Engine Build - Type1 1969 Westfalia

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:12 am

No groove.
I greased the lip of the seal, front and back too.

vdubyah73 · Post by **vdubyah73** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:50 am

If it's got a little weep, it isn't gonna fry cause there is oil there. Me, I 'd run it and see what develops. A main seal can be done in a day if you don't take breaks every half hour like I do. Thats just what I'd do.

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 8:55 am

Ok thanks Bill, I agree with ya. Time will tell.
At least the damn thing runs right.

spiffy · Post by **spiffy** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:00 am

hambone wrote:Ok thanks Bill, I agree with ya. Time will tell.
At least the damn thing runs right.

Careful, it might hear you!

Gypsie · Post by **Gypsie** » Mon Mar 23, 2009 9:04 am

vdubyah73 wrote: A main seal can be done in a day if you don't take breaks every half hour like I do.

I agree with the point that if'n this is the only issue, an engine pull and repair can be done in an afternoon and still have time for hootenanny.

Congrats on your maiden voyage with Fam.

Oregon72 · Post by **Oregon72** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 7:51 pm

Mine eyes and ears have witnessed the fruits of Hambone's handy-work. Damn nice work I must say. Really nice Bob!! =D>

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:04 pm

Thanks!
I'm gonna have to replace that seal before the summer. Crap. Up to 2 drops now.

What did I do wrong? I tapped in the seal carefully with a small hammer, going slowly round and round. It's seated flush with the case, not fully seated. I lightly sanded the flywheel hub with 400 grit paper. I greased both sides of the seal lip (but not the flywheel hub).
Not looking forward to pulling the engine again, I thought I was done. Oh well coulda been worse I guess. And hopfully it's not the cam plug. What do you do if it's leaking? Yeah cross that bridge when I come to it...

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 10:44 am

First trip report.
200 miles. Everything operating like it should. Fought a strong headwind in the Columbia Gorge, almost floored to maintain 60 MPH. Climbing 2000' out of the Columbia in 3rd, no issues. Can maintain 40 MPH without noise or vibration. Engine running remarkably cool, even after all that.
It has a distributor-attributed tendency to die after a long downhill slog, probably vacuum related. I have a rebuilt unit to try.
Plenty of power, very smooth running. The oil leak has diminished markedly. Sounds like a jet while climbing grades, just a smooth whirring on the hiway. Maintains 65 MPH easily and for at least an hour.
Also seemed to like the 1st gear puddle jumping.
Am I good to go? Lawd lawd.

Time to get that bumper back on.

Post by **Amskeptic** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:56 am

hambone wrote: Am I good to go? Lawd lawd.
Time to get that bumper back on.

You oughtta sit back down a beer be proud. . .

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:02 pm

That will be a nice break from "string of worries"! But CAN I DO IT?

I think I'm more relieved than proud. Had no idea I'd take the whole process so personally geez it's just a collection of atoms. Same as this-here ol' chicken bone. I'd rather have an engine tho.

vdubyah73 · Post by **vdubyah73** » Mon Mar 30, 2009 3:44 pm

Your confidence in your work grows exponentially with every oil change. My first 500 mile down and back to NYC I was a nervous wreck. Covered with false bravado for the benefit of Nan and the kids. That was the trip that the drivers wiper slipped to wiping the headlite the day before we left, the shift coupler let go before 50 miles of road went under our bottoms, then the no hot start happened in NYC. Every problem was fixed in about 20 minuted or less. Now the old girl just eats up the miles at 70-75 for 8 hours like nothing. The other thing I noticed is that it just kept running better and better as the miles accumulated. Still have the hot start issue from time to time, nothing crawling under with a screwdriver don't fix. To cheap to buy a starter, I think it is my rewire job. I used a heavy gauge wire for the solenoid, There is about a foot of it just hanging from the harness to the spade connector. I think the spade connector loses it's grip on the terminal due to vibration and wind buffeting which causes resistance. Gotta get under and secure it to the frame then run a lighter gauge wire to the starter. Kinda like the roof don't leak when the suns out so why fix it.

Gypsie · Post by **Gypsie** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:33 am

vdubyah73 wrote: There is about a foot of it just hanging from the harness to the spade connector. I think the spade connector loses it's grip on the terminal due to vibration and wind buffeting which causes resistance.

Sorry to be a buttinski,

Have you tried to bend the wire over and ziptie it to the solinoid housing? Take all the vibration motion out of the equation as well as create a certain amount of pressure to hold the spade in place.

Okay...back to the show

hambone · Post by **hambone** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 9:02 am

First trip with a completely loaded bus and fulla people into the mountains. Guess what, ran really well. Nice power band, no overheating. Did notice that the oil pressure sender had loosened up a bit and was seeping. Can't believe how quiet it runs, and how much more fun it is to drive. 40 in 3rd with room to go, nice and smooth.
It's soup!

Time to get that back bumper on. I think it's close to capturing that '69 VW experience but Colin will surely burst my bubble.

chitwnvw · Post by **chitwnvw** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 6:16 pm

Surprised?

Post by **Amskeptic** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:03 pm

hambone wrote:
I think it's close to capturing that '69 VW experience but Colin will surely burst my bubble.

Are you kidding? I am giddy with anticipation to relive the '69 quintessential VW bus experience. It was with pain that I listened to your old endplay.

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Itinerant Air-Cooled

Engine Build - Type1 1969 Westfalia