Project '66 Engine Rebuild

[BuginU2]

Way overdue for an update.....

After I dropped one of my 92mm pistons - Peter sold me a set he had laying around.  I spent about a week reassembling the motor.

On Saturday afternoon I pulled the "backup" motor out in order to salvage the last remaining parts I needed (exhaust, dizzy, fuel pump, alternator).

Sunday afternoon I installed the motor and began hooking everything back up.

Last night I finished running all of the fuel lines, the oil breather hoses, and electrical.  Filled the motor with oil and performed a preliminary valve adjustment.  Cranked the motor over without the plugs in until the oil pressure light turned off.

Tonight I'll put the linkage on, lower it off the jacks and break the motor in. 

[StevesBug]

Congratulations. Nice recovery from a nasty day last weekend.

[Matty]

Congratulations. Nice recovery from a nasty day last weekend.

yeah, it helps when you have a backup motor *kick rocks*

[russ]

I have never rebuild an engine and would like to see one built or help in any way.  My goal is to be able to rebuild my own engine.  I have a 66 bug with a 1300 and a type IV motor in another car.

[BuginU2]

The motor fired up after a little coaxing.  Pissed off the neighbors breaking it in....

[Matty]

Pissed off the neighbors breaking it in....

[BuginU2]

I have to be honest... the break-in session didn't go as smoothly as I'd like.  It was nearly a disaster.

The motor was a pain to get started the first time.  Simply didn't want to spark to life.  I cranked it over a lot longer than I would have liked.  Checked the timing. Checked for TDC.  Tried again.  Finally it started.

I quickly set the timing to something a little bit reasonable and then upped the RPM to above 2000.  The plan was to run the motor between 2200 and 2800 RPM for about 30 minutes solid. 

HOWEVER - about 10 minutes into the session - there was a loud pop and I started popping through the carbs (both sides!).  I immediately shut it down.  Pulled the valve covers off (ouch - hot) and found that the push rod for the exhaust valve on #4 and #1 had come out of the rocker arms and where wedged between the rocker arm and the push rod tube hole.

So I removed the rocker arms - checked the push rods to see if they were bent (they weren't) and then put it all back together.  Did a hot valve adjustment.  Fired it back up and finished the break in session without any additional problems.

Before I drive it around the block - I am going to check the valve adjustment again to verify I am in spec. 

I guess I will need to keep an eye on those rockers too... I've never had that happen before.  I can only imagine that I didn't have the rocker arm fully pushed open when I did the initial valve adjustment and it was way too loose.

[CatBox]

what cam did you stick in there?

[BuginU2]

The cam is just a stocker....  started it up and drove it down the street today.  I need to put the timing light on it and adjust the idle.  Otherwise it is running fine.

On a side note - our HOA sent a nice letter encouraging me to "remove the VW from the jack stands" prior to the 6th of April.  Something about being against the CC&Rs to have an inoperable vehicle on the property - what inoperable vehicle?  They must have my car confused with another one parked a couple blocks away.  I don't know how they could confuse the two - mine is a '66 and the other one is a '71 late model standard.  :)

[jbjetta]

HOA's seem to have silly rules some of the time. Or a leader who is a MAJOR nuisance.

[Matty]

They must have my car confused with another one parked a couple blocks away.  I don't know how they could confuse the two - mine is a '66 and the other one is a '71 late model standard.

HA HA....jerk.
Yes, the good ol' Cedar Hills HOA,; that'l teach ya for test running your engine

[CatBox]

nothing like living in an older neighborhood and having a rule pusher association to boot!

i may not have the optimal location but i have never been bothered by anyone, and those of you that have been over know what i am talking about... :o  although that is all cleaned up and gone for the most part.

[Nacho]

Old neighborhoods rule, no one telling you how to live

[BuginU2]

My neighborhood was built in the late 40's to early 50's.  The HOA was formed around the same time as far as I know.

Generally speaking - our HOA has been pretty much hands off.  I've received 3 letters in the 10 years we've been there.  However, two of them have come in the past year.... so the enforcement person must have changed.  I am going to ask them to clarify the definition of an inoperable vehicle.  Car on jack stands does not constitute an inoperable vehicle in my book.

[Matty]

Something about being against the CC&Rs to have an inoperable vehicle on the property

ooh ohh that gives me an idea; let's roll in the C.H. 4th parade with signs on our Dubs that say "Cedar Hills Inoperable Vehicle Club"