Aircooled VW South Africa

hey all

After my (help fix what i have or convert) topic you guys made me realize that is would be stupid to do a conversion.
I’ve had the engine out before to replace the main drive oil seal.
The motor has been done over quite a few years( maybe 15years) ago because the valve guide came loose and had a fight with the piston (they both lost the fight) my dad told me it was done by some German guy in germston. The sleeves were re bored and the pistons are one size oversize. The bus has not done that many km's since then.
the reason I’m taking the motor out is cause it had quite a bit of popping in the exhaust and after a while I found that there is no power from the front left cylinder there was spark but if I took the plug lead off there was no difference in the idle speed.

I’ve started with the engine striping I’ve had the engine out before to replace the main drive oil seal.
Wow there is a shit load of tin on this motor.
My plan so far is to do a conversion on the head so I can use unleaded fuel , I would like to get a bit more power while I got it all open. when i got the head open it looks like it is full of carbon i let is soak i bit the valves seem like they seal.

this evening i took the other head off and also full of carbon.
i was not planing on spliting the case but i opened the oil filter thing and the other round plate at the bottom of the case and found a bit of grinding paste sludge stuff, now obviously it is designed to catch this stuff in these two places as they are the lowest parts of the engine.
can any of you tell me should i open the case and check everything wkile i got it half stripped ? it seeme like a big job to me and ive neva done something like this before so im not sure i should do it myself.

any advice please guys.

I don't think you need to be too concerned about the sludge build-up in the motor, clean the cover plates off. You didn’t mention any issues with your casing, e.g. bearing knock, end play etc, so don't bother stripping it then. I would rather leave it untampered.

The carbon build-up is also from years of use, I don’t think too much to worry about either.

Get the Heads sorted
Let them fly cut 1-1.5mm on the head to pump up the CR a bit that will help with Power but then make sure your cooling is done right
Hone the barrels fit new Rings and NB change the B/E bearings when you do Rings but you dont need to split the case to do that
The Type 4 Mains are nice and strong and can take Quite a bit off Hammering
If you need help over the Phone you welcome to give me a call and I can help you with one or two things

Pierre 082 600 8663

When I did my 1700, the bottom end was still solid. No end play or other issues.

I bought the engine sight unseen, cleaned it up and did a compresssion test and it was fair.

But when I found the super scarce 1700 rings for a steal I decided to fix it up a bit.

All I did was clean up the sleeves with a hone job, clean the pistons nicely and fit new rings. We then had the heads blasted, fitted with new guides, seats and bigger valves. To be very honest, the heads were still quite good, but I got carried away and had to do it

You will not believe what a difference this makes. The Type 4 now has super compression, revs like a crazy and has enough poke to comfortably cruise around...Then again mine is in something lighter, but I dare say that you will be able to feel the difference too

Heads cost R1500-00 to sort out (R1k on parts, R500-00 labour). I can't remember what the honing cost but it wasn't too much.

Assembled everything myself, started perfectly the first time.

Good luck, it really isn't that difficult to do

got my heads back today look good will take pics soon .
still cant find new big end bearings but they still look good not sure if i need to replace them.
hope to get rings tomorrow.

then just a question i notice some ware marks on the cam they dont feel to bad but what is the life of a cam?

I split the Case so that i can get the cam regroud (just waiting for the company to open).
ive been doing allot of little things that take time and will probably neva be noticed like,cleaning all the little corners that have collected oil and dirt over the years, resprayed the tin cleaned the engine compartment found some wires that go from nowhere to nowhere. and got my alternator slightly upgraded and serviced.

Feels like things are going realy slow as i dont get much time and when i got some time i need something from a shop that is closed, my goal is to be done for KKK this year. i cant strip anything else so I should start moving forward soon .

finaly things feel like they moving forward started assembly this weekend after i got my cam back from being re ground.
Got some before and after photos to show progress .

Nice work - enjoying following your progress

Been realy bizy the last 2 weeks havent had time to post anything so i got a few pics to show what ive been up to.

Looks nice.

Looking really good man, so no excuse for KKK then

Well done ..looks good.