Useful information from Paruzzi magazine and from our YouTube channel :
mesuring the compression How can you determine very objectively how much wear the engine has? An indication of the wear level can be obtained by performing a compression measurement, the engine compression determines the power of your VW. Anyone can perform a compression measurement on an air-cooled or water-cooled VW.
Engine overhaul - video 14 rockers and pushrods In this video we will show how to disassemble and reassemble the rocker arms and pushrods. We will discuss the diagnosis of the rockers and pushrods in our other video series, which deals with engine diagnosis. How to adjust the rockers, an action also known as shimming, can be seen in our video series on engine adjustment.
oil seals All rotating parts fitted with bearings lubricated by oil or grease, such as crankshafts, transmission shafts, drive shafts, steering rods, etc., must be sealed. In our classic VW's we find two types of oil seals, namely the static and the dynamic (lip seal) oil seals.
Engine adjustment - video 01 valve clearance The valve clearance is the first thing to check when adjusting an engine. If the valve clearance is not adjusted properly, then adjusting for example, the ignition, or the carburetor, will do little good. In this video we will show you how to adjust the valve clearance.
crankshaft seal replacement If you find that the crankshaft clearance is outside the factory specifications, replacing the crankshaft seal will not be a solution for the oil leak you have identified. If the crankshaft clearance is less than 0.30 mm, it makes sense to replace the oil seal, otherwise a total engine overhaul is the only worthwhile option.
Engine overhaul - video 10 the crankshaft pulley In this tenth video, we will show how to disassemble and reassemble the crankshaft pulley. We will use special tools for this, standard tools, as well as a homemade pulley puller. If you don't have the right tools and use the right technique, chances are you will warp the crankshaft pulley, you really don't want that. So watch this video carefully before you start this job.
setting valve clearance The first technical work I ever did on my first Volkswagen Beetle was to set the valves. I didn't know much about the technology of the VW Beetle at the time, but I dared to do it, valve setting is easy to do yourself, you don't need many tools, and it's essential for the proper functioning of your classic.
engine types and codes The engine number indicates which type of engine is involved and with which engine capacity. The first letter(s) determine the capacity and type of engine and the following figures determine the year of manufacture. The engines up to and including July 31, 1965 had no letters for the engine number, which is why up to and including this year of manufacture only numbers are given.
oil consumption Oil leaks are easy to rectify, sometimes even without having to remove the motor. We have saved the more difficult cases for this article, so we did not call this "oil leaks part 2" but "oil consumption". The distinction between the two is sometimes difficult to make, hopefully the information that follows will bring clarity.
Engine overhaul - video 15 disassemble cylinder heads In this video, we will show how to disassemble the cylinder heads of a VW Type 1 engine, and what challenges you may face.