Engine BLEW UP On Hot Rod Power Tour 2024!! Can We Keep Going!?!

[@Thomas63r2]

One of my great late 1970's road trip adventures was to go rescue my older brother when his '65 VW Bug blew its 1200 engine near Cottonwood California, 564 miles away from my house in Orange County. With help from a buddy, we threw a 1500 engine together out of pieces in my garage, put it in the back of my '62 Love Bus along with all the necessary tools and did a road trip over the grapevine (super slow going up - stupid fast going down) to swap engines at a rest stop where my brother was stuck. Lots of mistakes were made in the build thrash and hitting the road on almost no sleep - but we got the job done

[@Rustomod]

I really wanted to swap the engine and keep going but we couldn’t find one unfortunately super easy to swap out

[@Thomas63r2]

@@Rustomod The one problem I remember that we ran into is that there was some sort of a difference in the engine sheet metal between the original 1200 and the 1500 we swapped in that made it more difficult to install. Of the 26 vehicles I have owned over the years, four were different air cooled models, Beetle,2 Buses, Fastback, and I also owned a 1980 diesel Rabbit L (far more reliable than any of the air cooled VWs). I have a lot of nostalgia for the flat four, I learned how to work on cars through VWs - but they didn't seem to be very long lived, maybe 60,000 miles and that was it. When the flat fours were still ubiquitous, there were always newspaper ads for $200 rebuilt VW engines.

[@huf67]

We missed you in Indy today. I took my grandson and introduced him to some old American muscle and told him about the Rambler. We walked all over Raceway Park looking for you guys. Sorry that you had issues and couldn't finish the tour. Funny thing was that he kept asking all day if certain cars were Beetles so that he could slug me in the arm. I kept telling him that you're not gonna see any Volkswagens at this event....🤣.... Maybe next year !! One thing I did notice is that there was only one Willys Wagon at Indy. If I get my '58 the way I want it then I might have to consider doing Power Tour myself.

[@Rustomod]

Man! Sorry we missed ya! Hopefully we can catch up with you on a future event! You definitely should come some time!

[@bigospig]

Running highway speeds without all of the engine tins on an aircooled VW keeps the air from circulating properly, which usually causes cylinder #3 to overheat.

[@Rustomod]

This had the tins but it was definitely a hot day and going 65-70 for hours and sitting in line to get in didn’t help but we’ll be back!

[@foamermetal]

@@Rustomod I saw no tins laying around the side of the road. the industrial tins under the pushrod tubes were not in place. Love your videos but wrap your head around how the aircooled VW cooling works.

[@patrickmccourt7703]

⁠@@foamermetalI have since torn the engine down. Pistons, head, and cylinders were in great shape. Found rods on 2 and 4 seized to the crank. It was an oiling issue. Video will be posted eventually of it being torn down showing what I found. And I explain the history on the engine and plans.

[@svb3474]

The Rambler did GREAT considering how fast you put it together. Who would have thought you’d blow TWO tires!! There’s always next year!

[@garyjones2582]

There is a guy that has a vw channel named Jawbreaker... You might ck with him since he is heavy into VW's and see if he can help you... I'm really sorry to hear about your troubles again on power tour...

[@Rustomod]

Awesome thanks!

[@SaneCayne]

Dang. Sorry all this happened to you guys. Good on ya for givin' it a shot. 👍

[@Rustomod]

We’ll be back!

[@michaeltheveny5270]

I own a a few VW’s and they wouldn’t have made it on the HRPT. At least you guys tried. As far as missing Louisville, it was my least favorite venue. Just a big parking lot with no events, so imo opinion you didn’t miss a lot. All the other venues were great!!!

[@Rustomod]

Nashville was my favorite super cool venue can’t wait for next year!

[@michaeltheveny5270]

@@Rustomod I loved the covered seating at beechbend and how close you sit to the track. But Nashville was super cool, as I’ve never been to a NASCAR track.

[@racer67]

Well that sucks, i know u said u dont want to get rid of the rambler but like i said the offer still stands 2-67 impalas for the rambler n i do live in Maryland if u change ur mind. One is a 67 4 dr hardtop and the parts car is a green 4 dr sedan i got a video of the green one.

[@jimmymulvey4043]

Patrick’s famous last words at the beginning of the video 😮

[@Rustomod]

Yeahhhhhhh

[@jerrysingleton4956]

Just put some nice 15"/16" rims on ole girl, hell a matching paint steelies with the factory(red)cursive Rambler baby moons & 3" ganster white walls(Coker radials)would be perfect. Much safer & dependable & hold the horse power.

[@Rustomod]

I have some cool rambler hub caps I need to find wheels for them good idea

[@jerrysingleton4956]

@@Rustomod Dad had a sweet 63 770 wagon back early 70s she was a deep copper bronze luggage rack even a a/c optioned on a 258ci 3 on the tree work car. With exact color steelies & factory moons.

[@ShaunHensley]

We called them 'stupid beetles' back in the 80s😂 1:13

[@Rustomod]

You and my dad would be friends

[@ShaunHensley]

@@Rustomod Definitely a compliment bud

[@mikeg8828]

Sucks beetle engine locked up but looking forward to some acvw content. I Should be able to make it to Patina Party this year with my beetle hopefully the super is there👍

[@Rustomod]

Awesome

[@chrishultgren777]

lemme guess you ran the carbs too lean to save fuel because you don't know you have to run the air/fuel ratio rich in order not to melt the pistons to the cylinder walls.

[@Rustomod]

I don’t think that was an issue I think it was an oiling problem and just a super hot day we need an oil cooler on it for the future

[@chrishultgren777]

these engines were designed on Germany to run in the Sahara without an oil cooler. The only reason people add oil coolers is because they run the carb lean on low octane fuel. You have to run air-cooled engines rich on 92 octane to prevent overheating in the summer. (You won't understand this if you come from 2000 fuel injection era)

[@ShaunHensley]

shocked! shocked I say. Sucks this looks like a fun toy once the bugs are out

[@Rustomod]

Yeah man we’ll be back!

[@ramrunnergarage5941]

We had issues on Power Tour too. I just subscribed to your channel, great content

[@Rustomod]

Thanks!

[@itsaRooster]

Can yall do a video on the beetle there's not much on superbeetles vs normal beetles.

[@Rustomod]

Definitely we’re trying to get stuff together for a motor

[@brandonbowling524]

71 sucks

[@Rustomod]

Yes lol