The Fastest Air-Cooled VW in Lake County, Oregon...

[CatBox]

That is just crazy talk.

Needing two washers for a....two...valve....case.



You can just send me your case as I have an old H case in the back yard waiting to go......


 

[ryan68bug]

That is just crazy talk.

Needing two washers for a....two...valve....case.



You can just send me your case as I have an old H case in the back yard waiting to go......


 

Lol, good one!  Seriously, though, I think I may be in luck... I may actually be able to obtain the needed crush washers locally. 

[CatBox]

You are just unwilling to let me help you with your parts knundrums.

You say your heads are to pretty and clean, I offer to help.

You need a fix to you single washer deal, and again I have your back.

Nothing.

You smart fella!

Keep it going as I am getting ready to start and this is making my itch get worse for more power.

[ryan68bug]

I'm getting there... basically, these pesky oil pressure relief and control valves are the only "assembly work" left in the engine, everything else is external bolt-ons (exhaust, carbs, cooling fan).

Managed to find another male 3/8" NPT fitting with 1/2" flare for my full-flow oil lines, but I'm 0 for 1 on finding the needed washers locally.  The thing that pisses me off is I ran a search a bit ago and found the same hex key (allen wrench style) oil gallery plugs that come WITH copper crush washers at Pacific Customs.  Somebody pointed out that they are likely EMPI (I personally boycott as many EMPI products as possible on principle lol) but a quick search revealed  EMPI has the hex-head style plugs. 
I hate wild goose chases, let me tell ya!

[coolblue57bug]

When I built my motor last year I picked up an extra crush washer from DIP. Or maybe Mark had an extra...not sure now that I think of it.

[TotallyVW]

Crush washers are in short supply at my house too.  You must have picked that one up (or did we forget a washer?!).

[ryan68bug]

Well, I tracked down the washers through a SoVW Club buddy... also discovered Aircooled.net sells them.  I'm going to likely stock up on some of the miscellaneous hardware and seals so I can be sure I always have what I need on hand for future builds.  It would be a different story if I lived in an area where VW parts are readily available, but I gotta plan for the future...

[ryan68bug]

Discovered today, after visiting the CB performance web site, that I will have to re-install my pushrod tubes.  I bought their racing tubes, and assumed that the "accordian" end went on the cylinder head side, but in fact it's the opposite.  The larger wide-mouth end (for pushrod clearance with ratio rocker set ups) goes on the head side and the accordian end goes toward the case.  I assume this won't be a problem since I installed the seals dry and the engine hasn't been run yet?

[ryan68bug]

It gets better... have to make new pushrods because I fabbed the first set too short!  It's not even worth mentioning how I effed 'em up, all I can say is the blame rests solely on me.  Even when working slow and deliberately things can go south.  Grr.

[RogueVW]

dang be careful, make em too long and you blow your valves out.  My father almost did that to my harley when we overhauled the top end. Almost ruined a new set of custom baisley heads..(800.00 a piece).. luckily i noticed the tappets wouldnt adjust right, and upon further inspection noticed he put the wrong pushrods in, he had ordered a set for HIS bike!
 

[ryan68bug]

dang be careful, make em too long and you blow your valves out.  My father almost did that to my harley when we overhauled the top end. Almost ruined a new set of custom baisley heads..(800.00 a piece).. luckily i noticed the tappets wouldnt adjust right, and upon further inspection noticed he put the wrong pushrods in, he had ordered a set for HIS bike!
 

Worst thing is I've done it before... I had to make my own pushrods for my 1776 that I had before; it was simply a stupid error in marking the pushrods on wear to cut.  I've confirmed that I do have Berg valve adjusters, which means I won't have to clearance my rockers to get them to fit (as is necessary with genuine 911 Porsche adjusters).  Just need to bite the bullet and spend another 55 bucks for chromo pushrods... c'est la vie!

[ryan68bug]

Vee Dub Parts Unlimited rocks on shipping fast, I ordered them Tuesday night, they shipped yesterday... fingers crossed they show up on Saturday! 

[CatBox]

I will have my fingers crossed that you get them cut right this time!!!


Good luck the man....

[ryan68bug]

I have no doubts I will get it right this second time around... if I don't, it's time to pick up a new hobby. Lol.

[ryan68bug]

Well, the good news is the engine is basically done.  Only need to bolt on the newly-massaged head tin (whoever it was that recommended I snip below the spark plug holes, that was a great tip, as all I had to do after that was tweek the metal back enough to get the manifold to fit!  Thanks!), fan shroud, exhaust and carbs/intakes and hook up an oil filter.

New welded and balanced fan from Jason Eggum is torqued in place on the generator, and the carburetors are successfully squirting through their nozzles after a test run of 3-in-1 oil and WD-40.

Next purchase is one of these: www.zalexindustries.com.