After nearly a year off the road, the Bug lives again! I finished up the engine rebuild and I was ready to start 'er up yesterday. But the battery had conked out. A quick trip over to Les this morning and new juice cranked the engine over just like that. I cut 'er off after about 5 minutes (I was checking for leaks - and an AutoStick has more places to leak!) and checked the fluids. I also set up my tach and timing light and cranked her over for the official 20 minute breakin run.
Runs like a dream. And the smell! Man, does a new engine smell good.
So, I still have to get the halfshafts installed. That's today and tomorrow. Thursday is break-in day for the rings and Friday is road testing. Saturday (if all goes well on Thursday and Friday) the Bug is on its way down to see Willy for a long overdue paint job. Truthfully, I've been more concerned with the Bug's ability to survive the weather with its vanishing original paint than I have been with the engine rebuild.
Here's a snap during its bearings break-in run today.........
