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Engine Building - What tools are required?

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Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#742707
Hi All,

As per another post around here somewhere I'm going on an engine building adventure. At present I only possess your standard household hardware tools, spanners, screwdrivers, drills etc. Clearly more stuff will be required, but what? Could you please let me know what you think are the minimum requirements for the job, and the nice to haves. Also any recommendations for good places to get the right gear in western Sydney (Blacktown area) would be great.

Cheers

Craig
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

71dub Officially Full-On Dubber

361 posts · joined Sep 2008 ·

#742715
ring compressor ,tension wrench engine stand if possible metric spanners

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#742721
If you want a crankshaft oil seal install tool you can have one if you come and pick it up.

DH

amazeer Bishop of Volkswagenism

3,029 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#743050
a press or some other method of removing the distributor gear off the crankshaft.
flywheel lock.
a type one engine? the gizmo socket tool thingo to put the oil filler/breather on with.
shitloads of clean cotton rags.
swear jar
bandaids
beer

400 cans of degreaser. Getting things clean is the worst part of the job.

LUFTMEISTER Veteran Volks Folk

2,041 posts · joined Jul 2005 ·

#743095
patience and cleanliness
Customer service is not dead in Australia.

Always after HAZET & MATRA & VW factory tools

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 ·

#743102
Amazer, you forgot 'pizza' and my personal favourite, corn chips
Pay your debts, CxxT

shaihulud Custom Title Time!

1,448 posts · joined Nov 2005 ·

#743125
Obviously you will need a "Hot to" book.

I have no idea if it is a good reference book for engine rebuilding, but John Muir has a section in his "How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" book that may be useful.

Apart from a set of good metric ring/open ended spanners and sockets and the usual other tools, I'd wait until I found that I needed special tools, before I bought them.

Take lots of pictures to show how things should be together, before you pull them apart.

Take lots of notes about whats's what.

Also lots of tin cans to keep the little bits together.

Good luck.

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#743134
Thanks guys,

I have a beer fridge in the garage, a tripod to sit the camera on, more ice cream buckets than you can poke a stick at, a stereo, a nurse to bandage me up, a workshop manual, Muirs book, a current UltraVW series on engine builds, and the other things I'll have to work on organising.

What could go wrong 🙄

Craig
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743142
I'm about to get off my ass and put mine backtogether :P so far havent needed any special tools but i did get the crank and case machined for me so i wouldnt have to pull the gear off etc.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#743150
Well I can say you DONT need a ring compressor or a flywheel seal installation tool unless they're free....waste of money. ( I've seen more broken rings using a ring compressor than not)

How to Hotrod a Volkswagen Engine is THE book to get, dated but so are our engines, crank gear puller and a 1"dial indicator/magnetic base if you plan on more than one engine, otherwise all you need is a quality torque wrench and a really good set of eyes and an AVD connection. But you got that😂😂
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743178
matberry wrote:Well I can say you DONT need a ring compressor or a flywheel seal installation tool unless they're free....waste of money. ( I've seen more broken rings using a ring compressor than not)

How to Hotrod a Volkswagen Engine is THE book to get, dated but so are our engines, crank gear puller and a 1"dial indicator/magnetic base if you plan on more than one engine, otherwise all you need is a quality torque wrench and a really good set of eyes and an AVD connection. But you got that😂😂
Matt! You know and I know you don't need that tool for the oil seal but each time someone on here cries out for one I have offered one but no takers. 😠 There's 6 of them there for me to use as weights when I'm laminating bits of thin timber. 😂 Why have I got 6 ?? I actually had 8 as someone wanted one so I made a few extra while I was at it. May as well have one for myself if I get to build another motor but in reality, there's always a suitable bit of wood or steel plate or etc etc around the workshop to knock it in!

DH

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#743180
Sorry dude, maybe offer them as useful hold down weights ???

They do a nice job so not discounting their use, just prioritising in this case for someone with limited tools.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743231
I think he's only about half an hour from me Matt so if he wants to collect a few tools which could be usefull it's not much out of ones life. There's even a 3/4" socket drive for a 3/4" diameter length of bar if he likes to wait for an hour. Better to help the newbies to VW rather than have them waste their time and money getting others to do some of the simple tasks. Remember it's better to give than to lend as it ends up costing the same. 😵

DH

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#743234
Yes mate, with you all the way. It's only a few tools , many can be hand made, that make the difference.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#743252
Thanks Matt and DH,

I do have the 'how to Hot Rod VW engines', in fact I have two, as someone who used to play with them a long time ago heard I'd bought a Dub and sent me his old copy after I'd bought a new one!

DH, thank you very much for your offer, I'm sure Gwendolyn (the Beetle) would love a trip out to sunny North Richmond (some nice roads from there), and I'll take whatever help I can get, because I'm sure going to need it.

Craig
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

1500S Custom Title Time!

1,418 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#743266
That's ok Graig. You are welcome to drop in. Not next weekend as I'll be up at Tamworth (again!!). I still talk to Type 1s even though I learned to count to (Type) 3 in 1967!! 🙂

DH

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#747056
Hi All,

While I should have perhaps guessed this, torque wrenches come in different ratings from 1Nm through to about 330Nm. What's the maximum torque I'm going to need??

Thanks
Craig
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

colonel mustard Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,829 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#747057
Gwendolyns Master wrote:more ice cream buckets than you can poke a stick at
Dont go washing stuff with petrol or turps or kero in icecream buckets - glass and metal are good for washing stuff in. I found this out the hard way..... they stain and weaken concrete, especailly turpentine.

rose doin it for d girls

2,036 posts · joined Dec 2004 ·

#747067

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#747071
I'd respond to that but for fear my wife might read this! 😀
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#747084
rose wrote:
That's a little spanner compared to the ones we have at work!! LOL

Smiley
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

The_Bronze. Minister of Volkswagenism

1,922 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#747098
internet connection - Great for:
* Streaming music
* Keeping the kids away from your tools
* Asking questions
* Inspirational pictures scrolling as your screensaver
* Contacting workshops
* Staying out of the bosses hair

I have wireless so the laptop is often taken out into the shed. Grooveshark is fantastic for playing music while working on the car.

http://www.grooveshark.com

B.
Bronze.

Rathmines, Lake Macquarie, NSW.

david777 Officially Full-On Dubber

307 posts · joined Mar 2005 ·

#747182
Your best tool may be a wallet filled with cash or a credit card! 😁

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#747183
You'll need a torque wrench no more than 50 ft/lb. Obviously the gland nut or axle nut are over this at 217ft/lb, but this is out of reach for an engine assembly torque wrench without a torque multiplier.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#747248
Thanks guys, well after about 12 years, my el cheapo (and broken) socket set can be retired, replaced by the finest that Mr Sidchrome can offer. Likewise I now have a torque wrench that goes up to 120ft/lb. I think the tool shop saw me coming.

My wallet is currently whimpering in a corner. I just have to make sure I get good use out of it all now so I don't get in trouble from the better half.

Cheers
Craig
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

pete wood 23 Windows of Awesome

6,828 posts · joined Jan 2004 ·

#747376
pls tell me you didn't buy a NEW sidchrome set. sidchrome is not what it used to be. 👎

BTW, I'm more than happy to take one of those books off your hands. 😁

See you later on this morning.
"stoopid is stronger than axles"
http://drivingnotpolishing.blogspot.com.au/

Craig S Wolfsburg Wizard

635 posts · joined May 2008 ·

#747403
Hi Pete,

Book is yours in exchange for a longish term lend of your engine stand. Less stuff to move for you 🤓
1969 Beetle - June
1974 L Bug - Gwendolyn
2002 Bora V6 4Motion - Anita

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#747456
As Matt says you don't need lots of special tools,they are nice to have but a lot of patience and attention to detail works much better,good luck with the rebuild and if you are unsure just ask.Rose thats magic but I'm not sure.We used to call them apprentice controllers 😂cheers Les

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#747459
matberry wrote:Well I can say you DONT need a ring compressor or a flywheel seal installation tool unless they're free....waste of money. ( I've seen more broken rings using a ring compressor than not)
gotta agree with Matt

i couldnt say how many vw engines ive knocked together over the years but not one of them have i used a spring compressor on
and the block of wood trick as per my seal thread hasnt failed me yet

also unless the oil filler is leaking or the stand is all gunked up theres no reason so remove it either

those nuts holding them on are usually tighter than a nuns.......

probably the most speicalised tool i use is a 3/4 drive breaker bar on the gland nut 😂