Bumpers on Beetles are a pain in the &%$ And these one's suck so I'll have to blow more Kash on replacements.
Those seals are really starting to lay down nice.
1957 Oval
Re: 1957 Oval
Decided to try WW for the running boards. $96.50 each (ouch). They are pretty nice.
Bumpers on Beetles are a pain in the &%$ And these one's suck so I'll have to blow more Kash on replacements.
Those seals are really starting to lay down nice.
Bumpers on Beetles are a pain in the &%$ And these one's suck so I'll have to blow more Kash on replacements.
Those seals are really starting to lay down nice.
Re: 1957 Oval
I'm really struggling with this oval. I've been a bit over my head at times. 
Finally got the bumper issue squared away with some help from TS & some 'grunt' work. Lights came out great. Front bumper too. (As long as I don't go 12 Volt! )
I've really got to decide on some distributor issues. I LOVE the old "cast irons", but I have to decide what my set up will be. Do I go heresey and make it 12 Volt?
If only VW stopped making engines with the 25/36 horse!
Finally got the bumper issue squared away with some help from TS & some 'grunt' work. Lights came out great. Front bumper too. (As long as I don't go 12 Volt! ) I've really got to decide on some distributor issues. I LOVE the old "cast irons", but I have to decide what my set up will be. Do I go heresey and make it 12 Volt?
If only VW stopped making engines with the 25/36 horse! Re: 1957 Oval
Now that my '59 bus is running at the LEAKOIL acceptable level of 90% "right" I figure I better get the Oval engine sorted out while the car is at Bill's for the headliner/interior.
Dual Port (Bruce) was kind enough to offer to run my engine on his test stand to see what I had. This is essentially a mystery motor, but it was rebuilt previously by an unknown builder with unknown results.
Since I really couldn't say what was or wasn't done, Bruce decided to put the engine through a few tests. We started with a compression test. Some bad news out of the box, but not fatal. #1 101, #2 87, #3 117, #4 110. So #2 is a problem. Bruce took the time to explain to me the leakdown test process then proceeded to do it. I was hoping for a valve problem, but it's coming from the piston/ring cylinder area. Bruce showed me how to listen for the compressed air escaping. I could hear it clearly from the oil cap. What's another rebuild in my life? Heads seemed ok.
Next Bruce checked the cam lobes to be sure I wasn't running anything worn and they seemed ok. Also end play was checked and while there was some, Bruce said he'd run it as is since it wasn't that much. Engine oil pressure was a 44lbs.
Bruce took the time to go over the timing procedure and TDC location. Again, this was a great refresher course. Bruce explained things in an easy to understand manner that even I could comprehend!
So much of my learning normally comes from reading, but I've found with mechanical items it's much easier to learn by watching the actual procedure.
The day was not without it's usual mishaps! Message to Sean. It might be smart to put an oil sensor in the oil sensor hole before cranking the motor! 
Another message to Sean. It might be a good idea to put the clean out bolt in the float bowl of the carb berfore trying to pre-load the bowl with gas before starting.
And yes, Bruce actually got the motor running, and despite the test results, it sounded pretty good. This will be another good learning experience.
All in all, a great experience. Many thanks to Bruce for opening up his shop and offering me his time to learn some ABC's of engine analysis. I really learned something. And Bruce's shop is awesome. And his '66 is really coming along and the pictures, to date, don't do it justice.
A fire extinguisher is a good thing to have handy with Sean in the house!
Hey, we have to have one blurry picture. When tested, oil pressure was at 44lbs.
Leakdown test revealed probable problem with #2 rings/cylinder.
I need to get a table like this!
Compression test.
I love this little tranny case/starter unit that Bruce has. More compact than an engine stand.
That was one clean garage floor, till I leaked oil all over it!
I figure I better get the Oval engine sorted out while the car is at Bill's for the headliner/interior. Dual Port (Bruce) was kind enough to offer to run my engine on his test stand to see what I had. This is essentially a mystery motor, but it was rebuilt previously by an unknown builder with unknown results.
Since I really couldn't say what was or wasn't done, Bruce decided to put the engine through a few tests. We started with a compression test. Some bad news out of the box, but not fatal. #1 101, #2 87, #3 117, #4 110. So #2 is a problem. Bruce took the time to explain to me the leakdown test process then proceeded to do it. I was hoping for a valve problem, but it's coming from the piston/ring cylinder area. Bruce showed me how to listen for the compressed air escaping. I could hear it clearly from the oil cap. What's another rebuild in my life?
Heads seemed ok. Next Bruce checked the cam lobes to be sure I wasn't running anything worn and they seemed ok. Also end play was checked and while there was some, Bruce said he'd run it as is since it wasn't that much. Engine oil pressure was a 44lbs.
Bruce took the time to go over the timing procedure and TDC location. Again, this was a great refresher course. Bruce explained things in an easy to understand manner that even I could comprehend!
So much of my learning normally comes from reading, but I've found with mechanical items it's much easier to learn by watching the actual procedure.The day was not without it's usual mishaps!
Message to Sean. It might be smart to put an oil sensor in the oil sensor hole before cranking the motor! Another message to Sean. It might be a good idea to put the clean out bolt in the float bowl of the carb berfore trying to pre-load the bowl with gas before starting. And yes, Bruce actually got the motor running, and despite the test results, it sounded pretty good. This will be another good learning experience.
All in all, a great experience.
Many thanks to Bruce for opening up his shop and offering me his time to learn some ABC's of engine analysis. I really learned something. And Bruce's shop is awesome. And his '66 is really coming along and the pictures, to date, don't do it justice. A fire extinguisher is a good thing to have handy with Sean in the house!
Hey, we have to have one blurry picture.
When tested, oil pressure was at 44lbs. 
Leakdown test revealed probable problem with #2 rings/cylinder.
I need to get a table like this!
Compression test.
I love this little tranny case/starter unit that Bruce has. More compact than an engine stand.
That was one clean garage floor, till I leaked oil all over it!
Re: 1957 Oval
What, you didn't mention all of the valve clatter after you adjusted the valves?
It was broiling f'ing hot today, I couldn't stand it. I bought a 24KBTU window unit to cool the shop, can't wait to get it installed.
It was broiling f'ing hot today, I couldn't stand it. I bought a 24KBTU window unit to cool the shop, can't wait to get it installed.
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Re: 1957 Oval
Classic Sean, right there! Must use a 2x4 for a feeler gaugeDual Port wrote:What, you didn't mention all of the valve clatter after you adjusted the valves?
"There is no restoration process that can give a car legitimacy equal to originality."
Re: 1957 Oval
Well, it depends on the application. I'm an EXPERT at valve adjustments. For the valve train I use the 2X4WideFive wrote:Classic Sean, right there! Must use a 2x4 for a feeler gaugeDual Port wrote:What, you didn't mention all of the valve clatter after you adjusted the valves?
For points, I'm told their .016. With that, I'm a little more forgiving. I go with a 4X4 because I learned long ago that 4x4 is 16!
When I'm concerned about precision adjustments, I'm all in with this...
Re: 1957 Oval
Oh, did I forget to mention that you also adjusted the points in that engine so wide that they would not close?
Bruce Amacker
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
'66 Deluxe Bus
'65 Standard Bus
Re: 1957 Oval
That's his "Anti Theft" systemDual Port wrote:Oh, did I forget to mention that you also adjusted the points in that engine so wide that they would not close?
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