Anybody know anyting about VW bug engines?

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Mon May 23, 2005 7:32 pm

Anybody know anything about mid 70's VW bux engines and trans? I am on the edge of getting a sand rail that has a bug engine and a bus trans in it. What i want to know is this an engine thats easy to get parts for and to work on.

Also this engine is leaking oil from under it. It seems that the oil is comming from the tubes that the pushrods are in. Is this a common problem? It doesent look that hard to fix. Any info about this setup would be good.

Thanks.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Mon May 23, 2005 7:40 pm

Hey Pugs,

VW parts are pretty readily available. Check out http://www.800luvbugg.com/ I know a good bit about the motors, but not so much about the trans. Is it only leaking oil from one of the cylinders? Or more than one? Do you know what size the motor is? 1600cc? I've got a parts manual for my 72 SuperBeetle and could probably get you some scans of the details if you need them..

eGo

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:00 pm

I dont know... looks like 2 or 3 of them are... and one has a dent in it. It looks like its just a matter of removing the heads and putting new tubes or seals in it. Hell the whole engine looks easy to work on. Ill see if i can get it and if I do ill take some pix of the problem area.

Also its an air cooled engine, but it does have an oil cooler on it. Would it be worth while to get a oil temp gauge or is there some other method of monotring the engine temp? and arent they activly cooled?

Also it has points on it and i HATE points. I am sure there are aftermarket HEI kits for it. If so kick ass. This should be a fun toy if i can get it.

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:08 pm

It looks kinda like this but it worse shape... imagine my cars over all crappy look on that. It needs some TLC but dam it i want a toy this sumer to go out on. I dotn see myself getting a bike so this is the next best thing for me.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Mon May 23, 2005 10:09 pm

K, it's very easy to work on a VW (It's just a big motorcycle engine), just pull the heads and replace the seals is my guess. You might want to replace the dented rod. All VWs until the new ones were air cooled..

You can get an oil temp gauge if you want, I know my bug has a light, but not a temp gauge. The only method used to cool the engine was a fan that was in a shroud hooked up to some blower tupes that spun off of the generator.

Pugsley · Post by **Pugsley** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:41 pm

Yea thats what i thought about the cooling. it looked like the alternator had a shaft on the other end of the pulley and that drove a fan in that shroud. This thing is gonna kick so much ass. Ill get some pics of it tomorow after i get it.