Aircooled VW South Africa

When I bought the Yellow Peril, the guy selling it told me that the engine was overhauled a few months previously. The car is solid but in need of some TLC, so that sort of sweetened the deal.

I took it at face value, as the engine showed some signs of having been worked on. It was running a bit rough, but sounded rather decent - nothing a tune-up could not fix.

So, I did the obvious, and gave the car a service (plugs, points, condenser, new rotor, distributor cap, set valve clearances and finally change the oil)

First I found out that the distributor is 180 degrees out of phase - so no1 plug wire is where no4 should be and so on.
So much for the quality of the assembly of the engine after the overhaul.

Then found no1 and no 2 cylinders not firing - compression test came to 600 kPa for both, same as no3.
Traced it back to a loose inlet manifold.

Once that was tightened it started and ran fine, but I could not set the carb. I suspected another inlet leak and traced it to loose manifold bellows screws.

Once that was tightened, I could set the carb and it turned out nice with a stable idle at 850 rpm and the fast idle screw almost fully backed out, as per procedure.

All the while, with the engine running, I heard a rumbling noise, almost like a loose cooling fan. So I removed the fan belt and ran the engine. Much to my disgust, the noise persisted.

So it became time to drain the oil. I loosened the sump plate and was rather annoyed to see only about 500ml of oil drain out.
Not what I would expect as the dipstick showed a level midway between the two marks
The inside of the sump plate was covered with a thick gunk, which immediately sent up some red flags as this is not what you would expect on a freshly rebuilt engine.

I cleaned the mess off and cleaned the strainer and replaced the cover.

Poured 2,5 liters of Castrol's finest into the engine and started it.

Normally, it takes a couple of seconds for the oil pressure light to go off, but this little bugger liked showing off so much, it stayed on.

Switched the engine off, checked the oil level and started the engine again; and that is when the rumbling became a full blown cacophony, as the bearings let go.

So, here I am now thinking all kinds of nasty thoughts while compiling a parts list and contemplating the future of this engine.

Mutter, mutter spit, spit

And That is EXACTLY why i don't believe Anybody that says the engine has been "recently REBUILT"
Unless i have seen it being built with my own eyes
as sellers want to sell the car and use that line often as a sell point

there are some guys who won't tell U that unless it is what has really been done they are very few
but they are out there

Sorry for the loss that is a big Bummer !!!

Sorry to hear about your experience. I'm guessing very many of us have been through this. I know I have ...

When buying loose engines or cars I always assume the engine is scrap, unless I see evidence to the contrary. There are so many bush mechanics and rattlecan rebuilders our there, who have no idea how to properly rebuild an ACVW engine, so no "rebuild" claim can be trusted. You should always ask who built the engine and ask for invoices for work done. If seller can't or won't provide, then you know the engine hasn't been rebuilt. Since the youngest ACVW engines are now more than 35 years old, it's prudent to assume that any engine with issues like strange noises or knocks or end float is probably not rebuildable and price your offer accordingly.

Caveat emptor.

Fortunately, this not my first time at the dance.

I am a firm believer that I only trust what I have seen. So when poking around any of the cars that tickle my fancy (normally the cars of my youth; and I can remember how a new Beetle looked on a dealership floor - so go figure), I normally expect the worst and love a pleasant surprise.

I managed to do a good deal on Yellow Peril, so I was prepared to spend a few Randelas to get him up to scratch.
I have planned to eventually open the engine, so my project plan just got reshuffled, as I would hate to miss Cars in The Park in August.

I am just ticked off that I feel I killed the engine by giving it a bit of long overdue love and attention. Maybe there is something in the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" idea.