Any good aftermarket Type 4 pushrod tubes?

[eche_bus]

Can anyone here share their experience with installing/running aftermarket Type 4 pushrod tubes in their late bay bus? (P/N 021-109-335C)

I'm looking for something that fits right, doesn't leak/cause leaks, and is made from strong enough metal to do the job well.

Are any aftermarket replacement tubes up to the task?
If so, when/where did you buy them?

[SGKent]

there are two size pushrod tubes for T4. One size is NLA. They were on early T4 motors.

The pushrod tubes I got came from Busdepot. Added Viton seals. Phil (whip618) made a tool to slightly expand the ends to the perfect size and fit. Maybe he could post the dimensions if he sees this, and you can have a copy made by a local machinist.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[Randy in Maine]

Phil calls it a "swageing die"...

[Wasted youth]

By the nature of your question, and seeing the swaging die, I conclude that properly fitted tubes are not available.

Can we use a larger O-ring? Or is the fit-up so poor that this is not an option, but if so, would the swaging be so excessive it runs the risk of cracking the tube?

[Hoody]

I have a set of NOS tubes and I hope that I kept my trashed originals. I am not sure I follow you on the 2 different sizes. I have never heard about different sizes between the 2.0 motors regardless of the heads....early or late. If you send me one of your tubes I can mic it against my NOS set. There are several engine builders world wide that build type 4 engines. And I mean experts. Granted German NOS may be scarce. If it were me I would just get the German ones. I would call Charles at LN engineering. He owns the type4 store now. If you want a second opinion send Len Hoffman an email and ask him about your 77 heads and the correct tubes that he suggests. Between the 2 of them you will have your answer. What I do know having learned from Raby is to use sealant and the correct Viton orings. How they are installed is equally important. If one gets pinched it's going to leak. The sealant needs to be the correct one...Permatex 56521 is the correct sealant. Hope this helps.

[Randy in Maine]

It has been a few years but the last set of push rod tubes I got from Bus Depot fit very well and did not leak.

You have to use the Viton O-rings and make sure the sharp edges of the tube does not cut the O-ring.

I still use Locktite 565 (sort of liquid teflon) to allow them to flex as they heat up and cool down. Next best would be just oil.

[kooper271]

I like the pushrod tubes I got from aircooled.net

In case you didn't catch it before, the Viton o-rings are important

[Bleyseng]

The early style had both ends small and they were in 411's which had these small hole heads. Pretty rare unless you get a really old core head from some rebuilder.
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76 Porsche 914 2.1L L20c, 120hp Djet (sold)
87 Syncro Westy Titan Red 2.1L 2 knob 100k miles

[SGKent]

[eche_bus]

My application is a GD code 2.0L from what is considered a late '76. The microfiche I use for a part number reference only shows the 021-109-335C tubes for a 2.0L engine used in a bus. Ratwell also confirms this as the part number too. Its that part number that all the aftermarket retailers are selling (plus others for Type 1s).

Thanks SGKent, but if I understand correctly, I don't think the smaller size would apply in my case, so no need to expand the ends of the stock 2.0L part. From what I've seen, Phil does some seriously nice work though and plan to have him rebuild my throttle body.

Hoody - I'll take your advice on those suggested contacts. Thanks kooper271, Randy in Maine for sharing your experiences with those tube suppliers.

EDIT: Just got off the phone with LN Engineering. Confirmed the smaller tube was used in some Porsche and higher-displacement Bugs, not 2.0L buses. The Type 4 store carries the tubes and only one for 2.0L buses.

[Randy in Maine]

I think the smaller pushrod tubes were really for the 411/412 series engines but I would not bet the farm on that. I don't recall any of my buses having that "fluting".