1. Home
  2. Volkswagen, hot (Aircooled)
  3. A used 36'er or a "rebuilt" one?

A used 36'er or a "rebuilt" one?

Hi All, The tired 40 horse in the old ghia finally ate a bearing the other day and until I can afford some vintage speed, I'd like to put a 36hp in it to cruise around (it's a '56). So, if you have to choose between a ~400 dollar used engine that seems to run well, and a rebuilt one for

1,000, which do would you choose? The rebuilt engine has a nos crank and cam, standard bearings, new valves, rebuilt carb, sachs clutch, the thermostat and all the tin is in place, and the muffler is nos as well. Whatcha all think? I'm leaning towards the rebuild, though in the photo the dizzy has no vacuum can. Is this stock? It doesn't look like a 009 but I don't know my dizzy's very well. The mechanic tells me it's been bench tested, has no leaks, and he seems to know what he's talking about. Any advice or tips for when I drive to go check this thing out? Thanks,

-Chip

Reply to
Chip
Loading thread data ...

On 15 Jul 2005 12:10:08 -0700, "Chip" scribbled this interesting note:

Rebuilt.

No. Even then the stock distributor had a vacuum advance. I've got two of them in the driveway in two different 1959 Beetles. Both have original distributors and they both have it.

The rebuilt engine is only as good as the mechanic who put it together. Were the connecting rods balanced? What about the flywheel/crankshaft/pulley assembly? Are all the pistons the same weight? Has the case been align bored or was the original case carefully inspected for wear? If bored, what size bearings are in the case? Did the mechanic pull all the plugs in the case to clean out all the oil galleries? And even simple things like the valve adjustment screws, were they replaced and were new valves installed in the heads? If new valves were installed, did the mechanic remove and install the guides correctly or did he just use an air hammer?

Read up on this forum for proper engine building tips and advice. Pay particular attention to posts regarding engine building from Jan and/or Bob Hoover (veeduber). Look for the Tulz series from Bob. Look up Jan's website(s) and read up on his advice in engine building.

Good luck. And you'd better start saving your pennies with regards to vintage speed equipment!:~)

-- John Willis snipped-for-privacy@airmail.net (Remove the Primes before e-mailing me)

Reply to
John Willis

$1000 is a great price for a rebuild if its done right . I have almost that in the short block and heads I had Dammello mechine do for a 59 rag top that I'm putting together. I expect about about $1600 in the

36hp engine when its done.

Mario vintage werks resto

Reply to
Kafertoys

Hey John, Thanks for all the great advice, I had forgotten to even think about a lot of that stuff. I was assuming that the rods and pistons were statically balanced, but I'll be sure to ask and make sure. I'm also assuming that the whole assembly hasn't been dynamically balanced, and I guess for 1,000 I wouldn't expect it. The case wasn't bored, all bearings standard, and I haven't asked if he pulled the plugs on the galleys. Should I be really concerned about that if it didn't happen even though no case work was done? Thanks again for the new ideas to ponder, and boy, you aren't kidding about the vintage speed. I'm leaning towards a super 90 engine and a decent rebuild doesn't even start anywhere below 5k. One day though...

-Chip

John Willis wrote:

Reply to
Chip

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.