Hey, Steve, I need some new rod bearings, and pistons and rings, too. Oh--forgot--don't make the parts anymore for a 79 year old model HumanItaliano.

Getting a bit slow around here lately. Temps in the 30's last few nights, highs in the 40's and rain. Nasty. Decided not to play outside today, so I went to the garage and lit a fire in the woodstove.

Finally got around to the VW engine. I removed the connecting rods, cleaned, replaced with new bearings, torqued bolts.



I cleaned and replaced several head bolts that came out of the block, used Loctite. Installed pistons and rings, then cylinders. Add new pushrod tubes and the head goes back on. Torqued all to specs. One head done:



Installed two more cylinders and the other head. Front plate and crank pulley. Done for today.



Starting to look like an engine again. Still need valve train parts and covers, sheet metal shrouds, flywheel and clutch, exhaust and intake systems, starter and generator. Most are new or clean and ready to reuse. Hope to have this thing done soon. I have another engine rebuild underway for my boat. When it rains it pours!

If you don't like the weather wait five minutes... yesterday it was mid 80's, this evening it is 38!

Some progress with the VW engine, a few more covers, new distributor, high capacity oil sump adds 1.5 quarts.



I made an external oil cooler to mount separate from the engine. Boxed around the cooler then added two muffin fans. This assembly will be mounted to exhaust the hot air through the engine compartment side floor, also a remote oil filter will be included.







Soon I will finish the engine and replace it in the bus.
I repaired the mystery floor shifter. The front shifter rod pivot under the floor was bent.
I also rebuilt/recovered both front seats.

Steve I see Lee sold his Toaster. I thought sure you would buy it to be your new Toad behind your new Rig What a steel for someone to start out with. That was a spell check error. I meant to say STEAL but after some thought some more and it should have been ALUMINUM!

Whoever bought Lee's coach got a great deal. NICE coach!
I have parts ordered for the Blue Ox towbar. The bar was given to me by a neighbor but I need to fabricate a plate for the VW. Nobody makes a custom fit bracket for a 46 year old VW bus. (Imagine that)

The VW will be ready by fall. The Prius worked fine on the tow dolly but towing flat will be much more convenient than loading and unloading the dolly.

quote:

Originally posted by Steve VW:
I have parts ordered for the Blue Ox towbar. The bar was given to me by a neighbor but I need to fabricate a plate for the VW. Nobody makes a custom fit bracket for a 46 year old VW bus. (Imagine that)

I made a tow bar for my project. Of course I needed to make brackets. I have made up wire lighting and a brake system that should work. Not willing to say more to jinx the deal. They have one more thing to remove and then plan the move. Stay tuned. That will be a photo op!

Got my boat engine almost done, waiting for a few parts. Went back the VW project. I pulled the engine a year ago, how time flies!

Built a cradle for the engine. Replaced the flywheel, shimmed for proper crankshaft endplay. Bolted on the clutch and pressure plate. Ready to install.



Spent some time cleaning the filthy engine bay. Put the engine on the jack and rolled it into place.



Oil filter and cooler are in, still lots of other stuff to install.



I will get the engine running soon, plates and insurance and I will be on the road for the first time.

I still have the towbar bracket to install and it will be ready to be a toad vehicle.

to be continued:

You know I read an article about BLUE OX or Roadmaster that if they don't have a bracket for a vehicle that they will use your vehicle as a pattern and make a set of brackets for free and then use them to have a pattern to make more. Do you think you would want to drive to their plant to have them make yours?

Maybe their return on investment wouldn't pay??

No doubt they use CAD/CAM; once the software is made, the design is amortized.

Interesting... So far I have only about $70 in the thing and I can probably cobble the rest with stuff I have around.

Would be nice to have a factory setup, then I'd have someone else to sue if it ever failed!

Thanks, I will check into this some more.

Do you already have the tow bar(s)?
I have set I never use, preferring alum trailer instead.

I have a Blue Ox towbar, I just need the vehicle bracket. I have a "universal" bumper bracket that the towbar clips into, just need to add attachment hardware to the frame. Thanks for checking.

I will post that project as soon as I finish the engine.

Finally got back to the VW project. I need it running and towable when I leave for Florida. Too dam cold to go outside to play.

I got the engine in the bus last summer (see posting above) but driveway work, boat engine, coach work, etc got in the way.

I got the garage warmed up and I got back to work. Adjusted the clutch cable, installed the front engine plate. Plumbed in the oil cooler bypass and ran the hoses to the filter and the cooler. Installed the fan housing, generator and intake manifold.



Installed the front pipes and the muffler. Installed the rear engine plate.



Tomorrow I will clean the rear body panel, replace the rubber dust seal lip and install on the bus. Rear bumper will follow.



Still needs the rest of the intake, ignition system, wiring harnesses. Coming soon...

This was a good day. I finally got all the parts together and the engine started right up. So far no leaks, etc. Still need to adjust final timing and carb settings.



The paint on the pipes smoked pretty good, I had to open the garage and it was -2 degrees. Neighbors probably thought the garage was on fire.



Next job is the tow bracket installation up front. There are almost no parts left inside, only new rubber door gaskets. I still have to install the rear apron and the bumper, also have to install the oil pressure and temp gauges up front.

WOW . That's awsome Steve . Looks great.

Bob