VW motor help...

[dawger]

Hello All, Need a little input from the wisdom of the forum.

I recently helped my brother in law restore his 1957 oval window Volkswagen bug. He bought a 1776 cc crate motor package- clutch to pulley to replace the original 1600 cc that was in it. After installing it and doing a couple days of test runs around the block he headed for home. On his way the motor locked up and spun him sideways on the road less than 10 miles total on it. We took it out and sent the complete package back to the builder. He commented we had the clutch to tight and caused the motor to lock up due to excessive pressure on the rear main oil seal and bearing, which in turn didn't allow for proper clearance for oiling. Is this possible or did something else happen? Seemed to shift fine, must be a fine line between too tight and too loose. Guess I have a hard time understanding that a tight clutch could cause a motor to lock up. We followed the VW manual for adjusting the clutch at the pedal for about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch of free play. Granted I'm not familiar with the VW motor /clutch set up, but find it difficult that a clutch adjusted too tight would cause such a mess. His comment was not to go by the book and adjust the free-play at the side of the transaxle under the car to get the proper adjustment. Just don't want to go through this again when it returns.

Any input would be greatly appreciated, thanks
DAWGER-

[PatBuckley]

I suspect they meant crankshaft end play - this should be .004" - did you set that? It is done with three or four shims between the flywheel and the crank......

[dawger]

Didn't think I needed to, received the motor with flywheel and clutch already installed. All we did was raised it into the engine bay and bolted it together, after a little grinding on the transaxle housing to accommodate the larger 12volt flywheel. Thought it was pretty much ready to go out of the box....

[PatBuckley]

If it came with the flywheel installed then it is their problem.

The clutch adjustment has zero to do with the engine locking up.

[Mbechmann]

I have to agree with Pat. Also, what block has the engine been build on? AS41? Or older? If it has been build on the older (original) block, than there is a whole other problem. There the oillines within the engine, are too small. They can barely manage the pressure from a 1300 engine. So if the original block has been used, than it is a no-go. You need a new block, or an AS41 to be able to run that setup.

[dawger]

Appreciate the input; I was begining to doubt myself somewhat. The engine builder also told my brother in law that his wife's VW did the same thing due to she rode the clutch all time. I can see how that would wear out the clutch faster but not cause the engine to lock-up due to excessive pressure on the rear oil seal and bearing. Unless like Mbechmann mentioned inadequate oil supply internally. From the research I found if one tightens the flywheel to tight or forgets the washers or shims between the end of the crank and flywheel there is potential for the motor to lock up.

Thanks A bunch, I was feeling like I created this problem for my brother in law since he enlisted my help to restore it.

Dawger-

[PatBuckley]

One of the main bearings (center one) is a thrust bearing that would take the pressure of the clutch being ridden......IMO the clutch would wear out before the thrust bearing. I haven't heard of an engine seizure due to the clutch being ridden.

[Wes Tausend]

...

Years ago, my buddy bought an Isky cam for his '67 "Bug" that came with hydraulic lifters. He was afraid to have us split the cases and install the cam, so he took it out to the local VW dealers shop and paid the big bucks. I thought it a bad move, since the dealer had a bad rep.

The shop installed the cam and then called to tell him that the cam had ruined the engine. While supposedly "idling" outside, the engine locked up so hard, it sprung the cases.

Nobody at the dealership stepped up and said, "We were test-driving the H outa your VW, and we burned up the motor. Our bad."

After new engine cases, big bucks on my buddies dime and whatever, the Isky cam worked great as far as tiny engines go. He had a new long high-rise intake with a single 2 bl Holley and stinger exhaust installed on it at the same time.

A few years later, I related my "disgust story" to a neighbor who had a VW tune-up and repair shop, implying I would send work his way. Found out later, he was working out there when it happened.

Wes
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