Hey collective

After thinking my 54 beetle had its orig engine recoed, to my dismay the guy who did it just pulled it apart and cleaned it. My mechanic pulled it apart and said this needs to be done

gasket set
main seal
push rod tubes
piston & liner kit (if avalable)
main bearings (size knowen when crank ground)
big end bearings
small end bushes
oil pump
lifters
cam shaft
new cylinder heads if avalable

machine work as follows
line boar case
machine crank
rebush con rods
recondition cylinder heads

Should I do it and can anyone help me source the parts . if not what are your suggestions. I do want this car to be my daily driver and the old crash box is out and being repaired as we speak .

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All that stuff is available (cue Daves plug for Vintage), new cylinder heads can be had if you hunt hard enough, pistons & cylinders are easy, you will need new push rod guide plates too.

Now, my recommendation for a daily driver would be to get a spare 36hp from anywhere and stick that in - transfer over the 54 bits (generator, oil filler, air filter etc) so it stays looking like a 54 - but I suggest that you don't flog out the original engine. I think you only get 2 shots at line boring a 36 hp (someone correct me here, I may be talking out my proverbial) before you have to chuck the case. Having the original engine running and available (or installed if you have the energy) will add to the value if you ever need to sell it.

Forgot to add that you don't have lifters (or if you do you have a very special original 36hp engine)

i agree with the boys, throw in another motor, maybe not a 1200 but a decent 1300 for very cheap is quite easy to find. then you can take your time to slowly collect the parts you require, without having to take a massive hit in the back pocket all at once. while u are at it, since this is basically a start from scratch rebuild, why dont u tweak up the internals a little bit, u will have a little more power and better fuel economy with still the stock look on the outside. just a thought

You have lifters, just that they are small and are attached to the bendy pushrods.

If it is the original 36HP engine from your '54, it will have a '1-' prefix to the engine number. If thats the case look after it carefully, they are hard to find. later 36HPs won't have the prefix, although there is no real internal difference. Externally things like the genny nut, ignition lead guide tube, regulator etc are cosmetic differences.

Any 36HP well rebuilt should give you 100-150 000 miles. Whether you want one as a daily driver depends a bit on how far you travel, whether its on the highway etc.

Unless you are only driving locally, I'd tend to find a later 40HP/1300 engine to get around in, and take your time to build up the 36HP carefully. Most bits can be found, but it may take some time. I have some main bearings, big-end bearings and I think an oil pump if you go down that path.

The gearbox is actually a trickier rebuild than the engine, I hope the guy knows what he is doing there.

Good luck, '54s are a great model!