'Engine Trouble' | Rescuing a 1955 VW Beetle | Episode 2

Time to take a closer look at the engine. The list of things to do just keeps getting bigger...Big thanks to Just Kampers for helping us with this recommission! www.justkamper...
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LINKS:
www.dominicchinea.com
Dom's Instagram: / dominicchinea
Honest Jon's Instagram: / honestjon_
Ranalah Ltd's Instagram: / ranalahltd​​
Edited by Dan Cross: / djcross87

[@MarkStebbins-xx7ee]

That guy wearing the multicolored hat reminds me of one of Snow Whites Dwarf's.

[@dennislane100]

Mate I used to work with was a total “Beetlehead”. I’ve seen him remove the engine ,with the aid of a trolley jack and hand tools,in his driveway,in nine minutes flat! His comment”Piece of cake,once you’ve done it a few times.” He rolled into work a bit late,one morning,with a bit of black smoke emerging from the exhaust.”Ran out of petrol,with a mile or two to go. No filling station available,but I had a can of cellulose thinners in the boot,and that did the trick!” No apparent after effects;- it was still running quite happily when he moved away to Devon a couple of years later!

[@Queequeg61]

I did it with a skateboard and a scissor jack on the side of the road when I was 18.

[@MartsGarage]

Excellent work, Dom and John. I'm an engineer and understand all the points being made, but I appreciate that you take the trouble to explain in simple terms the reasoning behind your actions. It helps the video appeal to a much broader spectrum of viewers. If only your Porsche had such a nice base body unit. This is a very enjoyable series to follow. Mart in Solihull.

[@bruceyoung1343]

The wonderful take apart car. CHEERS

[@wooly57r]

Thanks!

[@bryanlatimer-davies1222]

I would rebuild the 30 horse and put it on the shelf and put a 34 horse in it for daily use. Then, for shows, use the 30.

[@sarbec1]

Love watching you guys John’s a diamond

[@likeakite]

John is such a character and a great laugh

[@daniel__clark]

As soon as I see that hat, I know we're in for a good one.

[@kentmckean6795]

Your Mum has such a good son!

[@MartinWedderburn]

I have quite a few 30hp engine parts if you need them... happy to let them go to a good home :)

[@raydriver7300]

1000’th like! So nice to be taken on this journey with you both 🌞

[@sktaylor99]

I have purchased a VW campervan (bay) and a 1302S Beetle in the past 6 years and have been reliving my youth since. These cars are such a joy to work on. Loving the videos chaps....

[@vayabroder729]

Actually; parts for that motor can still be found in the US not as easily but still attainable. Also the original gas tank might still have hope. They do what they call a “boil” and use a tank lining product such as POR-15 and it could still be serviceable. Now is also a great moment to check the rubber transaxle mounts and change them if cracked. You guys are doing an absolutely beautiful job of bringing this car back on the road.

[@johnrodgers6049]

Wow, what a piece of history. If it were my car, I would get a replacement engine that is easier to get parts for so I could reliably keep it on the road. I would keep the original unit and try to source as many parts for it and rebuild it.

[@helenj8471]

Doesn't every car owner need a John, never mind the Ranalahs you need to start casting Johns!

[@hujiproductions8457]

Another great video. Yay - Essex Radiators - used to walk past them regularly. Long gone I think.

[@colinhiggins1412]

Another great episode, some lucky person is going to get a well sorted Beatle that they can still do themselves. Your lucky to have John with you.

[@grumpyoldman1]

Nice work boys, John really is the ‘Cat in the Hat’ when it comes to engines!

[@brendonhearn8778]

Nice! "do up a car, they said. It will be easy, they said." Saint John, performing miracles! Great work Gents.

[@DominicChineas]

Saint John haha! Love it

[@sharonclaridge]

Lucky it was your mum who asked you! A bit more than swapping out the tyres and draining the tank but a real trip down memory lane for me seeing all those shiny new VW parts!

[@johnsholian4318]

How can you possibly let that go when you’re all done? It’s fun watching the progress nonetheless. Good show Dom and Jon!

[@DominicChineas]

The volksworld show is going to be a difficult weekend that’s for sure..

[@tezzrterry7485]

@@DominicChineas Mixed emotions coming up. Lucky it wasn't butchered after all those years.

[@jonathanb3458]

Good to see Wendy supervising.

[@DominicChineas]

She is always the project manager haha

[@noonehere1793]

Thanks for taking me back to my youthful times past…..

[@DominicChineas]

You are so welcome!

[@everestyeti]

Turning I to another restoration project, at least this time you have the Beetle King with you. 🤗

[@deancoley7987]

It's definitely a magical mystery tour, and full of surprises lol. Got to love Wendy,, sorry Dom and Jon Wendy is this week's star

[@johndavey72]

Hi Guys. Back in the mid '80's l worked at "Volkswork " for 2 brothers who ran the business . I did all the metal and paintwork . Clive their mechanic changed a clutch from start to finish in 11 minutes !!! The trick was to use 2 jacks . One to jack the car up on the gearbox and the second to remove the engine . The acute angle of the car jacked up made engine removal a piece of cake . It was impressive to see !

[@remialsemgeest8]

Zo leuk om te zien. En jammer dat de vw van je moeder verkocht gaat worden. Ik zou de auto in de familie houden. 👍🏻

[@bobcooke6346]

Neat episode Dom and John, the shell bearings, well, they say the best laid plans ! Still wish you were going to hold on to your mums old bug, especially after this engine rebuild.

[@hpevans9041]

Great episode Dom, you and John make a great team. Can’t wait for the next instalment

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks so much!

[@gentlesoul1513]

Hello Dom, I appreciate your vehicles are air cooled, but if you do have any antifreeze keep it well away from any chance of your dog getting to it , it smells good to them but it's lethal to dogs and cats.

[@neilkennykenny4113]

It may seem like a pain needing to order extra parts but I think it's a god sent that you got the chance to spot the problems and also it will bump the selling price up with this additional work done.

[@brendawilliams700]

As always, most of it went over my head but fascinating nonetheless. Well done both 😊

[@DominicChineas]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@busterboy7505]

Dom and John crack on, what a great team and very entertaining 10 out of ten 👍👍👏👏.

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks so much

[@judithbarnett2966]

What would you do without Jon? Top team, well done! 👏👏👏

[@paulcooper2897]

Maybe the old girl was parked for a reason ... Nice to see her getting the love she needs. Thanks for sharing 🇨🇦

[@brianmicky7596]

Hi Dom &John, Nice one, all these things are sent to try us , Can't wait for the engine build, All the best Brian 😃

[@stephenblaze4571]

Lovely video Dom all great plans as they say maybe next time thanks to you and John

[@KyushaStyleTuning]

Loving this build! Really like how you laid all the parts out on the bench. Very organised. 😎👍🛠

[@stephenjames59]

The only way to properly service these engines is to remove them as it is almost impossible to change one of the spark plugs with the engine in situ. When I worked at a VW dealer in the 80's I remember the service manager giving me a boll*cking for taking the engine out of a Beetle so I showed him the one spark plug that had never been changed in over 40,000 miles despite it having had every previous service done by the dealer where I worked! These engines are really easy to remove being air cooled and only held in with 4 bolts

[@bobingram6912]

Love watching and listening to you and John having a laugh over all the technical stuff but giving us an explanation and up close shots of what you are doing, always a bummer when it's over👍👍👍👍

[@DominicChineas]

Thank you, there’s more next week!

[@johnvaluk1401]

Thank you for the video and update. This is a great little series on this oval. Looking forward to the next! Thank you Dom.

[@DominicChineas]

Thanks so much for the positive comment

[@nyqer6636]

Always something unexpected Dom How John just giggles at the challenge

[@ianchappell4199]

Well done you two...

[@michaelmiller641]

Really interesting Dom! I'm not a petrol head, but I like repairing things like radios and tape recorders, so I find it fascinating.

[@yellowbird8690]

If this was Shed Racing, you would be make the bearings on the lathe from a bit of old bronze bar.

[@leslieaustin151]

Super job, well done Jon and Dom! Les

[@more.power.]

Excellent video Dom. Thank you

[@grahamfoster9404]

Nice informative video Dom... Wrong V.W. methinks but never mind it seems you got loads done. I hate working on vehicles when its really cold, I remember changing a mini engine outside in the snow ,things we did eh !!! Your mate John is an absolute treasure , he really knows his stuff and he adds an interesting element to a great video. Keep up the good work Dom and thanks...

[@davidgibson7234]

very much enjoying this series of videos, the Jon and Dom show is great to watch and hilarious, I don’t have any big interest in VWs but finding these videos very interesting and entertaining and am now hankering after a VW bus… 😂

[@glynharper1066]

Great day at work making progress, done it all myself and taught a few friends how to do it, pleaseure to watch.

[@drs1969]

For the petrol tank, why not derust it via electrolysis, seeing as its a tank that you can put fluid in... and then coat the inside with bilt hamber or similar? Worth a go to see if the original can be saved?

[@patrickbrown7491]

At least the heads came off easily! Most don't come off.

[@nyqer6636]

Bless John . Always laughing when presented with a massive issue Great works Dom

[@joannehart9624]

It is wonderful that the old oval is getting the love it deserves! At this point it is a bit of automotive history. I hope it sells to someone who truly appreciates it. I'm pretty sure it will. 🙂 My first car was a 1965 beetle. I still have happy memories of it.

[@daylightdies7194]

I do appreciate you both putting so much work into this I do try learn something

[@ejharrop1416]

Going to be hard to let this beauty go after sorting so much of it out. Be a shame not to keep it and have the cousin to the Porsche in the garage. Plus you will not get the investment back and come on its your mum, how can you. 😊. Cheers mate, good luck

[@edenhoop2096]

Poor Dom .. when I hear an “Oh my days” from John it’s a dip in those “Repair Shop” fees for him 😮

[@garrymatthews4430]

Keep it coming Dom, what is it they the best laid plans etc.

[@philipgray9155]

You two are a blast. Hope the gearbox is okay? It’s going to be a lovely little bug.

[@Timothylaing]

John better be getting paid the big bucks 🤣 also degree of difficulty of fitting his Rasta hat in tight spaces deserves a mention.

[@PhilG0BVD]

Wow both you have opened up my eyes to vehicle restoration, you really have acquired many years of knowledge and skills. Most enjoyable watch with brilliant content. Looking forward to the engine rebuild.

[@bobt3374]

Well done Dom & John, That was an unexpected happening from what you first thought, Good that you found all the parts you need, I look forward to the next episode.

[@richardwhatton1249]

Great team work and excellent progress, well done both of you, looking forward to seeing that engine get back together. Kind regards, Richard.

[@graemecrosbie-vf3pg]

Enjoying your series and this looks to be a great original car. I think you should keep the fuel tank, it can be saved and would be rare and nice to have as much original as you can.

[@R.Craig.Collins]

Can a 25 hp car even sell these days, even to a enthusiast? Can't wait to see how all of this plays out

[@iceneweb]

Why not? It's a vintage VW

[@craigmountain5100]

johns laugh is infectious

[@stephenport4768]

Hope you get the engine sorted can't believe the Beetle is a matching numbers car

[@Bugger-Me]

54 first year 30 horse there was a sticker of 5 horses that vw put in the back window to say now with 5 more hp

[@DominicChineas]

Yeah it’s a 30hp engine, no sticker though!

[@nickwoodards6208]

Good work guys if your Mum’s had the car that long you carnt sell it. it’s got to be a keeper for shore 👍

[@escortmexico6909]

Nice one lads ! Keep up the good work

[@hotoilhands]

Still a good day even if the plan had to change. You guys got plenty of work done while waiting on the bearings.

[@steamdean100]

Great video. I didn't see a clutch kit on the list, surly you're not going to fit it back in with an old clutch in.

[@DominicChineas]

No a new clutch has made it way onto the list

[@ratman9802]

I cleaned out a stale fuel varnished Mini tank using Bilt Hamber Deox-C which is cheap and effective for rust removal, heat and agitation with loads of old nuts bolts washers & inside obviously helps. Keep the original tank? Good luck with all your projects.

[@simonmarsden66]

Fill the tank with nuts bolts and washers, then get shaking or rotating you can sort it!!

[@seantivenan9593]

I heard many years ago on a radio programme (don't know which one though) that VW wouldn't licence after market parts for their cars to prevent DIYers doing work on them, so everything in theory went back to the dealer and only VW trained mechanics therefore improving longevity and reliability of the vehicles. There's certainly no shortage of old dubs around so maybe ?

[@totalutternutter]

"Recommissioning" usually just means buying a can of easy start.

[@paulzirker706]

Dom look at what Ed china did with an old range rover tank on workshop diaries if you want ideas and want to keep orginal.

[@marklaity5436]

Love your work Boys, keep on laughing. Such a good show.

[@GarageItYourself]

Ooo, a 25HP motor!! Nice 😊 Wolfsburg West seem to be the only company in the world still making some parts for those engines. I'd plastigauge the new mains n big end bearings plus get the crank properly measured as there's a fair chance the crank has excessive wear plus the new WW bearings for the rods ended up under spec. Rod big ends needed resizing as did the small ends. I mean how longs a piece of string but throwing it back together may result in a shorter working life than expected? All the best with it.

[@esstaffe]

You seem surprised with what you find ! It's pretty normal😁😁

[@DominicChineas]

What, a broken vw engine? Haha!

[@meirionevans5137]

Well done both, but let's not forget Wendys part in all this.

[@DominicChineas]

Helpful as ever…

[@moneymarty1]

Double John's salary! Some battery heated mittens would do as well.

[@DominicChineas]

Don’t say that he might read it and get ideas!! Haha

[@clintonsmith9931]

Don’t know about that one , but I completely rebuilt the bugs and sold the starting back in the 1980s I could get anything to rebuild them from South America Several places in the US sold anything I-needed . Just send the money.

[@robertbaldwin5252]

Hi, loving the videos, please let me know if you want to sell it in advance of the show, thanks, Rob

[@Queequeg61]

It doesn’t really mater what you have to do to it, you could sell it as is for a tidy sum just because its a 54 with the original engine.

[@stephenport4768]

I thought 55 model year had 30 hp engines on UK and European specs I'm pretty certain the US spec had 36 hp engines

[@daveflatters4981]

The shaft or whatever it is, (I’m obviously not a car mechanic 😁) where you replaced the big boot, looked rotten. Are you going to replace it later ?

[@peterhofmann8292]

Best laid plans😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@peterforeman7325]

Love it! But why am I thinking Wallace and Grommit?

[@bigears4014]

1200 1192cc 36hp 1131cc 25hp

[@bobmchenry7993]

AWESOME VIDEO love watching you and John work together you two have an AWESOME friendship love your work.. Can I send my 1996 toyota corolla for you to work on front New Zealand.. ;o) keep up the awesome work!!!

[@mikestrang6229]

too bad I wasnt closer ( like on the same continent ) I have a very clean fuel tank for that car. you cant like use 36hp cylinder's and pistons on a 25hp? I have only worked on 36hp no 25hp.

[@58euro]

If that engine is original to the car and dated 54 then it’s a 36hp not a 25hp. Last year of 25 was 53.

[@DominicChineas]

It’s a 30hp engine

[@danieljoseph736]

Bilt hamber kit for the tank, i have done worse

[@StephenBoyd21]

It’ll be running like a sewing machine before you know it.

[@DominicChineas]

I hope so!

[@jasperdemann5936]

Oh, Dom! I love your channel, but.....your mum *reached out* to you?! Your *mum* ??! 😄

[@marcos3ltrv6]

Dis I miss the bit where you took the pistond out? One moment you were pulling the heads and next thing the crank was being lifted out minus the pistons??

[@DominicChineas]

It definitely happened! Maybe not in the video as we can’t film everything!

[@Rainforest458]

you are not allowed to sell that Beetle

[@DominicChineas]

Haha, oh I really wish I could keep it! But I don’t have the space or the money to keep it

[@jedhughes6743]

Dom ! Why ? what about the Porsche..🙁👀

[@highpath4776]

the VW was his mums, she wanted it sold, and it was supposed to be a quick service