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72vwtype2 Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2006 Posts: 211
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:01 pm Post subject: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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Real simple question (I think?).
Can the pitting on the engine case of my 36hp engine case be fixed?
Warning the pics are ugly
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janerick3 Samba Member
Joined: June 04, 2006 Posts: 1879 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2023 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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In theory, if you pressed melted body solder into mating surfaces without doing anything stupid that would start a magnesium fire and filed the lead even, it might be salvageable.
If it's not numbers-matching to your car, I wouldn't bother.
I had an Oct '54 case where one half was hot-tanked and nobody neutralized the caustic soda, so it was full of pits (the other half was pristine). It made a lot of noise when I tossed it into an empty dumpster. _________________ Thanks,
Jan K. |
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72vwtype2 Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2006 Posts: 211
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:11 pm Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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It's not a matching number engine, but it is the correct month and year of the car. So I would like to save it if possible.
Thanks. |
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67rustavenger Samba Member
Joined: February 24, 2015 Posts: 9635 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2023 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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72vwtype2 wrote: |
It's not a matching number engine, but it is the correct month and year of the car. So I would like to save it if possible.
Thanks. |
If you can't save it. There's at least 2 in the engine classifieds for sale, CHEAP! _________________ 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! |
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esde Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 5912 Location: central rust belt
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Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2023 2:21 pm Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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If it isn't clean, have it hot tanked to get any oil out of the voids, and then fill them with JB weld. If you are careful to pack the voids, (I like to use little dental tools similar to what is used to work on fillings) you can use a straight razor to shave the epoxy flush when it's started curing. You want to cut it when it's set, but still slightly pliable; it cuts like cheese. Fill everything that could cause an oil leak, or anything that is deep. Some of these 36hp cases have had a rough history and we need to figure out how to keep them going. _________________ modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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72vwtype2 Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2006 Posts: 211
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Posted: Mon Jan 16, 2023 3:57 pm Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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Thanks for the reply's.
I was hoping that one of the possible solutions was the use of JB welds as this is one I was considering. The only thing I was unsure about was how well the JB weld would adhere to the magnesium case. I think I am going to try this a solution.
Thanks. |
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scrivyscriv Samba Electrician
Joined: October 04, 2011 Posts: 2918 Location: Memphis
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Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:28 am Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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There is no real fix for mag corrosion, in my opinion. You could try jb weld, it might work, or it might not. At least one topic here had a guy fix his sump plate area with JB weld, and it peeled completely off after curing.
Here's a topic with what looks like a successful repair.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=40 _________________ Robert in Memphis
Dünkelgrügen 1967 Java Green bug thread
Engine rebuild thread
If you're ever in the Memphis area, you are welcome to stop by for advice and help. |
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esde Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007 Posts: 5912 Location: central rust belt
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 6:32 am Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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scrivyscriv wrote: |
There is no real fix for mag corrosion, in my opinion. |
I agree, though because most of these pits will be covered by oil or case sealer I think the OP will be fine. It will be pretty much completely isolated from moisture and the atmosphere, which is what most commonly causes Magnesium to corrode.
scrivyscriv wrote: |
You could try jb weld, it might work, or it might not. At least one topic here had a guy fix his sump plate area with JB weld, and it peeled completely off after curing. |
The problem with many of the guys making sump plate repairs from JB Weld is they expect that a large mass of the epoxy will stay put, when it is only keyed into the base material on one side. Magnesium expands and contracts and the epoxy does not. And you have the stress from torquing the sump plate against it, the failure is not surprising. That amount of corrosion needs to be welded for a strong repair.
I've got 7-8 years on two JB weld repairs to engine cases, below the oil level. No issues, but both are keyed into a hole or crater, so that they are "locked in place". I would do it again without question. _________________ modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
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lardawge Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2020 Posts: 355 Location: California
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 7:43 am Post subject: Re: 36hp Engine Case Damaged Beyond Repair? |
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If this is the original numbers matching engine to the car, I would use JB weld and risk it.
If it wasn’t, I would not even be having this conversation. A 36hp case is not a diamond. They aren’t rare. Go find one that isn’t a pile and put your engine together. I have two cases sitting in my garage that are rebuildable that I paid next to nothing for. I know a few folks with piles of cases.
Same month numbers mean nothing to anyone really. Either they match or they don’t. BTW, nobody at a car show or gas station checks engine numbers so the only time it matters is when you are selling the car. Close is not original. _________________ 11/2/54 L227 Strato Silver Ragtop - Soon to be L41 Black - Build Thread
1/7/55 L275 Light Beige |
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