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At 01:49 PM 9/27/97 -0700, Kenik Hassel wrote:
>DO NOT GO GEX! I have heard so many horror stories about GEX motors and
>their shoddy service I would avoid them like the plague. Buy new heads,
>get them from Gene Berg Enterprises.
I've owned four Gex built engines. A 1600SP, 1600DP and two 1776 with 040
heads. The 1600DP engine I punched out to 1641cc and it still was strong.
I later sent that engine back to Gex for a 1776. Then shortly after, I
purchased another 1776 for my other Bug.
I've never had a *SINGLE* problem with my Gex's. The first Gex engine was
a new engine that I purchased because I didn't have a core to send them.
This was back in 1984. I have also gotten great service from them.
Granted, the last Gex engine that I purchased was back in 1991-92.
I also purchased a complete front end assembly (adjustable) from them (new,
not rebuilt).
Perhaps I have been one of the lucky few to not have any sort of problem
with my Gex's. The only real problem that I have had with my last
remaining Gex (1776cc) had been the main oil seal leaking on me just last
year (4+ years, I'm surprised it didn't burst on me sooner!) and having to
rebuild the heads due to low compression. Again, not bad considering that
I didn't have a problem up until last year. Normal wear and tear, I
suppose. It wasn't that big of a deal and I ended up replacing all the
valves and springs with new TRW stuff. I recently picked up a set of Scat
rocker arms that I'm thinking about putting in.
And that's it ... everything else has been running perfectly on this engine.
I agree about buying new heads, but if it's not in the budget, MOFOCO sells
rebuit heads for a very good price (I believe they sell them for $80.00
[US] for a rebuilt head).
I don't work for either companies mentioned, nor do I have friends that
work there so I get no special treatment when I mention Gex or MOFOCO. I'm
just speaking from past experience.
>Split the case, and don't think twice, either. One of the easiest and
>cheapest ways to keep an air cooled motor running forever is to replace
>the bearings and rings every 30K-40K miles. A little tedious, sometimes,
In the 4+ years I had my 1776, I've only split it once and that was when I
had to replace the main oil seal. I decided to check out the internals
while I was at it. I have probably close to 60k miles on this engine too.
My secret to keeping this engine running strong and trouble free is just
simple TLC. The engine and tranny in both my Bimmer and Ford Bronco are
original. I wish I could say the same for my GTi. :cD (The clutch blew
up and took the tranny with it ...).
I recently got a 1914cc engine this summer that I'm hoping to stick in my
'61 soon. I did a complete tear down and rebuilld and even had it balanced
which also didn't cost that much since I had already had the engine apart.
I paid under $100.00 to have it done and was told that this will help keep
the engine running smooth and strong. I'm thinking about having this done
with my 1776 and the 2.0l engine in the 914. Neither of them have been
balanced and I think it will help.
>but I have a buddy who does this religiously, and his 150K mile type2 crew
>cab still runs like a bat out of hell (for a type2). Also, DO NOT buy flycut
>stock heads. People flycut heads to level a warped head (bad news), or
>increase compression. To lower compression back to something reasonable,
>you would need head spacers (another bad idea). If you want to read some
>real good, informative, honest info on the VW motor, call Gene Berg Ent. at
>714-998-7500 and ask for a catalog and their book of tech articles. You
>will not be sorry, I promise.
I will have to agreee again here. I have pretty much all of Gene's tech
articles. People complain that Gene Berg is too expensive. OK, they might
be but you know you're getting a quality part when you order from them.
I've ordered their engine brace along with some of their special tools. I
had the pleasure of speaking with Gene Berg at a Bug show back in 1990 and
he was nice enough to break away to listen to my questions and answer them
fully. He went as far as to take my address as he had some stuff (tech
articles) that he wanted to send me. I really didn't think he would send
them, but within two weeks, I got three tech articles.
Robert K. Kuhn (kealoha@isisph.com)
Isis Pharmaceuticals -- Systems Admin/WebSlave
http://www.isip.com/users/kealoha
" Take a car ... Most guy's spread more love and time and
money on a car in week then they do on their wife and
kids in a year ... "
-- Tennesee Stienmetz "The Love Bug"