[T3] Number four failures...

[Frank Meek <ftalker@hotmail.com>]

<x-flowed>The number four bearing has failed on two of my T-3's engines...one on a 
factory FI '69 with 120K on it and another on a rebuild, (76X90,5 
stroker) at 90K, that took the left side bearing saddles with it.  They 
actually fell out, (cracked at the bases), as I lifted the crank out.  
The bearing had completely dissolved.
These two very different engines with different setups shared two  
similarities: first, declining oil pressure, precipitously so in the 
final 5K of their "lives."
The stock motor had no oil filter and its oil changes were regularly 
under 3K.  The stroker did have an oil filter and external cooler and 
shared a similar oil change schedule.  I did not forget to blow out the 
passages on the rebuild...and hey, it lasted 90K.
But, oil pressure was an issue and it is my empirical guess that despite 
having "plasitgaged" the crank on the stroker rebuild that there were 
other rebuild-related issues either with the case or the crank or the 
rods, (each of which was machined at a very reliable race shop).  I am 
guessing the rods on the stroker and general wear on the factory motor.
Also, the second similarity that these failures shared was mountains: 
the factory engine failed (it got so hot the crank broke in two...I have 
never seen this in any VW), climbing out of Denver heading west in the 
summer.  And, the second failed going up Teton Pass (10% grades), also 
in the summer.
Another supposition is that on the flats both of these motors would have 
lived considerably longer.
So, while I can't contribute a "reason" for these curious number 4 
failures, I can suggest that these may well be T-3 idiosyncrasies worthy 
of further investigation.  It should be noted that I also have a '63 T-1 
and a '65 T-2...never a problem with number 4.

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