Itinerant Air-Cooled

OK, found the number (Thanks Mike B) for NW Connecting Rod. They are price competitive and I can deliver the case rather than ship it by combining the trips with family visits in the area. So consensus is they are equivalent quality wise to Rimco?

Otherwise - heads look OK. Troy is going to clean them up and relap the valves and see where we're at. May have to replace valves but he doesn't think so. Connecting rods need to be rebuilt, but they can do that for not too much money.

The bad news: It doesn't sound like Troy is all that interested in continuing to be the go-to guy for VW's, or at least they may get picky about the jobs they will do. He and Art, the owner, discussed getting burned on folks doing rebuilds on the super-cheap then coming back and complaining to them. Same story all over I think.

Whew! The end of page five gave me a heart attack only to have a resuscitation here on the top of six. Sorry I gave you bad contact info. Can you please post the good number you've got or otherwise PM it to me? Thanks.

When Jerry did my engine work I had him clean and inspect my case and crank (I was lucky, no actual machine work was required), he provided a set of rebuilt rods (in exchange for a reasonable amount of $$$ and my old ones) and also provided a stock-grind cam with hydraulic lifters from Delta Cam of Tacoma (also reasonably priced). He reconditioned the flywheel and had the entire rotating mass balanced. If your local guy Troy is giving you some pushback on anything, perhaps Jerry can help you out.

I my opinion I'd say yes, they are quality wise as they do great work except for their head work. For rebuilt type 4 heads go to Adrian on the West Coast.

Jerry's new number is: 253-872-4945

Update: waving off on getting the rig on the road for Maupin. It could be done, but not with everything else that has to happen in my life between now and then. Been neglecting the rest, and can't keep that up. So, tent camping at Maupin. It'll be fine - still sun, fun, friends and beer! I'll try to park the Mazda in the corner so as not to mess up the ambiance.

Matney Racing does a good job and are happy making us drivers.

Donor engine is purring like a kitten. Unfortunately it is a damaged kitten as the shift linkage is fubar. We think that damage was done as we, ahem, dropped the tranny when originally removing my engine. We got excited, see....

Anyhow see pictures below:


The theory is that this isn't supposed to be bent. It isn't drawn bent in the Bentley. However, I'm having trouble figuring how we could have delivered enough force to bend this without destroying other, seemingly more fragile, pieces.

It does however seem a bit twisted as well:


There is also damage here:




Any suggestions? I'd really like to drive this car!

Run over to Halsey on Monday and talk to someone in the shop office, see if they've got a parts Vanagon in the back you could get those from. Also check with Averys in Woodland, maybe Scott @ turbovans.com down near Medford. It shouldn't be *that* hard to find those pieces

So bought Mahle piston and cylinders thinking they were German, turns out they are brazillian. Have made a mistake?

They're fine.

I guess I will just get them waxed.

I wonder if anyone going to Maupin may have a spare manual transmission with this part on it that they could part with?

I bet I could do a fair job of straightening out that part. Let me at it....

Always Vdub has one, $40. Makes me feel safer to try straightening mine knowing there is at least a backup available in case it snaps or something. Booked till after 9 tonight (sigh), so I'll give it a go tomorrow evening. Still have fantasies of making Maupin, but know it is not a good idea.

Sooooooooo,
Give us an update on the engine rebuild project?

Mike Boell wrote:Sooooooooo,
Give us an update on the engine rebuild project?

Please do.
Colin

No progress, but not for lack of trying. Haven't had a minute to turn a wrench since Colin left. I'm up right now tearing a friend of mine's house apart for a major remodel. Hope to be able to return to the mechanic's world in a couple of weeks.

Heads are done. Have not gotten the case back yet, new harness should arrive next week.