Itinerant Air-Cooled

Anyone know offhand what the official time is needed for removing/installing a Beetle engine? I'm guessing 2-3 hours for each. Maybe it's less for a shop with a lift.

if it's a REALLY good shop, it could take as little as 1 minute and 10 seconds

I was quoted 200-300 locally.

My pops told me you used to be able to drop off your beetle and come back an hour later and they'd have your brand new engine installed.

We could do it if we had the infrastructure. That would be a unique business, but high overhead. I'll bet it could be successful on the West Coast. But no uncles with deep, generous pockets I'm afraid.

I can get Bertha's engine out in about an hour, if I didn't take so many breaks. In doesn't take that much more. Unexpecteds can add to the time. Three hours, four if you take as many breaks as I do.


neal

I lived in Hanover as a kid - my dad was in the army there - and there was a VW shop at the end of our road that had a sign outside guaranteeing they'd swap the engine in under an hour...

Old german guys...probably worth their weight in gold these days!

A Beetle takes longer though because ya gotta jack it up so high, and shim up the jackstands. I wonder if you can get taller jackstands??

hambone wrote:I wonder if you can get taller jackstands??

Yup. "Stand support height range is 33-3/4" to 44-1/4" "



Unfortunately, the sellers of these little beauties are quite proud of them.

http://www.tooltopia.com/otc-tools-1779 ... lebase_18u

That price is for one.

OUCH!
Hey H.F. makes a cheaper set:
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton-jac ... 34924.html
and
http://www.harborfreight.com/6-ton-jack ... 38847.html

Those 12 tonners are in stock, maybe I'll run over and pick up a set. ATV jacks go on sale next weekend.

Me thinks those HF offerings don't go high enough. As I recall, you need at least 30" of lift to git 'er done.

The weight capacity isn't the issue, it's the lifting height.

12 ton may be pretty close:
Height: 19-1/2'' to 30-1/8''
Certainly much more stable, with a larger base as well compared to my 4 tons. A shame the Beetle doesn't have a removable apron from the factory.

I got the 12 ton. Man that's a big stand, I feel like Tim Taylor. I'll let you know how they handle with a Beetle.
20% off coupon from the mail! And a free ratchet clamp.

Looking back, those might just work. Here's what I ended up having to do with my "high-lift" 3-ton stands which according to Sears have a 21" lift.


Gotta love a coupon!

I don't think I have ever seen anyone put jacks under a Bug to change an engine. Always just a jack. Never seen one fall but hey.