away a little early. Transmission is making a nasty rumbling noise when idling in neutral. Started jumping out of forth so was planning a rebuild anyway.

My winter list...

Build a new engine.
Rebuild transmission
Rebuild steering box.
Inspect all the brakes and add duel circuit
Fix fuel gauge and add a reserve valve
Rear bumper
Install new engine lid latch
Restore air filter
Rebuild fuel pump
Restore jack
Restore gas heater. Need to find ducts, intake and exhaust
Splash pan
New front door seals
Maybe fix drivers upper hinge. May require painting door. Should have reinforced the inside but looked good when I restored it.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[AS350driver]

You did a *beautiful* job on that bus. What was it’s original color?

[sgellis]

[sgellis]

Finally back to it.

First up was open the new block and see what it was like inside. Was supposed to be a rebuilt block that was never run. Block was re-stamped but can see the first number was A. Crank spun very easily. Checked the endplay and it was .010".

Gland nut was very tight. Was expecting the 3/4 to 1/2 adaptor too come apart as I was bouncing the breaker bar. And I need to grind away a little from the engine mount when the motor comes off. Just squeezed the bar in.

With flywheel off I could see it was run. I built an oil pump puller and case splitter. Oil pump is warn so will get a new one. Oil cooler had a stud tapped a size down. I was a little disappointed at that. Going to look through my stuff and see if I have everything for a doghouse cooler.

Split case and found very little ware on the bearings. Likely less than 5000 miles on them. lifters are warn flat though. Crank looks great. Been turned down .010". Cam look great but will inspect the lobe height when my dial gage finally arrives. I purchased some cheap measuring tools through aliexpress. Not the greatest quality but they measure correct and were very cheap. Distributor drive and gears on crack look great.

Block has been line bored .020 for crank but cam is stock. All dowels are good. I will pull the relief valves and inspect them but don't have a puller yet.

So I will get lifters, oil pump, all bearings, wrist pin bushings, some end play shims and a new gland nut. That should do the block.

Need to decide if I will get the crank assembly, flywheel and pully balanced.

_________________
My 64 Kombi restoration
My camper interior build
My 54 standard restoration
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (YouTube)
The Nova Scotian Barndoor (CAD drawings)

[Eric&Barb]

Do consider the Maxi 2 filter pump from CB. Nice to keep out the crud that always passes thru the bearing with just the strainer.

Also drill a lower oil drain hole for #1 bearing.
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In Stereo, Where Available!