Tdc with no viewing ports? Options

[Radmacdaddy]

What's rtv?

I did one hell of a repair on the exhaust leak which broke (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Now I just made a better than one hell of a repair (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Problem is I may have burned a valve. Can someone explain the symptoms?

I'm getting crazy sputtering.

I may leave her in albaquerque. Sadly.

[r_towle]

Who lives near albuquerque new Mexico?
Randy needs some help in person.

Rich

[Dave_Darling]

What's rtv?

Room Temperature Vulcanizing silicone. The half-pound of red goop in your air cleaner. Generally frowned upon by a good number of people, but used anyway.

Problem is I may have burned a valve. Can someone explain the symptoms?

Bad compression on one cylinder is the primary symptom. Near zero, generally. It can cause all kinds of lack of power, sputtering, pops and bangs in the intake or exhaust, uneven cranking noises when trying to start, and so on.

Got a compression tester?

--DD

[Radmacdaddy]

Made it to NM!!!!! Wahoo!!!

Cruising along. Will Check compression at next stop.

[wingnut86]

2.0 rebuild kit will have all the seals you need, including the push rods viton seals.

You have to have the head retaining springs for the valvetrain...

[Radmacdaddy]

Well... Based on compression on #3-70lbs, down from 120... I guess I burned a valve.

If I can find an Albaquerque friend I may keep this going. Otherwise I may just book flights.

Any one willing to share a shop space to keep us going?

[Radmacdaddy]

Posted: Today 12:09 am Post subject:
r_towle wrote:
Keep the faith, you are in the right place at a junkyard.
Get Everything you need...and then some.

Rich


Thanks Rich.

I just tore the entire engine down to the short block. Had help to hone the cylinders, and pistons, got new rings in all around and even replaced a couple cylinders and pistons.

Have it back to heads... don't have the retention springs for the pushrods still

I'll get the rest back in place in the morning and we'll see what my compression is like. It was 1-40, 2-80, 3-70, 4-80 this morning... yikes.

This IS my last horah on this trip, either I start making tracks, or leave it as far as I get tomorrow and fly home. I am truly exhausted at this point.

Thanks for all your advice everyone!

[jcd914]

You're not likely to have good compression on a fresh assembly, the rings need to seat to the cylinders. As hard as it may be to do, you need to drive it easy for a few hundred miles while it breaks in.

Good luck.
Jim

[wingnut86]

Randy,

If you can run it in the car for an hour or so this morning before you take off it will help a great deal (keeping the RPMs stable). 2 hours is preferred to start the proper seating of rings/cylinders and seats.

You'll want to sit down for this next one.

You have to readjust the valves after this break-in period and then change the oil to fresh. If you are running solid lifters now, it's not optional. With hydraulic ~... Remember she will still be loud during this period and checking compression after 100 miles should return higher and hopefully more stable numbers. 1st 500 miles is basically: Check compression/change oil/check & clean screen and lastly it wouldn't hurt to swap the tranny oil at 500 miles based on all the strain the motor has had on itself and the transmission...

Piece of cake.

Seriously Dude, ever consider a job in a Lemans pit crew?

Hang in there as you are way better than you were Saturday night with twice the balls of most of us.

Dave

[Radmacdaddy]

So, I spent two full days rebuilding the engine under the watchful eyes of some experiences VW'ers and type IV folk in Alburqueque NM at the VW co-op... run by JP Henricksen, a very kind and helpful VW old schooler.

Today I have been 300 miles with 200 to go. I've lost almost no oil.

I seated the rings last night using a "quick" method I'm sure plenty of folk would not agree with, but in my case was the way to go for sure.

I packed all that air movement with about four pipe insulation lengths from Lowes for $10 (I have a few left over if any burn up or fall out).

She is running REALLY sweetly. Cruising at 55-60 smoothly.

I did change the oil after about two hours running and will again in the morning.

Thanks for the tips all!

[wingnut86]

Randy,

You should volunteer to do the next valve adjustment clinic in New England. And, everyone should be required to do their's with 3 hours of sleep, 4 gallons of coffee, no tools, 3 different parking lots, a bag of piston rings, 2 turtle doves and a partridge in a pear tree.

P.S. Burn my cell number;--)

Great work Newbie!

Dave Brooker

[Radmacdaddy]

Wouldn't you know... I'm driving in OK and hit a small deer! Put a big dent in the from right and tore out the turn signal light (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

My son & I went to find the poor animal so I could put it down but it was nowhere to be seen.

After all the effort, I no longer have a straight body. Sigh. C'est la vie. Just grateful to be alive and having gone 420 miles in one day having started at 11:30 am. Will start earlier tomorrow. Oh... And I went from a top mpg before the last couple days work of 13, to 17.5 today! Yeeeeessss!

[messix]

You have got to put this all in to a jornal . or write an article story of this to submit, just a classic!

[r_towle]

Randy made it to somewhere between Memphis and Nashville and it sounds like he lost a rod and blew a hole in the case.

He is done driving.
I am sure he could use some help if anyone has a trailer and some time to go fetch him.
He will be shipping the husk home now and catching a flight.

Rich

[wingnut86]

Randy,

You can have the GC 2.0 case I currently have on the stand for just the shipping. Short block though, crank, rods and distributor. I don't know condition of the bottom end as I haven't split the case yet. Shipping is probably around $80 give or take $15.

I'm with my wife today for some personal business or I'd call.

Anyone in Crockettville who can give Randy some leads? PM him...

Dave

[Radmacdaddy]

As rich mentioned, the case is blown, I have about a 3" hole in the top of it... see the shrapnel that came out below.

I am in need of any advise in shipping this van to VT. Does anyone recommend anything?

Thanks for all your support everyone.

Randy

[Radmacdaddy]

crank case damage:
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/uploads_offsite/a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net-13617-1318897812.1.jpg)

[wingnut86]

Don't toss the case Randy. They aren't building anymore of these (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Believe it or not, I have seen some great aluminum welding (tig) fixes on blocks that had more damage than yours. The trick is to have 1) a great machinist local who knows his or her stuff on machine dye verification for extended spider cracks. 2) an experienced aluminum block welder - Note - not a guy who likes to make jigs, artwork and builds custom car and truck trailers.

The welder has to know metallurgy and the heating and cooling cycles of different types of aluminum and its repair.

Let me know if you need mine and I'll work up a shipping price this weekend.

Dave

[Radmacdaddy]

Thanks Dave, a shipping price would be great.

I'm also looking at that full engine in delaware, & another here in the classifieds in illinios... I'll keep you posted.

[wingnut86]

Good luck Rad man. I'LL have pricing by Monday...