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Help - Soft Engine Mount Woes

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SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#901727
Hey all!

I've noticed Zelda's engine likes to rattle quite a bit. This is, from what I am aware of, due to the fact that she has soft engine mounts.

What is the process of removing this rattle when accelerating?
Is it possible to go to the earlier hard engine mounts? Or is this something custom that has to be done?

Are there products that stop the rattle that can be purchased, welded or bolted kits, I am not too fussed...

Just sick of it rattling like crazy when accelerating. Might have something to do with the LHS carb, but to be honest, she's always had the rattle when accelerating and taking off.

Any help would be appreciated! Tell me what you've done to your Super that has stopped the rattles! 😀
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#901733
Hi Seb

its most probably due to the engine mounts being worn out
or damaged by oil..

they come apart- the rubber comes off the steel

worst part is the engine must come out to do this..

just to put the bolts thru..

I find Most engine mounts are broken away from the steel
unless they have been replaced recently..
If You jack Your engine up slightly, You should be able to see that they have come apart..

Best to renew them every time Your engine comes out..
for a clutch plate - rear main oil seal etc..

and buy the best ones You can.. I do..

cheers

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#901735
Engine mounts, even soft ones are meant to dampen any vibration from the motor so it DOESN"T pass through the car.
IE: properly functioning engine mounts shouldn't make your car rattle during acceleration, assuming everything else is up to spec.

When you accelerate your engine will 'move' (rotate anti-clockwise, oppose to direction of crankshaft motion) on the mounts and rotate slightly (normal), this can cause componentry like exhaust tubing and mufflers to get closer towards body metal and give you an irritating 'tapa tapa tapa' which can be really loud sometimes.

Check and see if exhaust components are close to body metal, particularly mufflers. maybe bash any exhaust or underbody metal that seem to be the culprit to create clearance, or depending on how the muffler is fastened to the exhaust, see if it can be somewhat moved.

Broken engine mounts allow for excessive movement, usually characterised by a nasty/scary sounding thump on corners as you go left and right.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#901737
install a mid mount mate. i think there are a few kits that can be bought off the shelf
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#901741
A mid mount won't help if the engine/gearbox mounts are split

they would still need to be repaired..

You can buy the more solid type or RED urethane mounts
at most VW shops..

these may be the answer...


LEE


- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 ·

#901742
stay away from the cheaper red death mounts.
“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
the chaos project - click me

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#901754
SebastienPeek wrote:I've noticed Zelda's engine likes to rattle quite a bit. 😀
I bet it is more to do with timing and pinging rather than engine mounts
Futue te ipsum!!!

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#901778
I have a set of the CB perfomance mounts and they are excellent, i have just fitted a mid mount as well.

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1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#901782
Hi

You can convert a later bug to early mounts like Lee has shown, well worth the effort even with new stock rubber mounts.

I had dreadful noise in my sons bug when I put it back together after it had been off the road for a while, turned out that the seat belt bolt was too long and was touching the gear selector shaft.

Steve

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#901845
Thanks everyone!
Looks like I can't get those mounts from CB performance, they're for VW's up to 1972, but I will be digging into a bit more of the mid mount world very shortly.

I have a funny feeling that bajachris88 is also right in saying that it could be caused by stuff not being 100%.
Albeit, it has always done it, it now does it more so with the latest engine and I have a feeling it is because of one of the Kadrons.
I digress, will purchase new mounts and see what I can do about the mid mount.

Thanks again!
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#901854
Hi

DO NOT purchase mounts for your model VW, they are shithouse. Buy them for the earlier model (upto 72) and buy the frame from an earlier model, they will all bolt in.

Steve

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#901895
THe 73 onwards gearbox cradle was definitly another of VWs derp moments.

I swap all my later bugs to the early style, they are so much better built.



hulbyw Insano Dub Head

819 posts · joined Sep 2009 ·

#901900
Do the CB mounts create extra noise and vibration, that is are they suitable for a road car or just competition. I have a '68
Cheers.....Wayne

SebastienPeek Custom Title Time!

1,657 posts · joined May 2011 ·

#901902
Thanks for the comparison Joel, looks like just a straight swap can be done!
Will attempt it when the body if off and doing the body swap. Shall be a long wait, but definitely something on the list of to-dos!

😀
The sold one, '73 VW 1303 - Zelda
The project, '74 VW 1303 - Gretl

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 ·

#901914
On the ghia it had a stupid transaxle strap when i purchased it along with the CB mounts, took that off and the car quitened down conciderably, still will be a small amout noisier that standard mounts.

bajachris88 The international telephone dialing code for Antarctica is 6

6,661 posts · joined Apr 2005 ·

#901932
I have a similar 'mid strap style' engine mount and strap at the bellhousing mount on my Sharp built kombi gearbox adapter.

I rekon its the reason i get so much engine and transmission noise passing through into my car.

Regardless, the fact is, a normal stock beetle shouldn't rattle during acceleration. Thus a proper operating stock setup should be more than adequate. Somethings not right.
(ô_!_/ô) (ô_!_/ô)
69' baja: kombi box, thing spindles, irs, disc front, type 3 rear drums, 2 inch lift kit, 31x10 rears. 👍
New engine in process: 94mm p&bs, 74mm C/w chomol Crank, 35.5x39 SP heads, turbo. Wierd combo, hopeful torque monsta!

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#902046
Hi

The strap over the bell housing is rubber lined, I didn't find any increase in noise levels.

The lower part can be used by itself along with better engine mounts, its much more sturdy than the VW unit.

Steve

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#902395
Interesting Joel,

never having seen one of those later model cradles apart from in manuals and I thought they would be a better setup..
much heavier looking gearbox mounts...

but the cradle isn't as heavy???

mounts last forever but cradles don"t???

I tried to think of a way to make the gearbox/engine mounts replaceable without taking the engine out...
I failed miserably.. the reason being, the bolts cannot be attached inside the gearbox bell housing because they come out at an angle.. one going each way -so they can"t be used

someone may have done some mods to do it??
so the bolts are parallel not angled away from each other??
from memory..??

LEE


PS: I know You are going to say its easy to drop the engine Joel... but You don't have to.. lol Lee


Joel wrote:THe 73 onwards gearbox cradle was definitly another of VWs derp moments.

I swap all my later bugs to the early style, they are so much better built.


- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#902492
Trying to cut down on cost and weight I guess.

The later mounts were designed to try and reduce abit of noise, that's why they are so much thicker than the earlier Bananna mounts.




68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#902536
they look great [like a normal engine mount] lol

and probably aren't prone to seperating??

and last a bit longer than the ones available now..?

which were no doubt invented in 1938??

Lee

Don't know why I thought the bolts were slanted?
maybe thinking of the other side.. where the two bolts that go them are slanted..??
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#902590
Well I can't vouch for their longevity as first thing I do is swap to the early style but I can't say i've come across a broken one before.

The early ones do seem to seperate more.
Anyt time I have an engine out of a bug I always to the screwdriver between the cradle trick to see if they have seperated.

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#902608
Hi Joel

Mine looked like they were seperated but after replacing them found it was just the way they were sitting..
so, maybe they move about too much
as they are a very simple design

cheers

Lee
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---