Re: [T3] My Square's engine... what to do?

["Jason Weigel" <notchboy@satx.rr.com>]

<x-flowed>This is the gamble we all take in a sorts while driving these old cars. I 
don't think you can be prepared enough. I drove my 63, all original motor 
notchback up to Seattle from San Diego with nothing more than a tune 
through. I had paid for the emergency tow thing through my insurance to make 
sure I could get to a garage.

My point is what was I to do to prepare?? Rebuild my perfectly running, 
presumed original from the factory motor? Why stop there. Maybe the tranny, 
the brakes...on and on. Half my drive was through rural parts with no people 
or cell reception. Kinda scarrry while alone with an old ass original car. 
But that was some of the bests parts of the trip. Adrenaline I suppose.

I say fix the tranny Keith, put the motor back in, baby it till the 
trip-then ENJOY the trip.

jason



> Hi all,
>
> I just got back from a 500 mile trip to PA and back for a radio show.  NOW 
> I
> have time to pull the engine in the Square and replace the tranny for the
> trip to Oregon, I also need to relube the drive shafts, rear bearings and
> attend to the rear brakes.  And the clutch started slipping on the way 
> back
> too which is probably a leaky seal issue.
> My question comes with the engine though... this car hasn't been
> apart to the point of not being able to drive it in 10 years!  The engine
> has 101K on it now, and 57K on both the heads since the last valve job. 
> It
> runs great and has good oil pressure but those heads are nearing valve job
> time again... but I only need another 10K or so out of this engine to get 
> it
> through the summer and out to Myrtle Creek and back.  The valves in these
> heads are genuine VW although the heads were aftermarket but they have
> always held their adjustment well.
> If I do the valve job I have to disassemble a lot of things that
> have proven themselves very well together just before a big trip, if one
> stud pulls out of the case Im done, party over!  Not worth putting the 
> time
> or money into an engine that has that many miles on it especially when Im
> going to replace it in another year. If I don't do the valve job and it
> swallows a valve in the middle of the Nevada desert, im really screwed.
> Any thoughts?  Suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Keith


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