Seized VW Air Cooled Engine Tear Down - What happened ? Surprise ?

[@tomswindler64]

Great video Mike,I’ve been there myself before.you will prevail and have that back in the truck in no time 👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

Hi Mike, just dawned on me that I don't need a VW that I don't have the room for but the engine I do. There are postings for VW engines now and then so someday will pick up on and put on an engine stand to have some fun with. If I get lucky maybe a rebuildable one? If not just a good learning experience to dig into. Thanks for doing these videos that are very interesting and informative.

[@benkanobe7500]

This is what I alluded to in an earlier email which I must not have explained well. The problem (40 Hp) is the center cam bearing surface becomes oval shaped (exaggerated) from the case halfs banging and shifting (why later and aluminum cases are pinned) around. When that motor was disassembled prior to its build, I guarantee you the case bolts/nuts were all loose. Line boring the cam bearing surfaces will show the first and last are OK, but the center is smashed and oval (exaggerated). The center cam bearing is too tight on assembly of the case halves and it then generates a ton of heat through the case when running which takes out (usually Number 3 Rod bearing) and depending on the build, sometimes the center main bearing. This is typical, not unusual. I learned this lesson the hard way back in '76. The additional collateral damage was from running it too long after the rod was forced to give up.

[@Mikefngarage]

very good points. center cam bearing gets worn just like center main from no having shuffle pins. and since there is no bearing there it looses oil pressure. noting a line bore and cam bore job wouldnt fix.

[@bobcarino9013]

Hey Mike, just a FYI. Rimco line bored a 40hp I was building and also bored for cam bearings. Originally as you mentioned they didn’t have bearings but Gary suggested to do so. It’s been over 6 years and that motor is still going 👍🏻

[@Mikefngarage]

yea rimco is no longer. but DK machine does them too. brothers does too $$$$$$$$

[@vayabroder729]

Definitely baffling.

[@Mikefngarage]

weird that it lost oil pretty quickly to the (front) Rear of the oil section. The rest looked pretty normal maybe a crack somewhere in that section of the case. spraying oil to the inside. I am not sure. was not getting hot. just lost oil pressure

[@ocavant]

Did the oil light come on at speed when it started making noise? Time for a gauge maybe. I should do that too as I am running a 40 horse in my single cab It is not pulling anywhere near, what you are with the bucket truck though. Did you measure the end play before you took it apart?

[@LakesideAutobody]

Interesting video Mike - thanks for sharing. Have a good week my friend 👍🎃😊

[@Mikefngarage]

Thanks, you too!

[@geomi3185]

Mike new to the channel and love it . Been watching some of the recent VW shows . I’m located in AZ but wife and I go to San Diego often . Was wondering if you could post some info on the sites you are on to track when shows are up coming so we can schedule our trips accordingly . Only caught one German one in San Diego near our hotel at harbor island. Last trip

[@Mikefngarage]

yea I do several over there. Imperial beach was just put up. then some north county ones.

[@jimmywilkinson9190]

Hey Mike ! I would check out the gasket under the oil cooler to see if it closed down ?

[@Mikefngarage]

it was fine no issues. probably cam bore issue. the only place it could go.

[@brilog69]

Bummer about your bus Mike!

[@arborleaftree1769]

I’ve just got my engine back from a repair shop that deal in air cooled. I’ve only driven car for 30 mins and the next day I started the bug up only to have fuel spurting out of the exhausts. They reckon it s probably a valve stuck open but I’m not sure . Could it be anything else?

[@jimh.5286]

I have a 1200cc engine that you can have for free. I took it out of my '61 Bug in order to convert to a 1600cc engine. Complete engine, ignition, carb, exhaust, starter. It was in good running order when removed, stored in a dry garage, consistently turned over monthly with a wrench to keep free. Located in Monterey County, central CA. I grew up in Riverside, am down there around once per year to visit grandkids in La Habra, could deliver, or if you happen to be up in this neck of the woods..... I can send photo if desired. Just want to find good home for it.

[@Mikefngarage]

yea message me on facebook page.

[@michaelbell7465]

I need a line bore for my 1970 AE case. Can you recommend a company? I live in Florida and can crate my case to ship. Thanks.

[@Mikefngarage]

Best for that is Brothers VW Machine shop ONT CA. also DK machine I think la habra. or Performance workshop in Riverside CA. Brothers does a lot of mail order stuff. Pull the studs check all the surfaces. check for cracks in the back before you send it. shipping cost will be a lot. They will check that too. While its there if it is not case saverered you could have them do an 8mm case saver and put. those in and do a 90.5 opening. if it already has 10mm studs and case savers probably just stay 85.5 would be too thin around the cylinders. Full flow if your doing that too.

[@DanTheManIOM]

There are vw places in FL, why not ask around , there is even a FB page for Florida VW... I'm about 17 hours from Daytona,but two guys I have met here - one moved to FL upgraded bus to a vanagon, and the other guy retired and he's always got something going on vw related. I bet you can find machine shop in FLA that knows aircooled. Just an idea....good luck, I was thinking CA for me, but there is a guy one hour away with 20+ years experience...

[@scottdevore5956]

@@DanTheManIOM Isn't CT's engine guy "vwdarrin" in Florida? I believe I saw that on one of his videos.

[@DanTheManIOM]

You are right ! I liked those videos, I thought it was cool he was very open and ct took us along, how could I have let that slip my mind ? I'm exploring the LS rat hole for another project, that's probably why... thanks ! @@scottdevore5956

[@firealva41]

Can a Hoover mod be performed in a 40HP you would know better than me. For such a small motor pulling so much weight you probably can benefit with a mod or two. Then again with a loss of oil pressure all the mods in the world wouldn’t help much. I think bigger pump should help plus a HP upgrade so she won’t struggle so much. I’ve watched you build motors and you definitely know what your doing. I just think it’s the road speed and undersized motor can’t do the job. Maybe type IV oil cooler duel relief etc.

[@Mikefngarage]

possibly I would need to evaluate it again. need more oil getting to the rear of the engine. 40hp has small oil passage to the rear. needs a bit bigger pump to maintain some pressure at the rear (actually the front) Rear of the oil pass.

[@mechanics4all405]

Sorry vintage volks hoover mods on oil,check it out❤

[@bigears4014]

Check your relief valve

[@Mikefngarage]

working just fine. someone suggested cam bores were worn oval like center main. that makes sense since the pump was that small

[@brianhayes7618]

Did you rebuild that engine or is it original?

[@Mikefngarage]

did a refresh rebuild on it less than 20k miles ago. did not want to put a lot of money in a 40hp engine. But did not do the line bore and cam bore. It had a similar problem last time too. talked about that at the very end. this was not intended to be put in this truck

[@hded06]

I'm AV Sundays and Mondays 😉

[@tomsummers1137]

“Cheapie rebuild”…not necessarily cheap.