71 Beetle engine pull adventure

[vamram]

I'm no expert, but the case looks pretty clean, doesn't appear to be any chunks missing or heavy sludge. But...is that a spun cam bearing? Are there any grooves that you can feel w/a fingernail on the #3 main shown in the 2nd video?
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[mg50]

[mg50]

[Pruneman99]

By the baked on sludge on the rods, and the cam gear, I would bet the engine was run for a long while using non-detergent oil. That's not a problem, as that how the engine was designed. The issue is putting in modern detergent oil later. The sticky crud that has harmlessly adhered to parts, starts to get washed off, and sent through the bearings.

So on the rebuild, pick what you want to run, and stay with it.

I don't want to turn this into an oil thread, just an observation.

[mg50]

Pulled out the crank and cam, lifters stored in order.


- crankshaft endplay, is this the play that will be tightened up by shims at the flywheel? When I measured the endplay before breaking everything down it was at .004 which is in the correct range.

- I suppose when replacing the crankshaft, you have to line up the little posts to the bearings holes and carefullly drop it back in.

- I know timing has been discussed to death but, when putting things back together, is it critical to orient the distributor shaft to a particular position where it meets the cam gear? Out of my comfort zone.

When prepping the case halves to re-seal, how would you prep the surfaces? Just solvent and and not trying to buff it to mirror finish?

[Tom K.]

Timing: crank to cam have to be timed perfectly (line up the three dots). It is not critical to line up the distributor gear but purists will disagree. You can always drop the distributor drive into the case after it's back together and at top dead center on number 1. The slots will line up perpendicular to the case and towards the fly wheel.

Case halves: remove old adhesive with a razor blade or similar mechanical method without harming or gouging the soft magnesium unless you like oil leaks.

End play. Take your #1 bearing off the crank shaft (you'll be replacing it anyway) and push into the case half. Confirm that it sits in there as solid as a rock. If the bearing has any forward or rearward movement, then you will want to get the case cut and fit with a wider bearing. Not uncommon. It's called a thrust cut.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[vamram]

Do you have any good rebuild books...?
_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[mg50]

[67rustavenger]

What Tom K said!

If there is a local VW specialist. Take your case there and have them check the bearing alignment. If needed, have them cut the case for you.
It appears there is some fretting on the bearing saddles.
See if you can catch a finger nail while dragging it across the saddle. If you can, It really needs to be align bored (cut).

Have the crank, rods, flywheel and pressure plate balanced while you have it apart. You'll be glad you did!

Clean everything well. It appears that all the internal rotating parts are a bit coked up (Blackened).
_________________
I have learned over the years.
Cheap parts are gonna disappoint you.
Buy Once, Cry Once!

There's never enough time to do it right the first time. But there's always enough time to do it thrice.
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!

[mg50]

[Cusser]

[Tom K.]

I'd bet there is a VW case cutter within an hour of you. Ask your local VW dealership - talk to the oldest mechanic they have. He might know somebody. Or post a request on Samba. Some have shipped their cases or drivin them to other states.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=

[minirailz]

Lovely thread, thanks for sharing.

Your case looks a lot cleaner then the one I'm currently rebuilding.

Make sure to align the distributor gear, now that the case is open.
Put the cylinder 1 on TDC and mount the distributor, the rotor should point to the marking.
If it's off, now is the time to adjust that little gear
EDIT: above was just described by Cusser

Good luck!!

Dennis

[Rickf1985]

[VW_Jimbo]

WOW! That thing is BEAT!

The exposed #3 & 4 bearing saddles are beat badly. You have to get the case align bored. It would be cool to see what the other 2 saddles look like!
_________________
Jimbo

There is never enough time to do it right the first time, but all the time necessary the second time!

[Buggeee]

[vamram]

That's a great video Buggee. I also found this one, that I found really good, just have to get beyond the guy's hand being way too much in the main view. [EDIT] He gets off topic occasionally or spends too much time on a couple of motor sidebars...but I still found it interesting. No doubt has recommendations not everyone here will agree with!


Link

_________________
Eventually, "we are what we pretend to be.’”
Give peace a chance - Stop Russian-Soviet Aggression!!

'74 Super 9/16 - present, in refurb process.
'73 Super - 6/18 - Present - Daily Driver!
'75 Super Le Grande...waiting it's turn in line behind '74.
Click to view image
Save the Supers!!

[mg50]

i've stripped everything out of the case. Cleaned it by stiff brushing strong solvent cleaner followed by Simple Green and blasting with hot water routed from my washing machine facet to a hose. Water-based cleaning didn't clean any further, and required blowing all traces of water out of everything with the air compressor.

Question:
The large case nuts have rubber grommets built in. Can these be reused? I don't see any replacements in my gasket kit.

note:
I find that using an old typewriter is handy to log things in order, as I do them. Easier than keeping track of pencil and paper notes.

That's all folks. Have a good weekend.

[mikeonthebike]

I dig that old typewriter. Reminds me of the ones I learned to type on back in junior high. Yeah, I that old.

[Tom K.]

You can buy a new engine hardware kit separate from the gasket kit. For about $50 you will have all new nuts and washers.

But the nuts in your picture look more like oil pump nuts than large case nuts. The case nuts are accompanied by black rubbery o- rings and then thick washers.
_________________
'91 Vanagon Westfalia
'70 Beetle Convertible
'71 Super Beetle Semi-Automatic: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=714131&highlight=
'65 Ghia: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=762478&highlight=