JBugs - 1600cc Engine Build Series - Part 1 - Short Block

[@mish4776]

Im glad you showed the messups you made cos it shows the build in real life so people doing it for first time can get it right

[@w2tty]

I like this video. It’s tiring seeing all the perfect videos out there. It’s so much better to see reality. Thank you.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Agreed, mistakes happen and with editing anything can be made to seem like it was perfect. In reality though things rarely go exactly as planned and we figured showing the mistakes and how to fix them would be much more helpful!

[@markzurlo1787]

Great Job, I'm glad you showed the ups and downs of this build. Real-life problems are better seen than just talked about.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Thanks for the encouragement Mark!

[@kevincherry9712]

I'm glad you showed the rods getting installed backwards, I too did that and didn't catch it. Couldn't understand why it kept throwing the flywheel off the crank. Never made that mistake again!

[@useracount8544]

A great realistic assembly video showing all the kinds of stuff ups that can happen.. and will. Good job, thanks!

[@Sam_Mebane]

My pleasure!

[@yewboup1]

Thanks for that unvarnished look at assembly. I prefer the honest videos.

[@Sam_Mebane]

It is a heck of a lot easier to show the mistakes than to hide them!

[@protodog1]

Better have a talk with your shipping dept about having to eat the case. Put the case box in a larger box with plenty of packing. Worth the extra shipping cost. Page 120 in "How to Hot Rod VW Engines: The best procedure for building any engine is patience, care and constant rechecking" When I built my first engine at 15, I put a couple main bearings in wrong. That was my learning curve.

[@sshaw7912]

That's what I have always been afraid of doing this myself. If it was a sb Chevy or Ford I wouldn't have a problem. But VW completely different. My engine builder won't be available till later this year.

[@Medichell69]

I hope you had as much fun as we all did watching! We’ve all been there! Great content brother!!!

[@Sam_Mebane]

I can’t say this one was “fun”’ but in hindsight it wasn’t too bad!

[@VolksStokes]

Watching this was like a therapy for me 😅. Thx Sam for another awesome clip

[@Sam_Mebane]

My pleasure Volks!

[@thestove2407]

Great video Sam Learning "how not to do things" ... is an important component of collateral learning. Cheers

[@Sam_Mebane]

Absolutely, the biggest part is not being afraid of failure! I've failed more times than I've succeeded in most everything, I'm still learning as I go!

[@thumbbro8977]

PERFECT timing! I was just considering rebuilding the engine on mine, so this'll be an enjoyable time.

[@Sam_Mebane]

As long as you aren’t filming it, it should be!

[@JCromheecke]

great video! Im glad im not the only one who made the same mistakes with my first engine build.

[@Sam_Mebane]

To err is human, to forgive, divine. I'm not here to show how perfectly everything goes, if I make a mistake, I'll show it, and how to fix it!

[@imderrickjed]

Its a great video. I started out with hope when you said its as easy as legos. In the end you talked me out of buying one. So thank you for saving me the stress.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Even Lego kits can be built incorrectly! Fortunately just like Legos all you have to do is pull a few pieces and put them back together. Keep in mind, I was doing this on camera, for the audience to see, and explaining this as I went along. When you have a clear space and can concentrate on the task as opposed to explaining the task it is much simpler!

[@davidsanderson3902]

great content - really felt your pain when you put the engine case together and the crank kept getting pinched

[@Sam_Mebane]

It truly was! The video doesn't do it justice but I wasn't going to show 30 minutes of going back and forth with it!

[@pauljanssen7594]

Nice video, is there anything I noticed was, need to balance the Pistons and the rods; always and I say always use the light and flywheel because the torque on the two rear cylinders cause the bearing to pound out the rear case and I like the 8pin the flywheel. Again balancing assembly is critical. I like the fact that the case has the option for a full flow oil system filter. And the Rodsuse better rod bolts which torque to 30 we used to talk to stock once the 28 ft lb safely

[@Sam_Mebane]

This is a pre-assembled kit from EMPI. There are better components certainly, we just built the kit as it came.

[@sigungajoshua6149]

Boxer Beauty With A Touch Of Madness.

[@eduardorodriguez3262]

Happy Friday! Great build video now i can go to work👍🇩🇪

[@Sam_Mebane]

And I got to say hello to you there again!

[@rasdavis8390]

Great stuff🫡💯🖤 u done good sir not to worry shouts from England 🇬🇧

[@kaxjr3403]

love this so good.

[@YakyuBoy]

Nice video, thanks for the upload. Makes me feel like I can do this someday

[@Sam_Mebane]

It isn't hard...when you aren't trying to explain it and film it for someone else!

[@projectinlinesix]

THANK YOU so much for doing these videos!

[@Sam_Mebane]

It is truly my pleasure although this engine wasn’t exactly a pleasure to build!

[@ottolinden371]

Great video but I'm a little confused, the title says short block but you say long block? I'm pretty new to VW's not sure what the difference is :)

[@Sam_Mebane]

A short block is the assembled case halves with the connecting rods sticking out either end. A long block is a fully assembled engine (minus the accessories like engine tin, etc.) with the cylinders and heads bolted in place.

[@josephheston9238]

If I got that case with a chunk broke off in that spot, I’d just TIG weld it back. No harm, no foul. BTW, I thought they came with the case savers installed. Speaking of the case savers, are they for 8mm or 10mm studs?

[@Sam_Mebane]

The broken piece isn't in a place that matters so we'll just leave it as is, again, no harm, no foul! The 8mm case savers were loose in this kit.

[@bryanmeade7327]

Great video. You're human. Enjoyed it!

[@Sam_Mebane]

Thanks Bryan, to err is human, to forgive is divine!

[@pauljanssen7594]

My only other comment is the engine doesn't look like it's going to spin too easily, do you have the correct main bearings for the case size to the bearings are these oversized case bearings.

[@Sam_Mebane]

The engine turns over and runs well. The kit comes with all new parts and standard bearings. A good part of why it doesn't spin "freely" is the Lucas Oil Assembly Lube. That stuff is super sticky, almost seems like glue sometimes, and I put it on everything.

[@TheOsolito]

Very nice video how much will cost to buy a kit like that ty

[@Sam_Mebane]

@TheOsolito - www.jbugs.com/product/98-0470-B.html

[@ctreatman]

Sam, are the cylinder heads complete and ready to bolt on or do the valves need to be lapped before installation?

[@Sam_Mebane]

The heads are complete and ready to run. Could they be pulled apart and get a full 3 angle valve job? Sure, but I've never bothered for stock applications.

[@gr2262]

33:15 "what the FUNK" great to keep it Christ-like brother! 😂 loved the videos... looking forward to meeting you

[@Sam_Mebane]

Hahaha, absolutely. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

[@mtd610]

Never built a vw, but a couple chevy and pontiacs . U don't mic out any bearing clearances?

[@Sam_Mebane]

With all new parts, checking the tolerances isn't common and most builders go by feel. If you're building with original cases and cranks that have been machined, checking clearances is a must.

[@billoneill3636]

Does Jbugs offer in house classes for "hobby" VW restoration? I've looked on line, and there is nothing out there. Would be great to have the opportunity to spend a week and have a better understanding of electrical, mechanical and body work. These videos are great, but to have the hands on experience would be valuable.

[@Sam_Mebane]

No, and for liability reasons it probably isn't something that we'll be able to do. We've regularly seen VW clubs put together "wrenching" or "shop" days which would probably be the closest thing we can think of.

[@ctreatman]

Hey Sam. What gasket compound do you use for the oil pump gasket?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Gasgacinch typically, although copper RTV works well, as does Permatex Aviation Sealant.

[@ctreatman]

@@Sam_Mebane sweet! It's good to know there are options on that. Thanks!

[@dangrover12]

What is torque of the center big nuts? Jbugs site says 18lb other places say 25. With my halves together 18 lb its free to turn and if i go 24 it it very hard to turn. Is it still ok if i can turn at 18?

[@Sam_Mebane]

15, 20, then 24 foot pounds in steps through the torque pattern.

[@Aragorn35016_]

Is there a Type 4 kit like this available? Need an engine for a 72 bus.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Not that we are aware of, no.

[@chesterumana9779]

Excellent 🎉

[@dangrover12]

What was the final problem that finally solved your locked up crank? Too you a few times. Not the rods being upside down but when torqued crank locked. I am having that problem. 4 times now tighten middle 2 just a little and it locks up

[@Sam_Mebane]

The bearings weren’t settled in place on the dowel pins. They are finicky little things!

[@mohdrhaiz8146]

1. What's the effects if Rod are backwards 2. Always see people grinding a pathway for the middle bearing to help with oil flow. Is this necessary

[@Sam_Mebane]

The rods are machined to be installed one way, I'm not sure if it is the oil passages, the balance or offset or who knows what. Either way, they are supposed to be in one way, so that's the way I installed them, eventually! Machining the center oil passage isn't necessary, millions of VW engines were done without it and plenty of them are driving around that way still. Bob Hoover came up with a number of oiling improvements through his years of research and working on VW engines for use in airplanes. The VW engineers did great on designing the engine and in stock form, it is fine the way it is, but there is always room for improvement when it comes to adding horsepower and performance.

[@CornChowder809]

What was preventing the crank to spin?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Best I can tell is that when I pulled the case half off the first time to remove the o-rings for the shuffle pins is that one or more of the bearings shifted on the dowel pins. Making sure the bearings are aligned is probably the most difficult portion of assembling the bottom end.

[@chrisfreemesser5707]

The struggle is real Sam 😉 What do you use to seal the two case halves? Seems like an ideal place for a leak to happen

[@Sam_Mebane]

I use Gasgacinch, always seems to work well for me.

[@calescapee9642]

You can use permatex aviation sealant

[@Sam_Mebane]

@@calescapee9642 Aviation sealant is a little thick for the case halves. I love it and use it just about everywhere, but just not for the case seam.

[@67VWForever]

I had the same issue with that stupid front bearing too..

[@Sam_Mebane]

The struggle is real, stupid little dowel pins!

[@zacharysawyer6241]

What sealant was used for the case halves?

[@Sam_Mebane]

Gasgacinch

[@zacharysawyer6241]

@@Sam_Mebane I had to Google that one. I was sure you made that word up. 🤣

[@zacharysawyer6241]

@@Sam_Mebanedo you know if Permatex Aviation sealant would work as well? He’s using both.

[@Sam_Mebane]

​@@zacharysawyer6241No, aviation sealant is too thick, that's why I use both, I am "he" in the video.

[@zacharysawyer6241]

@@Sam_Mebane 🤣 I didn’t catch that. Ok. I’ll get the gasgacinch. I’m just impatient and have aviation sealant already. Thank you!

[@vintage76vipergreenBeetle]

👍

[@keithschneider6348]

What about a magnetic drain plug.

[@Sam_Mebane]

Use one if you like, absolutely.

[@p51bombay]

Packaging suggest most of that stuff is made in China or similar

[@Sam_Mebane]

Just like the computer and keyboard I'm typing on, the smart phones we use daily and so many other things... Just because it is made in China doesn't mean it can't have quality. Look at Apple iPhones, computers, etc. When suppliers demand quality out of their manufacturers as opposed to just asking for an inexpensive price, China is completely capable of supplying parts that are more than up to the task.

[@valdiviajr1]

Poor packing.

[@Sam_Mebane]

#truth