My 1971 Deluxe from the boys at Kieft en Klok

[faux]

Looking good, I can see a bad back coming on though.

If you ever need a hand just ask, I'm only down in Newport (Bassaleg). There are plenty Aircooled people in this area.

Jon

 

[Bay-low71]

Hello all, been a little busy of late but finally got some time on the bus. These things are more expensive than women.......so now i've got my wheels up for sale on ebay if anyone fancies a spruce u this spring.....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150244711621&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=005

Got the engine stripped and bought an engine stand, its a draper one good quality stand but not the best for air cooled flat four engine.....be better fit if the flywheel was removed but didn't want to do that...here's some pics

On removing the heads checked for any cracks and found two, cracks in 1 and 3....not to worry new heads, barrels and pistons on the way from cool air....1642cc john mahle babies.

Got all stripped as far as i want to go, sticking with standard cam and crank for now

Only one cock up so far, whilst checking if the engine was early or late oil pump type, i.e. removing oil pump and check if the cam has 3 or 4 bolts the latter being the later, which is what mine is......plenty of degreaser and easing the pump out then snap.......followed by lots of swear words a corner off the pump, definately need a replacement now and destroyed it getting it out, so a Melling one is on the way.

Can't wait to get the new bits, get the tinware blasted and painted then the fitting of the carbs etc...
got a welder given to me by a friend in work who has no use for it so i've no excuse's now. Looks like a spot of tent camping this year.......gutted.

 

[Guest]

i like to see people tackling their own engine, your braver then me

 

[Bay-low71]

Hello to all, its been a while. The short block has been sorted, now it's up to me to fit barrels, pistons, heads, dizzy etc.... right to the refit

What a bloody nightmare....1776cc B+P john mahle.

Out in the shed (Tuesday afernoon) fitting one side up, happy days. After lapping the barrels to the heads and sealing up to the crankcase, torquing down this is easy, so cracked on with opposite side cylinders 3 and 4 lapped and prepped so decided to go for it, just losing the light so locating the con rod pin retaining clips was a *******, but carried on regardless and got both sides finished, then it got to dark so retired to the house for a bit of shut eye.

Wednesday morning, looks pretty pleasing my efforts as shown below

However, soon the swear words where very loud and very, tried to turn the crank shaft, and got a tight spot in same position. Maybe i should not of worked into the darkness.

Got the problem down to one barrel after using the listening to the screwdriver trick, had to bite the bullet and stripdown the one side, however in doing so pulled a piston out of its barrel and with no piston ring compressor that was me finished for the day had to pop to a friends to get one.

(Thursday morning---today)After ringing the machinist and checking whether right bearings used and timing marks aligned, he suggested i looked at the clearance on the piston skirts as they come out of the barrel into the case. Sure enough, not enough clearance to take the piston into the case. So now using a drill and grinding bit i had to remove some metal upside down to prevent filings entering case. After about 2 hours of this case had be opened up enough to clear, so now it was a case of cleaning everything and refitting barrels, pistons, heads, torqueing etc....now all done and fitted dizzy drive shaft, and dizzy. Waiting for some rocker shaft shims to set valve clearances as these swivel feet require quite a bit of shimming under the rocker shaft themselves to set the 0.006" gap, hopefully tommorows work......Also waiting for a BMD pulley system to come into stock. So heres where i am now, not that much different from yesterday....

Roll on vanfest....... :]

 

[Guest]

wow some good progress 8) , i guess the 1641 went out the window then?

 

[Bay-low71]

Yeah 1641cc was the initial idea, but friends put me off. So ended up going down the 1776cc route.

Done some more work tonight, valve clearances, also took the tinware to the blasters last week got a before pic too...

This is being steamed and blasted and the engine surround for 100 rats....not bad i thought.

So while i'm waiting for this to come back thought i'd get carbs set up then it'll just be a remove from manifold, re-fit tin, alternator etc....looking good so far. Was going to spray the tin same colour as the van however, still undecided on colour. So the tin will be etch primered then 2 pac black, together with the BMD pully system should look nice.

My cat Walter comes to see how i'm doing every now and again, also when looking for the tinware photos came across the pics from the london motorshow here's me favourite not vw but worth a look. I did ask them to get off but they wouldn't (so i told the missus)

Good news too my bro is giving me his bus to go to vanfest rather than tenting it, nice one bruvver...your a star. TTFN

 

[Bay-low71]

Hello all

Got the tinware back from the blasters, sprayed up and fitted. Still waiting on BMD pulley kit, but got some problems with the linkage from CB performance, So can't complete the carb fitting. May get some extensions machined up, it'll be quicker than waiting for the bits from USA.

But things are looing good, so as I got the pulley and a few more bits new coil, alternator clamp, she'll be ready for the start up. A mate has got a bell housing to start her up before fitting, I think he just wants to be their when the thing goes tits up ...... :wink:

Hope not.....

Had a great laugh at vanfest, weather was pants friday but turned out nice on the saturday and sunday, needs to be a week long show to get round everything now though....

Nick you look silly in that spiderman outfit.. ha ha

 

[Bay-low71]

Well it's been age's and not alot has been achieved, ordered the BMD pulley kit at Vanfest with VW Heritage, and received it on Wednesday last week, didn't take to long only TWO MONTHS?????? !!! :evil:

But managed to get a few hours work on the weekend and finally sort the linkage and the pulley system out, now just a case of fuel, breather and oil pipework to be made up got the stainless braided hose and some anodised fittings to finish it off so should look O.K. when finally complete. Here's a quick before and after pic so far, I hope you agree a bit of a difference.

Before

After (to date)

Hoping Santa is going to bring a whole host of VW goodies, PPPPLLLLEEEAAASSSEEEE i've been a good lad..

 

[faux]

That looks mean as hell, I know where to come when I need advice for my engine build.

Nice work....I'll probably see you racing past me enroute to shows next year... 8)

 

[Bay-low71]

Oh my life has it been this long since I've posted on here. :shock: ....although things have moved on a bit now since my driveway refurb.....
New floor going in....

new wheel tub's arches and full cab floor.....did try repro arches found out they were a bit pants some found so NOS EB in holland.....very pricey but worth every penny...

last panels going in....yippee

Currently final flatting for paint and decision is almost upon us for colour.......I'm dreading it.. :? ..

Still got my motor in the garage which I will strip and rebuild prior to fitting when I get the rolling painted shell back from the workshop....since the bay has been away we've had a baby, moved house, got a dog......we've now made an agreement when the bay is finished we will then get married.... :shock:

 

[Bay-low71]

Doors going on.....JK doors not to bad surprised that they had quite a few dents in......and they are a bitch to line up....

Engine valance finished, the engine bay to be done.

Almost there now the end is in sight.....tailgate, slider and engine bay to go then it's choose a colour time. It's definitely going to one colour to the gutter line then contrasting roof colour.....my missus doesn't agree with none of my suggestions, but it's my bus after all.... :lol:

Chow for now !!!!

 

[fleeb1]

Nice.

 

[Bay-low71]

Things are moving quicker now....

Stone chip applied to cab and loading floors for better protection......bought a sliding door from the volks heaven boys and unfortunately found a nasty dent just under the handle recess not sure what to do buy another, my friend Pete at Napstok Customs in Cinderford is having a butchers for me.....keep you updated guys.....Ben

 

[flynster]

great work fella .....loving the engine rebuild any ideas as to colour your going to choose yet?

steve

 

[Bay-low71]

great work fella .....loving the engine rebuild any ideas as to colour your going to choose yet?

steve

Yeah, it's been changing all the time first dove blue, then retro brown and mint I've finally gone for an old 1950's split colour.....light grey sourced via the bustopia website which is very good for codes and dating colours etc...and lots more.

Here it is on a split crew cab...

It was and still is, going to be up to gutter line with matching roof to bumper in an off white cream colour. Haven't bought paint yet though.....but could of spent hours in the paint shop choosing colours, but wanted original VW colours even if I have gone for a split colour.

Tonight we trail fitted tailgate and engine lid and looks very good, gap wise very pleased, and the soda blasting I had done arranged by my mate Pete @ Napstok Customs In Cinderford....

 

[Bay-low71]

Things are moving on a bit now, hoping to get the bus in full paint before my good friend Andrew went to Oz for 3 weeks, however thanks to the sickness bug that everyone seemed to have over Christmas that didn't happen. Inside, engine bay and roof done here are some progress pics.

Close up of paint

Engine bay need the petrol tank cover finished, looks good so far

Also sourced some tombstone's which I decided to go for, which were from my best mates father-in-law who breaks 944, 924 etc good contact

Been in contact with Bromsgrove trimmers today to got some good work coming from their place. That's it from me for now anyway.....ttfn.

 

[Bay-low71]

Here's the roof

 

[Humphrey]

Wow! This is gonna be a beauty!

 

[Bay-low71]

Wow! This is gonna be a beauty!

Thanks Humphrey ...

Trying to get on with engine now, after speaking to stateside over the phone for advice about my case, their reply was "the best piece of advice you'll get is get a new case" so that's what I've done don't want it to go bang, so now got a clearance, full flow case to transfer all my new internals to. Unfortunately I've already bought a 69mm crank as I was originally running with my standard case, so it'll remain a 1776 for the time being running with 34ICT's which maybe a little inferior, however I'm after reliability and a bit more go from original speck which I should achieve. The only thing I'm concerned about is I got rid of my original vac advance dizzy, I may regret that when all up together we'll see. Here's a pic mid strip down now fully split ready for transfer of internals to new case.

Keep smiling people hope your all enjoying the snow, me I've bad a titful!!

 

[Bay-low71]

Now all split and ready to transfer to happy new case, at this point i find out the old case has been line bored thus making outer diameter of crank bearings +1mm. Now have to strip the crank to exchange the bearings for standard before fitting into new case. Things are never straight forward, just received lightened flywheel from C & C and bearing set from Cool air. All I need now is someone with a press to remove gearing. This is the state of my bench now, I know where everything goes..... Honest !!!