It started!!! Thank you Wayne, and the board

[Rickw96]

you both helped me make this happen.

Wayne, I could not have done this without your books and web site. Please keep the books coming. I also think your parts ordering web site is the best I have used.

Mark, I would have spent a small fortune on tools if it was not for your help. Thanks can never repay. YOU ARE THE BEST.

This was a complete rebuild down to the block. I got the car from the PO that had let the oil level drop – there goes number 5 connecting rod bearing. The crank was shot on that journal. I sent it to EBS Racing and it was good as new in about three weeks. Shout out to the team at EBS!

I used the entire board as a resource for info on what to do and what not to do. For example, I bought at least 7 different sealants. No leak so far, but time will tell.

I have attached before and after pictures.

Thanks!!!

Rick

[304065]

Is that one of the rod bolts I see lying on the bench?

Just kidding. Congratulations, if the job was as clean as your work area I would be highly confident that it won't leak. Let us know how the break-in goes!

[Rickw96]

John,

It might be. The project went very slow at the beginning, drop engine, clean, clean and clean. Then once the parts were back from the machine shop, shift into high gear. At the end it went so fast I sat there looking at the finished engine for about an hour thinking I missed something.

I have ran it for the 20 min. I was going to take it to some hills to load it!

Rick

[Shoepop]

Looks great Rick! I'm sure the shop and tech books are pretty dog eared from reading and rereading. You did it correcty, you asked questions and kept digging until you understood. Job well done, congratulations

[berettafan]

Nice looking standard!

[eskimo]

I agree.. I have to thank everyone up here too.

I'm two weeks into DRIVING my finished top end job on a 130k 3.2.. I committed and dropped back in Nov and finally got everything back together in early Apr..
Its funny, even after you have put the engine back together and she's sitting on your bench looking pretty you think, "I'm DONE! I did it!"
And then you think back to your search results on Pelican and all the titles come back with-
"3.2 rebuild back in, no start."
"Rebuilt, now smoke"
"No 3rd gear after engine install"
And you go " ..hell, I've still got a ways to go. "
After I got everything together it took me 2 days to gain the nerve to start it. I knew I had everything timed correctly, I knew I torqued everything right, I knew I labeled it all..
At worst I might have a vaccum leak, or missed electrical connection, but still.. I was aprehensive. At night when falling asleep I would have flashes in my head of what I f'ed up and what noise I would hear when that key was turned.

Hey.. no worries, I did it by it by the book and when piss came to pot, SHE SANG OUT BEAUTIFULLY....

I'm still trying to break her in slowly, I don't have a lot of time to drive around by myself. I know she throttle steers much easier than before.

My pics aren't as good as Ricks..





After she took a 15 minute run, an 84 westy filled her spot in my shop. I've been tasked with making that boat ship shape for the wife to camp in this summer. (oil spot in last pic of from westy)

By the way, I wish Pelican Parts sold waterboxer vanagon parts.. I would be a much happier fellow than I am now.

thanks all.

[SP2]

Wow, nice job Rick.

Noticed two things: Pink slipper and poodle. Groovy baby!

[Rickw96]

James,

Good eye, wife cleaning parts (pink slippers) and Dante the "killer" poodle. He tried to help but was more inclined to watch and eat snacks. I have about 900 miles so far. No leaks and little to no oil use. :-)
Rick

[gulf911]

Originally posted by eskimo
I agree.. I have to thank everyone up here too.

I'm two weeks into DRIVING my finished top end job on a 130k 3.2.. I committed and dropped back in Nov and finally got everything back together in early Apr..
Its funny, even after you have put the engine back together and she's sitting on your bench looking pretty you think, "I'm DONE! I did it!"
And then you think back to your search results on Pelican and all the titles come back with-
"3.2 rebuild back in, no start."
"Rebuilt, now smoke"
"No 3rd gear after engine install"
And you go " ..hell, I've still got a ways to go. "
After I got everything together it took me 2 days to gain the nerve to start it. I knew I had everything timed correctly, I knew I torqued everything right, I knew I labeled it all..
At worst I might have a vaccum leak, or missed electrical connection, but still.. I was aprehensive. At night when falling asleep I would have flashes in my head of what I f'ed up and what noise I would hear when that key was turned.

Hey.. no worries, I did it by it by the book and when piss came to pot, SHE SANG OUT BEAUTIFULLY....

I'm still trying to break her in slowly, I don't have a lot of time to drive around by myself. I know she throttle steers much easier than before.

My pics aren't as good as Ricks..


After she took a 15 minute run, an 84 westy filled her spot in my shop. I've been tasked with making that boat ship shape for the wife to camp in this summer. (oil spot in last pic of from westy)

By the way, I wish Pelican Parts sold waterboxer vanagon parts.. I would be a much happier fellow than I am now.

thanks all.

Hi Eskimo,
What is the jack thats under your motor? This looks exactly what I am looking for.

Thanks,
Dan

[eskimo]

It's a Harbor Freight ATX/ motorcycle jack.. You see them on sale for about 60$ every once in a while.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2792
They say saddle height is 4.5 inches lowered but it seemed less than that. It worked great, but when loaded with an engine it doesn't drop gently like you would hope.

[gulf911]

Doesn't drop gently? How then do you drop the engine with it? do you jack the car up and wiggle it out that way?

Thanks a lot,
Dan

[eskimo]

Nah, it's ok.. I think I have my communications crossed..

When I removed the engine, the car was just on the ramps.. the atv jack raises just fine to that height for cradling the engine.. You jack it up a bit more to allow for suspension expansion and then pop the engine mounts.

THEN when you lower the atv jack with only engine and tranny is where you run into the "gently lowering issue" since it's a footpedal, it is a bit of an on/off bleed, and the gentlist I could do was drop the engine a inch at a time instead of a nice smooth lowering.

it's fine. .no big deal at all, just good to remember at the time.

Once she's at her lowest height I used the two auxillary jacks to raise the rear high enough to clear the engine top. Then snake that baby out!

[Don Settergren]

I just switch from the ATV jack to a sissor table from Harbor Freight (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94822). It has more travel height and it raises and lowers straight up and down versus the ATV jack that moves forward as well as up and down. Plus, the wider surface of the table gives more stability. I think they run about $99 on sale, regular price $139. Good luck with the Vanagon!

[eskimo]

That table is really cool.. Though it's starting to push the weight limits when you throw a 911 engine up there. (you know about trusting harbor freight stuff)
The vanagon.. yes, all fun and games til you start removing parts that disentigrate in your hands only to find that they're no longer available.

I'm posting that fixup here:

Projekt "RUSTFALIA"
Should be entertaining to say the least.