Tango Van - 1972 westy..

Why are you taking the engine out to do push rod seals?

Here's why
No ramp

Been on my back under the van for too long.
Much easier on the bench.
Need to reseat the exhaust header .. Can flip the engine over on the bench to do this and encourage a better seal.

Want to check main seal behind clutch.
Check bell housing and starter bush and release arm etc once out.
Need to take carbs off anyhow to re-gasket them etc


So,
May as well drop the engine out, clean off the oil etc and give it all a good going over.

6weeks till off to France, so a good service etc

Give your engine bay a scrub while you're at it!

indeed. however, I'll be using a wire brush rather than T-cut!

Mr Scoops wrote:

Give your engine bay a scrub while you're at it!

he has to find something to polish

No progress today...

Tidying session in the garage this afternoon to make space for the engine to be worked on..
Mainly removing all the bits from the brake upgrade on Craig's splitty and his top end engine rebuild that were still left about and then my brake replacement.

That and BBQ and cider stopped any meaningful attempt.

Must sort tomoz.....

So this happened...

Nothing?

Link wouldn't paste... Fixed (unlike the engine at the mo)

Found some plastic in the oil...? not sure what from or how it got there?


initial strip down: removal of exhaust header, fan, shroud, alt housing and front tin






oil in the breather looks a bit worse for wear..


Carbs and linkage all removed


remains of the x2 fans I shredded 2 years ago returning from VoWo


Out! at last.. dropped engine on to skateboard with a block on it.. then jacked up the van to clear it all..



Engine mounts just came away... both perished!


need to order new ones me thinks


Quick photo record of the plug condition prior to labelling them up ..








all checked and ready for the next part..



Exhaust header removed.. time to spot the leak..








and on the exhaust ports..








all done.


Then removed the heads to check valve condition and pistons.(although not required for pushrod removal - just take out the rockers!)

Pistons..looked also for any blow-past signs and head leakage.. and condition / mixture indication








Then inlet and exhaust valves ... a couple are a bit hot/lean, which is prob a result of the exhaust leak.. any guesses which ones?








removed clutch and flywheel as the bell housing looked a bit damp..
Main oil seal had just started to go.. contaminating the clutch a bit, so will replace it and clean up the clutch as loads left on it.


All done.. now at the parts ordering stage again..


need to strip part of the carbs down to clean..
going to replace the plastic vacuum take offs with metal NPT connections.. is it worth cutting them down as they stick out into the manifold quite a way, maybe interrupting the flow.. thoughts?
you can see the amount on the right hand plastic connection by the clean part: 6 threads

Niiiice is that definitely plastic, not a seal giving up?

yep. black plastic ring.. snapped easily, and not magnetic..

red stuff is the gasket sealant on the rocker covers..

does this engine run valve stem seals? they normally go hard ,break up and end up in the sump….looks like stem seals to me …..if it is ignore it …..new ones will only last about 400 miles tops anyway ……..you engine looks as if one side is richer than the other ,check carbs are balanced on and off linkage …..and you plugs look ok ,but they are definitely too hot a heat range …..try a cooler plug

oh …and the oil in the breather can look bad (or in your case emulsified) as the heads create quite a lot of condensation , the breathers help get rid of this ,but will emulsify the oil already caught in the breather box

nomates wrote:

does this engine run valve stem seals? they normally go hard ,break up and end up in the sump….looks like stem seals to me …..if it is ignore it …..new ones will only last about 400 miles tops anyway ……..you engine looks as if one side is richer than the other ,check carbs are balanced on and off linkage …..and you plugs look ok ,but they are definitely too hot a heat range …..try a cooler plug

Don't know, I've not looked nor taken out the valves.. can I see without removing them?
Servo was leaking, so vacuum was affecting the mixture and cutting out the revs.. tapped from manifold for cylinders 1 a 4
Will get some bosch W8CC (had these before, but couldn't get any last service)

nomates wrote:

oh …and the oil in the breather can look bad (or in your case emulsified) as the heads create quite a lot of condensation , the breathers help get rid of this ,but will emulsify the oil already caught in the breather box

ahh ok, so it's just doing it's job!
Also running SAE 30 classic oil.

(and take note that is the correct way to mount the breather so it doesn't leak oil over the top of the engine.. I've seen so many mounted on their side so you can read the logo!)

btw.. Nomates=Engine God

So nomates popped round:

jobs to do:
dismantle heads
lap in valves
lap in cylinders to head
clean all up
rebuild heads

clean up engine case
remove any paint from seal areas

refit barrels and apply sealant
refit heads and apply sealant
torque up heads
fit new seals to pushrods and sealant

need to go back to Bosch W8CC plugs (not NGKs)

replace flywheel oil seal
rebuild rest of engine (flywheel, clutch etc)

move to 20/50 classic oil
then time to sort the exhaust seal
refit carbs etc (trial fit on bench then reinstall back in bus)
check tuning of carbs.

Not too much then... How long have you got?

Hmmmm only a couple of weeks at the max.. Evenings and weekends..
Will get parts ordered then can crack on.
Lapping in and clean up first whilst they are on the way.
Hope to have engine build back up by end of Saturday.

Great practice for assisting on mine!

Just another top end rebuild!
Just on a type4 not type1 so a few little differences.

New oil main seal fitted. Clutch and flywheel all refitted and cleaned up. Big thanks to wizbiz for the help.
Will finish up the heads tomorrow eve and hen into final prep of cleaning parts ready to rebuild.

Progress...

Flywheel on and clutch etc..


Engine case degreased and most of the paint removed.. A bit more to go still...

List so far:

dismantle heads
lap in valves
lap in cylinders to head
clean all up
rebuild heads

clean up engine case
remove any paint from seal areas

refit barrels and apply sealant
refit heads and apply sealant
torque up heads
fit new seals to pushrods and sealant

need to go back to Bosch W8CC plugs (not NGKs)

replace flywheel oil seal
rebuild rest of engine (flywheel, clutch Etc)
then time to sort the exhaust seal

refit carbs etc (trial fit on bench)
Fitted back half of tinwear and re-checked plug gaps etc
So refitted engine Thursday Nite with Wizpop..


Just got to fit:
fan shroud
Fan
Front tinwear and seal
Alternator
Carbs
Plug leads
Check and refit wiring
New fuel filter and hoses throughout
Fresh oil and new filter

check tuning of carbs.
Start it..

Getting closer... How long until you go away?

i laughed at …."start it" …….it better bloody well do !