From: jeffm@engr.LaTech.edu (Jeff L. Matocha)
Subject: [A] Engine Q's & more
Organization: Louisiana Tech University
X-Newsreader: TIN [version 1.1 PL8]
Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1993 23:56:23 GMT

     For Christmas, Santa (my brother) brought me a 1967 VW Fastback with
90K+ on the odometer.  I have several problems with it at this point and
have many questions.

     To start off with, a little info:  
The car turns the engine with the starter and has spark to the plugs.  The
timing seems to be approximately correct.  There seems to be fuel to the 
carbs.  The result of all of this is, every once in a while, there is an 
explosion (no, not a combustion) in the crankcase that spews oil everywhere 
and blows the cap off of the crankcase breather.  There have been no 
noticable *controlled* combustions.  The results of a compression test show
(in psi): #1-unmeasurable, #2-15, #3-30, #4-85.  I think I understand the
explosions with this kind of non-compression.

     To me, this looks like a call for an engine rebuild.  I would like to 
rebuild it just to get the experience rather than buying a rebuilt one.

Now for some questions...

1)  How far should I go with the rebuild?  I could probably just fix the
compression (which I figure could be due to rings, valves, guides, seats, 
cracked pistons or cylinders), but I figure while I am in there, I might
as well put in new valve guides and seats (for unleaded gas) and go ahead
with a rebuild.  The major question is:  Should the crankcase be opened?
Or do I have to just wait until I get in and get the engine taken apart
before I can really tell?  I guess the Haynes manual has me scared.  Is it
*that* possible that my crankshaft and camshaft (and associated bearings) 
need replacing?  Also, I see that J.C. Whitney has a rebuild kit for ~$180
and I wonder if that is a good kit (includes all gaskets, valves, pushrod
tubes, pistons, cylinders, etc.).  Any advice from anyone, regarding these
kits, would be highly appreciated.  Also any info from anyone who is pleased
with a kit they recieved from someone else, would also be gladly appreciated.

2)  What about carburator rebuild kits?  I have 32 PDSIT 2/3 's on my Type
III and plan to rebuild them.  What should I look out for?

3)  I don't understand the purpose of one tube on my engine.  It seems to
correspond to the oil dipstick tube on the Type I's.  It also was a source
of oil-spewing during crankcase explosions.

4)  What's the difference between Single Port and Dual Port engines 
(should I decide to get a rebuilt one)?

5)  What is a reasonable price to pay for the Idiot Book and where could I
get such a price?  What are good air-cooled rebuilding books and where are
they available?  And are there any good Type III books available (Bentley
makes one but it is for 1968-1973's and I have the Haynes)?

6)  My brakes are *gone* (not a problem now, but eventually).  What all should
I plan to rebuild (master cylinder, etc)?

7)  My muffler is non-existant (not a problem either).  Where is a good 
place to get a *stock* muffler?

8)  My floorpan is rusted beyond repair.  Who has floorpans for a Type III?
I might eventually find one at a junkyard or have one made from sheet
metal if there is no one.

     I know it sounds like a heap, but it is a *sweet* little vehicle.  I 
just have many questions and hope that *someone* will be able to answer 
them?  Please offer an opinion (I know you all have one) to this new
air-cooled owner.

E-mail    jeffm@engr.latech.edu