This is getting silly

This really isn't worthy of a "Tech Center" post, and there is no forum titled 'What the <bleep>, the whole world is against me, I give up!" so I figured I would put it here.

Silly me for thinking I was actually going to put my motor back in tonight, I don't know why I figured I was at the end of this thing.

So I purchased new front tin a few weeks back as it was missing when I acquired the car, then I picked up a new fan shroud because the holes for the throttle cable and dog house 'vent' were off by about a haf an inch as compared to the 'Brazillian low profile' shroud that came with the car and wouldn't work with the new front tin.

I am not running heater boxes for a bit anyways so I figured the new shroud would look cleaner without the fresh air ducts. This was the justification in my mind for the new shroud anyways.

So for the past few days I have been putting an epic paint job on the new shroud and thought I was all ready for 'final' assembly this evening and a possible first ignition of the newly rebuillt motor.

I was tinkering around, getting a few details worked out, when it happened:



So I guess It is possibe the bracket for the oil cooler is offset to match the original shroud, but really?

So I am going to remove the oil cooler and bracket and try to work in some shopping tomorrow.

Really??? Am I missing something here???

OK, It's the front tin. Brand new shroud doesn't line up with it either. I must have the wrong one or one that was not stamped correctly. I dunno....

My throttle tube is loose and floppy.. so I can move it where ever I want. Can you just drill a new hole or enlarge the one there and slightly bend the pipe?
I had a stock old school cooler and just updated to a doghouse my self and did not run into any problems with fitment.

So just an idea.. make it fit. All my throttle tubes have been loose up by the engine. Then there is another tube that slides into the doghouse and fits into the throttle tube behind the tin.

Yea, I am leaning toward elongating the hole in the tin I have.

After looking around, it seams the cheap tins are just that, cheap.

I thought there might be different front tins and I had picked up the wrong one. But it looks like they are all the same. I guess my expectations were a little high for a 20 dollar piece of stamped metal.

I am just going to make this one due until I can get a better set.

P.S.

My throttle tube is flexible too, I just used the metal tube that normally goes through the shroud to show how far off the hole in the front tin is.

I had to buy one of those cheap tins as well for doghouse, and mine only bolts up on one side. The other side is way to off to put a tin screw in. So I feel ya. There is german tin still out there.. just have to find it and clean it up.

I have never seen such crap in my life. I always look for new old stock. Just remember wine women and VW parts all have something in common OLDER IS BETTER.

David

I have all the old tins in a pile minus the front tin which was missing, they are covered in a few inches of crusted on oil and road grime. No exaggeration. This thing has been leaking, well hemorrhaging is a better term, for a while. Which is why I tore down the engine and transmission in the first place. The original lower tins that cover the pushrod tubes have the tabs busted off as well. I was going to throw them all away but I may give them a closer look to see if they are original before the toss.

I thought I was on the downhill to getting this thing on the road again, but it looks like I have a few things yet to concur.

I have an engine test stand. If you bring it to my house you can fire it up and do a quick run. I have my 1915 on it but its just 4 bolts to pull it. I should be home Friday, Saturday NO Sunday CMI

David

I've had the same problem with aftermarket cylinder tins. They just don't fit right!

type 4 wrote:

I have an engine test stand. If you bring it to my house you can fire it up and do a quick run. I have my 1915 on it but its just 4 bolts to pull it. I should be home Friday, Saturday NO Sunday CMI

David

Sunday at CMI the NASA Volkswagen class is running. fyi.

Me and my son try to go to them but the weather may not hold out.

Do you ever want to try some different carbs on that race buggy? Get you motor sorted out and I can set a pair of 44's dialed in on my 1915. We can hook up at the track and see if it makes a difference.

David

Thanks for the offer David I appreciate it. I might just take you up on that.

I have to work from now until late Friday but Saturday is a possibility.

Although, I may just throw the engine in the car late late Friday when I get home to do some test drives on Saturday. I was really hoping to do some cruising on Sunday as it has been about 3 months since she's been on the road.

I am real close. I ordered a new front tin from CBP as a few people have said CBP has tins that fit the best of the non German after-market tins. It will be here tomorrow so we'll see. I don't have my hopes set too high. I think the one I purchased was an EMPI and I think CBP sells Scat, but I dunno for sure.

Vallero's in Auburn also recommended CBP and he hasn't steered me in a bad direction yet.

Maybe between the two tins I can cut and weld something up to fit if it comes down to it.

One way or another, she's on the road this weekend.

Let me see where I get to Saturday by noon and if I am still no closer to having the motor in I can drag it up for a test run. It would be nice to see if it runs and doesn't spew oil everywhere.

If your time permits.

It would also be nice to have a 'second opinion' if my oil issues haven't imporved since the rebuild.

So an FYI, the tin I ordered from CBP came in this afternoon and it doesn't fit any better.

It is the same 'stuff' from Taiwan as my other bargin tin.

Soooo, I am off to trim and grind until something fits...

IN MY EXPERIENCES WITH AFTERMARKET TINS YOU DO THEM ALL GERMAN TINS (METAL) OR ALL RESTAMP TIN (CRAP) FROM THE SAME PLACE NOT PIECED TOGETHER FROM HERE AND THERE. WITH DOING THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES WITH FITMENT.

RIGHT NOW WITH THE BAJA/RAT AND THE RAT ROD (CONVERTING FROM A BAJA TO RATROD) ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS ALL I HAVE IS THE SHROUD AND CYLINDER TINS.

I REALLY HOPE YOU GET IT WORKED OUT THOUGH. AND HOPE TO SEE THE CAR SOON.

type 4 wrote:

Me and my son try to go to them but the weather may not hold out.

Do you ever want to try some different carbs on that race buggy? Get you motor sorted out and I can set a pair of 44's dialed in on my 1915. We can hook up at the track and see if it makes a difference.

David

I will be in on that. I just need to finish up the car first. (its undergoing some minor changes).