Aircooled VW South Africa

*We suspect that "the barrels are loose" on my bus engine.

After some deducing, and lots of listening, this is the conclusion...

I've been advised to have the heads tightened.

Now, as you all know, my engine knowledge is dangerous at best at present - yes Fig, I am learning!

Is this something that is do-able without a complete rebuild, or should I just wait and have the engne rebuilt at the same time?

The engine is sitting on about 103,000 km - genuine.

It has never been rebuilt or rebored (spelling?).

N.

You want to learn a lot....

Buy the Heynes manual, and strip the engine by yourself. Then if possible, take the parts to someone like calooker (sorry for dragging you into this) who knows his oats, get them to tell you what they think and what to look out for. Get all the new parts you need and when ready for a rebuild, sponser a braai and get the guys to help and advise you while you do all the building yourself. NO BEER FOR YOU, the spectators can get pissed up, you cant afford to F-up your endplay or some other clearances.

Heads can do with a re-torque as the tend to slacken a little in time, but it will only help if the complete unit is in sound condition. How did you figure out the sleeves are loose? If there are puddles of oil on your driveway, coming from the head/sleeve area or at the sleeve block mating then yes the heads need torquing but it will not solve other problems that could be causing oil leaks.

's up guys,

Yup, I have a sh!tload to learn - all of which is part of a big plan for a goal in a few years time...

Nice idea Tony; hopefully I'll get around to it sometime in the near future.

*looks at his diary and moans* --> Aaah, shuddup!

Yup, my bus does leak oil - slowly, but it's due to a missing bolt on the sump plate.

Got the bolt; hoping to fit it soon.

How did we figure it out? Um, a quick deduction while listening to it running...

We've checked most things, and apparently this is the most logical one left without having checked it out fully as yet.

I don't drink Tony - no need to wory about alcohol-induced errors, only sober ones.

N.

If you are hearing things from the motor then it is telling you something, depending on the sound, it could tell you the severity of the problem, any odd sound/noise/rattle is not good, some are more severe than others, motor could be on it's last legs, if you are hearing sounds from the sleeves it is likely piston slap = worn rings/pistons/sleeves, but it can only be diagnosed 100% with the motor open, start saving now , and keep the long trips short and close to home.

I don't think it's fatal, but I would like to get the engine rebuilt towards the end of the year.

I'm getting my bug 'finished' for daily use, and then the bus will be mothball'd to storage for some time until I have enough to totally restore it to factory-spec.

That will be a very slow, tedious, and costly excercise. :/

It's going in for an anti-rust massage this month and the resto will probably happen in about 2-3 years time, but the engine will happen this year hopefully.

I think my new 'purchase' will be worked on first though...

The unveiling might be next week.

N.

We all wait in tension while MErlin conjures up something new...

...I can guarantee you this one's worth the wait.