| Author |
Message |
DougClink
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2006
Posts: 93
Location: Fremont, Michigan
|
 Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 4:54 pm Post subject: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
 |
|
Looking to do rings, lapped valves and general clean up on this engine. I purchased it with several other engines. I don't have a ton invested - so how awful is this little chunk knocked out of the piston/barrel? It looks like a rod at one time may have smacked it.
I hope you can see it - just next to the piston, an irregular shape where the barrel goes in.
_________________
Air-cooled Preservation Society
Join us on Facebook!
1957 Sunroof Beetle • 1964 Beetle • 1958 Westfalia Subhatch • 1955 Baja Bus • 1970 Sportsmobile |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Zundfolge1432 
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12468
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:17 pm Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
| Probably happened years ago I’d like to look at all of it but if someone built it they most likely thought it would be ok. I’m sure some would get their panties in a wad over this but truth is VWs are pretty tough. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
herbie1200
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006
Posts: 833
Location: Rome - Italy
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 12:55 am Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
I'm sorry but I have to report my experience...
In an engine with the same damage the little chunk was captured by camshaft gear, the result was a broken camshaft.
It was good that the victim was camshaft instead of crankshaft.
I will check there are no chunks free to travel inside; an other risk is for distributor gear. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12468
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:13 am Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
If it’s stained over and looks old it means someone reused this case after the initial damage occurred who knows how long ago? As for a piece of metal traveling from that end of engine to up to distributor drive that would be next to impossible. The aft end of crankcase is closed off with only a small oil hole to allow oil to flow back to main crankcase and small areas around webs .
If the engine has been in service without problems you can be pretty sure this was old damage and the chunk was removed long ago. If you are a nervous type I’d take engine all apart and look at everything . 
Looking at pic notice it would very difficult for anything to go from area around #3 cylinder to cam gear or distributor drive. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DougClink
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2006
Posts: 93
Location: Fremont, Michigan
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 2:03 pm Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
Thank you all. I will see if I can locate any loose chunks.
While we are on the subject of engine rebuilds - how are rods rebuilt? What is the process and how important is this.
_________________
Air-cooled Preservation Society
Join us on Facebook!
1957 Sunroof Beetle • 1964 Beetle • 1958 Westfalia Subhatch • 1955 Baja Bus • 1970 Sportsmobile |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Zundfolge1432
Samba Member
Joined: June 13, 2004
Posts: 12468
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 5:13 pm Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
| DougClink wrote: |
Thank you all. I will see if I can locate any loose chunks.
While we are on the subject of engine rebuilds - how are rods rebuilt? What is the process and how important is this. |
As things are today you’d be better off buying a new set. Too much labor to rebuild old ones and those old ones cost about same as new so why bother?
Back in the day to rebuild you checked general condition looking for gouges or cracks and evidence of overheating/ burning blue. Then check for twist and straightened as necessary then it was on to removing small end bushing installing new and reaming to size. Big end checked for size if necessary remove rod bolts remove and plane flat small amount of material from cap and rod then reinstall bolts and Ream to size. Rods get weighed and grouped into sets of four. They would use different dabs of paint to denote weight and better shops balanced to within half a gram. In today’s world it’s too much labor so buy new unless you can do all this yourself. VW wanted you to use new rod nuts every time but few did and you’d see peen marks on the nuts two three or more. VW rods are tough though you’d be amazed how much material can be removed for clearance. Good luck. isn’t it odd but I was playing with two sets of rods today balancing them
Here’s a damaged cap looks bad but it will work. Years from now someone will see this and get their Panties all in a wad I bet
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DougClink
Samba Member
Joined: August 14, 2006
Posts: 93
Location: Fremont, Michigan
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
Thank you for a very thorough and complete answer.
_________________
Air-cooled Preservation Society
Join us on Facebook!
1957 Sunroof Beetle • 1964 Beetle • 1958 Westfalia Subhatch • 1955 Baja Bus • 1970 Sportsmobile |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
herbie1200
Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2006
Posts: 833
Location: Rome - Italy
|
| Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 1:21 am Post subject: Re: 40 horse engine Is this chunk missing a problem? |
|
|
Dear ZundFolge,
From your picture it seems the only way for a chunk to reach camshaft gearing is the one I evidenced with red arrow, isn't it?
And this passage, when engine is installed, is UP, so a chunk should jump a difficult path to damage gearing.
But my camshaft has been broken.
So I have to make an other hypotesis: if the chunk become trapped between a cam and its pushrod could this cause camshaft breaking?
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
