Hi guys I wonder if someone knows what the heck is going on with my engine? Here is the saga:
Approx 2-3 months ago I paid 2 grand to have a reco 1600dp engine fitted to my 74 kombi. At the time I thought this would be good piece of mind to have it professionally done and besides I was new to the world of Volkswagens.
Since then I have had nothing but trouble.
On three different occasions now I have had to reset the valve/tappet clearances due to loss of compression (sometimes as much as 2 full turns). Once I do this it fires straight back into life.
This morning I had to do it again as the van just would not fire.
Has anyone experienced this? What do I do?

Any help muchly appreciated.
Karl.

[ Edited on 21-10-2005 by kombi-troppo ]

A new rebuilt engine will need re-adjustments of valve clearances, but 2 full turns is a bit over the top in my book! Id be heading back to your 'professional' and getting them to sort it! Is he a VW mechanic or a holden/ford mechanic who said "vw...yeah mate no worries".

Are you setting the valves with the engine stone cold?

ummm sound like valve troubles :duh

The guy is here in Townsville and a so called VW mechanic/criminal. He told me the engine was reconditioned (proof was, as he said - because it was partially painted blue), but it wasnt until I got the van home that I realised that he written on the receipt "1 X Secondhand engine". Then noticed that he had also hand written on the receipt "no warranty".
To make things worse for me, he was a couple of months away from retiring and closing the business when I had the engine fitted.

Dude that bullshit!!!
Is he still open cause id be putting the screws on him! You can still track him down! $2k is $2k! You could have got a really good nick 2nd hand 2L & box for that!

Id be making a few well directed phone calls! he is not off the hook even if the biusiness is closed - its likely in his name meaning he is personably responsible for any debts!!

Yeh he sounds like Vo.kspo.er in Melbourne it's all about them gettin rich and the car owner getting screwed

[ Edited on 22-10-2005 by dusto81 ]

:P

[ Edited on 23-10-2005 by Quoll ]

I found the problem!!!!!!!

Who would have thought??
My van began to get worse and worse. I had to fill it with oil every time I took it out because thats how fast it was running out.
I had also noticed that it was getting noisier. I thought I may have done a head gasket.
So I pulled the rocker covers on Friday just to check the valve clearances. I noticed that one of the nuts that lock down the cylinder head was loose.
So I checked the others..... they were all loose!
My heads were coming off. Every nut was loose.
I removed the rocker assemblys and tightened the 4 nuts on each side. I then reset all the valve clearances - way back in!
One of the valves on 3 and 4 seem to be sitting further out than the others and I cannot get a gap on them. They seem to have stretched.

Can I access the nuts to lock down the top of the heads without removing the engine? (I have only done the ones under the rockers).

Since I have tightened these up - my van hardly leaks any oil at all and sounds quiet - YaY - such a relief!!!

OK..... sort of good news.

Was it loose nuts or are the head studs pulling out???

Do you know if you have case savers???

Did you tighten the heads down in correct order???
There is a special order you need to tighten the heads in and to a certain torque setting. Dont "just" do them up

"One of the valves on 3 and 4 seem to be sitting further out than the others and I cannot get a gap on them. They seem to have stretched."
This certainly needs to be investigated and sorted

Yeh I agree, you gotta make sure the heads are tighened up in correct order and to correct tension. May be alright for a little while if you don't, but can ultimately screw the engine severly with warped heads and such.

Thanks Bizarre and dusto81, the nuts were definately the ones that were loose. Studs were firmly in place. I tightened in the order listed in the Bently manual but without a torque wrench. I didnt have one at the time but will source one asap and redo asap.
The longer valves is the next concern, this is probably a good sign that one is about to drop off - dont need that happening!
I have tracked down the now retired mechanic who sold me the supposed reconditioned engine and will try and pin the costs from here on in on him.

good on ya, im in chat again also