Re: Very sick 1971 Squareback

[Toby Erkson <Toby_Erkson@ccm.jf.intel.com>]

A compression check on each cylinder will let you know if you have a bad 
piston setup (rings, valves, big old hole, stuff like that).  I seriously 
doubt you have a hole in your piston because when this happens your whole 
engine lets you and the world know in just a couple of heartbeats (loss of 
power, lots of banging, noise, loss of oil pressure, more noise, stuff like 
that).  You can get a compression checker at more auto parts stores or your 
mechanic will have one.

As for your case breather I'm willing to be it's no longer doing its 
intended job.  You can take a long, nylon locking wire wrap and put it 
around the breather/offending cover to keep it down (that's what I did).  
CB Performance has a case breather for the T3 and it's a direct replacement 
of the stock unit (see the pictures of my engine on my web page to get a 
look).

If you get new pistons -- or any part for that matter -- don't go with 
cheapest because that's what you'll get and it WILL cost you more money 
later on.  Buy OEM parts at a minimum (many Type 1 parts will fit).

Huh, Chattanooga? -- if you ever hit Gatlinburg say hello to my 
ex-girlfriend :p (she's a heartbreaker!).
     Toby Erkson, air_cooled_nut@pobox.com
     '72 VW Squareback 1.6L bored and stroked to 2.0L
     '75 Porsche 914 1.8L
     Portland, Oregon, http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/8501/

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Very sick 1971 Squareback
Author:  type-3-errors@umich.edu at SMTPGATE
Date:    9/16/97 8:40 AM

...If it is a piston
problem, can I get away with just replacing all the pistons and
cylinders?  I can't afford to do a complete and proper rebuild, I just
need to get the car on the road again.  When I started it last night,
there were no expensive sounds.  It seemed to idle rough though.  As for
the breather cap, this has always been loose since I have had the car,
but I have never had smoke coming out of it.  I think one of the pistons
is shot, and that a lot of exhaust is being dumped into the case.
Someone please give me some wonderful advise.  If I do need new pistons
and cylinders, and could expect to have some reasonable engine life
remaining, where is the best/cheapest place to buy them from.  I don't
want ones that are so cheep that they are junk, but I don't need super
performance parts either.  Any and all help and support and
encouragement are appreciated.
...
Thanks,
Stuart Neil
Chattanooga, TN