Aircooled VW South Africa

Hi all,
I was busy fitting my 3 rib gearbox to my 1600TP engine and found two issues.
Now I'm not sure where the issue comes from, but remember this was a gearbox that was fitted to a Toyota engine via an APEX adapter plate.
I must also mention that the gearbox has the hanger ears at the top, so actually not correct for my '70 Kombi.
So issue 1 was that the studs on the bottom engine mounts were too short.
I replaced the studs with the correct length so no issue although strange since the motor and gearbox are stock.
Issue 2. My original starter motor has a broken top ear and I bought a second hand unit to replace it. When I put them together it seems it might be for another vehicle as the bendix is different. The original was longer and still seems to be correct. The second hand unit is shorter and also does not seem to fit deep enough for the main shaft to be secure. Any advice will be most appreciated.

The short one is for 1600 motors and the long one is for 2000 motor

You may have a 2000 bell housing, then you need the long one, if not the short one.

But if you have a 10 mm spacer you can use the long one in the place of the short one.

( You can make a spacer from the front end of the starter with the broken ear)

Easy to find out, if the long one does not sit flush, when fitting only by hand, then you need the short one, if it sits flush, then you need the long one.

If you broke the ear off when fitting, then I am sure you now need the short one.

Herman

Thank Herman,
Is there a way to find out if I have a 2000 bellhousing?
Both starters fit in but the short one seems to short in that the shaft does not go in deep enough according to me that is.
The broken ear came from the toyota conversion. When loosening the bolt it turned as it was not an original but a Capscrew with a blob of welding on it to prevent it from turning.
It does look as though I have a 2000 bellhousing though because the studs on the engine were too short, if that could be an indication.
Also wondering now if this combination will fit in my Westy.

Never mind, I just did a search and found my own topic. viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37423&p=323278&hili ... ng#p323278

Yes the combination will fit.

Use the long shaft starter and you good to go.

Herman

Seems it is not that easy.
I cleaned and greased the long shaft starter and installed but it seems I cannot activate the clutch?
The lever on the gearbox does not budge at all.

The one startes looks more like a golf starter than a bus, starter? chech the part number, will help.

Not sure what you are saying. as the starter has noting to do with the clutch

If the clutch is not moving it means you either have the clutch plate upside down, or the release bearing is the incorrect one for the VW combination and still for the other engine.

Herman

The bigger 2l bellhousing is obviously not correct for your early bay westy. If you take a close up pick I can tell you for sure, but the fact that the studs on your motor were too short is pretty much saying it is the longer bellhousing.

I must also just add that we refer to this bellhousing as the 2l, but after 1976, all 1600’s and 2000’s used this same bigger bellhousing.

The long bendix starter is the correct one for this bellhousing.

But, as this bellhousing is now longer, your engine mounts on the mustache bar are not going to line up properly where you bolt it to the body.

Thank guys,

@Calooker
Will check and post here.

@ retrovan
"or the release bearing is the incorrect one for the VW combination and still for the other engine."
This is a possibility. Will check again.

@Sean
"as this bellhousing is now longer, your engine mounts on the mustache bar are not going to line up properly where you bolt it to the body."
Exactly what I was thinking.

Thank you for your inputs really appreciate it. I know it is not easy to do a remote diagnosis.

OK, did some more digging and reverse lookup.
I have two starter motors one is for T2 '75 onwards thats the long shaft one.
The other is for T2 (an Beetle) '67 - '75. That sorts that one.

So as I have it now everything should work. I must just check why muy clutch lever does not budge. Maybee it is tighter than I thought.

Here some pictures of how things look. I don't have reason to believe the clutch and flywheel are not correct as it came with the engine. But on never knows.