VW Beetle Budget Build Engine Failure - Tear Down and Inspection

Summary

In this engaging video, Gary VW dives into a budget engine rebuild for a VW, uncovering issues with the engine case and thrust bearing after just 600 miles of use. As he disassembles the engine, he finds metal debris and wear on components, prompting a discussion on potential upgrades. Aaron, the owner, brings a new AS-41 case and parts for the rebuild, while Gary checks the crank's runout, revealing minimal issues. The video showcases the process of diagnosis and repair, emphasizing the challenges and learning moments of working on vintage engines.

Takeaways

• 😀 The engine being worked on is a budget build from two years ago, either a 1641 or 1679 model.
• 🔧 The engine is in the shop due to significant bearing play, indicating internal issues.
• 🛠️ Disassembly revealed a lot of metal debris inside the engine, suggesting wear and tear.
• 👍 The pistons and cylinders appear to be in good condition despite the engine's problems.
• ❌ The current push rods were found to be of low quality and will likely be replaced with better options.
• 🔍 The inspection of the crank showed a thousandth runout, which is considered acceptable.
• 🛠️ The engine case will need to be line bored and fitted with new bearings due to wear.
• 📦 Aaron, the owner, provided a new AS-41 case and piston cylinders for an upgrade.
• ⚙️ The engine will retain its single-port heads and dual carb setup, with heads being refurbished.
• 🚀 The overall goal is to enhance the engine's performance while addressing its current issues.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The video focuses on diagnosing and repairing a budget engine build, specifically addressing issues with an engine that has experienced significant wear and tear.

Who is the engine build intended for?

The engine build is for a friend named Aaron, who had previously done a wrap on the host's vehicle, Jawbreaker.

What specific problem is the host addressing with the engine?

The host identifies an issue with excessive movement in the engine's rear bearing thrust, indicating potential problems inside the case.

What was the initial condition of the engine as described in the video?

The engine had about 500-700 miles on it, with some signs of wear but generally decent cylinder and piston condition.

What major issues did the host find during the teardown?

During the teardown, the host found a lot of metal debris inside the engine and significant wear on the cam bearing, indicating that the case and/or main bearings were likely the issues.

What changes did Aaron decide to make to the engine build?

Aaron decided to replace the old engine case with a new AS-41 case already bored for 90.5mm pistons, while also retaining the original single port heads.

How did the host assess the crankshaft's condition?

The host used a dial indicator to measure the crankshaft's run-out, finding only about one thousandth of an inch, which is considered acceptable.

What does the host plan to do with the new engine case?

The host plans to take the new engine case to a machine shop for evaluation, checking for line boring and thrust cutting before reassembling the engine.

What recommendations does the host make regarding push rod tubes?

The host expresses a preference for using regular push rod tubes instead of the current ones, which have shown to be inferior.

What are the host's overall sentiments about the budget engine build?

The host expresses disappointment that the budget build did not perform as expected, attributing the failure to an old case issue rather than negligence.