Volkswagen Engine Start Stand Build

How to cut your VW transmission bell housing so you can start your engine out of the bug, bus, thing, etc. This makes making engine changes, tuning, repairs, etc much easier since the engine is not in the engine compartment. The engine can be on a stand, on a sturdy bench or on the ground.
Check our Good Old Mike for a wiring relay idea.
• Video

[@billhaneline7498]

I really like this video. A friend gave me a new engine he built and I guess he installed it in his buggy and had pushrod tubes leaking. When I picked up everything he was giving to me I saw an empty gearbox case and thought that maybe I could use that to start up this engine and today I found this video… perfect! I was going to use my bandsaw to cut it up, but I like the angle grinder idea a whole lot better for safety reasons!! I’m a machinist and totally against using steel grinding equipment on aluminum. But, I’m cutting this baby up with an angle grinder!

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Trust me I would have used something besides a grinder but I didn’t have a band saw or really anything else that would have worked. Be careful though as these cases are not pure aluminum but a magnesium / aluminum mixture. I’m sure you know what happens when magnesium catches fire!

[@GoodOldMike]

This is one of the videos that came out while I was drowning in work. Your video kicked my video's tail. Lol. Well done sir! Thanks for the shout out. Much appreciated!

[@keithwjt]

Looks great! Seems much safer than most ive seen :p...I'm just on the same mission to make one for mine for my winter project... Thank you

[@VWJawbreaker]

It’s definitely held up just fine and works well. It could be safer as the flywheel is exposed on one side but I just stay away from that area. Appreciate the comment and hope you have a great week.

[@iancox506]

Well done Sir!

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you much!

[@BeemerBob73]

Loving all your videos man.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Thank you and thanks for being here. Stay safe and healthy buddy.

[@luismora991]

Good idea man thanks

[@VWJawbreaker]

It’s been working great. Thanks for being here.

[@VolksStokes]

Thank you for doing this and explaining step by step. I just got meself a grinder and a old bellhousing case just for this purpose. Will be grinding it just like you showed soon.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad the video was helpful!

[@chriswick6904]

sweet.! Gonna have'ta biuld one myself

[@VWJawbreaker]

Hope it inspires you to make your own. There’s a video last year or so that covers the start box wiring and what not.

[@EmanDeluxeVLOGS]

With you on the community topic. Love having all my you tube friends to share our experiences with. Great video

[@VWJawbreaker]

E-man Deluxe that’s the soul purpose of me being here is to help others with my experiences and have someone possibly learn something by doing it a different way or from a different perspective. There are already ton and tons of videos showing what we’re doing, but maybe our style of explaining will help someone understand better.

[@EmanDeluxeVLOGS]

Absolutely. Same here my friend. When you receive a comment from someone stating that you're helping them with their own projects is the best feeling. Right on!

[@VWJawbreaker]

E-man Deluxe I don’t care to get big, I honestly don’t want the hassle. If I can help one person per video, it’s all worth it.

[@EmanDeluxeVLOGS]

True that. Same here. Its been so nice meeting people from all over and connecting in a bunch of ways through you tube with vws and other than vws personally...

[@EmanDeluxeVLOGS]

Really cool to see you cut a bell housing. I've never saw it done before.

[@shawn9878]

Got a old split case iam going to try this on , wish me luck

[@VWJawbreaker]

You got this!

[@shawn9878]

@@VWJawbreaker Got a off topic ? My dad has a fiberglass buggy, stock with 87 slip in that are leaking between the head and jugs .is this common with the slip in jugs. Thanks

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@shawn9878 it can be common but it’s saying something isn’t right. Need to make sure the heads are torqued properly. If they are you’ll need to pull the heads.

[@Volkswagenplanet]

Interesting, very interesting. I thought you had to use the whole top and bottom or left and right sides. This is definitely the only video I ever seen on this. Great job. Great to see your channel doing well.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Volkswagenplanet thanks buddy. I’ve seen it done multiple ways, the most important thing is basically just to support the starter.

[@SLAYERCAM]

I'd love to rig up my GoPro mount to the die grinder for added effect!!!

[@RDAUGIRD]

Great video.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Mike-pu3ot]

Great job thanks for sharing remember haters are gonna hate no matter what! ! Thanks

[@VWJawbreaker]

Mike L I agree, thanks for watching!

[@bigwadventures7061]

It’s always to learn new things. We greatly appreciate your sharing your knowledge with us. Thanks again and take care my friend. BigW:-)

[@VWJawbreaker]

Big W Adventures thank you as always for watching and commenting! Like anything, there are many ways to skin a cat 😁

[@MattLundquistVW]

Good job 👍

[@CTmoog]

I need one of these! Nice job man! =)

[@VWJawbreaker]

CT moog thanks bud!

[@carlosjimz]

I've been looking for a transmission case to do that but it's nothing available, and since the brackets that they sell are so expensive I am planning to make one out of scrap metal fiberglass or even wood, anyways it's only for testing one engine one time

[@VWJawbreaker]

I had to look for a e-bike before I found that one. I’d suggest making it from metal if you can, I’d hate for things to come apart when testing.

[@caseygarton7267]

Could you cut the other side similar and bolt it with the carrier for a finger guard?

[@VWJawbreaker]

I’m sure you probably could do something like that.

[@michaelcrosby6071]

Quick question are you going to paint the beetle? Going for faux patina? Just curious.

[@VWJawbreaker]

Nope, not painting it. There’s a story behind it.

[@nickdudek9763]

Hey brother, kind of a Newby and I just bought an old run stand. Curious if I need the clutch when I run the engine?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Nope, you don’t need the clutch installed to run the engine.

[@VolksStokes]

Question on engine stand bench mount: My bench mount does not flush right into it as the bolts don't go all the way in. How did you manage to get your bench mount fit tight and flush into the engine for better grip? Im afraid my engine will be just holding up with loose studs and thats not good. I can email you pics if i dont make any sense :)

[@VWJawbreaker]

Pics would help, feel free to shoot me an email.

[@VolksStokes]

@@VWJawbreaker Thank you! I just emailed you pics of upper and lower ends where the bolts dont let me flush them tight. Thx

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@VolksStokes no problem, happy to help!

[@backyardkombi5466]

Gary do you know if anyone sells these precut?

[@VWJawbreaker]

There is a company that makes a bracket system that works well, I’ll see if I can find the info for ya.

[@kemohere]

Now ill i have to do is find a junk trans

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@kemohere check local swap meets.

[@kemohere]

@VWJawbreaker definitely will. If you dont mind can i ask a question? I need to replace my 1600 dual port. Has too much end play. I got a used motor that was out of car. And was told to me that it runs. How would you go about swapping these engines .

[@VWJawbreaker]

@@kemohere you’d need to remove one and install the other 🤷‍♂️

[@williewillteeztorres8502]

Wanna sell that pc?

[@VWJawbreaker]

Already sold but thanks.