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Hey, everybody: I drove my '67 Square over open roads for the first time today, not including small sojourns around my neighborhood. The voyage (about ten miles) started well enough, but ended badly. My wife and I just moved to a new house, and during the process, I had the Square (which at the time had a locked-up engine that turned out to be a case of wrong starter/flywheel combo) towed to The VW Shop. I asked John out there to see if he could free the engine, do a little routine tune-up stuff, and check out the brakes. Today, Lucy and I drove out to pick it up...the battery in it wouldn't hold a charge worth a damn, so we had to jump it. (I brought a newer battery, but it was also discharged after hoodlums went through my car parked at home and left the interior lights on until the juice was used up.) The Square started fine, and for the first three or four miles, drove pretty well for a car with nearly-shot wheel bearings. Then things started to get ugly. The engine started to lose power somewhat about halfway home, so I pulled over and gave the rearend a once-over. I added the half-quart of oil I had in the car, because the oil cooler seals are not so good, and the engine does blow oil there. It seemed to idle a bit smoother, so we continued, my wife following behind. About two miles from my house, the engine started a clattering sound that immediately brought to mind the death rattle of a connecting rod. Smoke began to pool in the cargo bay. After having to stop once again, go buy more oil and jumper cables (the battery was that crappy), and repeatedly try to get into busy shopping-afternoon traffic, I finally nursed the cacophonous little Type 3 to its new driveway. I may be assuming too much, but I am preparing to look into buying a factory-built longblock. I have found several places that offer them for reasonable rates, and wanted to see if any of you listees had any experience buying from these companies. STRICTLY FOREIGN (Grants Pass, Oregon): I bought a cylinder head for my Type 1 from these guys a few years ago, and it was fine...but does anyone know about their engines? Their ad doesn't specify Type 1-2-3, but their 1600 longblocks go for $599 w/exchange, and 1641s go for $649. ROGER'S EUROPEAN ENGINEERING (Downey, California): Stock longblocks (Type 1-2-3) are advertised at $500 w/exchange, and 1641s are listed at $610. STRICTLY VW (Irwindale, California): 1600s for $649 w/exchange, 1641s for $689. I know at least two people who have bought factory-fresh motors from GEX and regretted it. I don't want to have a similar experience, and would like to balance quality & budget as best I can. Any help from the list would be most appreciated, including other places I should look. Keepin' the faith, Carmody Squareback Rescue Adventure 2000 http://www.kcisp.net/~carmody/sra2000.html ------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe? mailto:type3-request@vwtype3.org, Subject: unsubscribe