Firing on three cylinders help!

[katykoo]

After spending many, many hours getting Bertha stripped of her ugly paint work, and nearly completeing her beautiful orange Rustoleum paint, her engine is only firing on three cylinders...

I am guessing that it will be more economical to get her a replacement engine, rather than waste money investigating a potentially expensive problem?

If so, does anyone know of a place where I can get a recon 2litre 1982 Aircooled engine?

I also think I'll need replacement carbs, as I think they were a bit knackered?

Cheapest suggestions welcome, as I am impoverished

Thanks

[irishkeet]

Ahhh I had this dreaded problem on holiday in Devon a few weeks ago....found a great VW place that are currently working on the van as I type.

First thing have you checked there is a spark from the HT lead?
see if you can get a compression test done....

then it make the decision, I had mine out and it turned out to be a stuck valve which damaged the head (2l Aircooled)

2nd hand head now fitted and the engine is going back in

good luck with it

[Ian Hulley]

I believe Steve 'Gasure' Shaw overhauls the aircold twin carbs It's best to have a known good set than speculate on what could be worse than you've already got.

Ian.

[katykoo]

Hi,

The compression test showed that there was no reading from one cylinder..

I am considering getting an engine via ebay, though I would prefer ar econ engine...any ideas

[Therunner]

for the money it'd cost for a 2nd hand 'good runner' ( )
off ebay you may aswell get your head sorted out,.
we have 3 of these 'good runners' sitting in our garden,
in other words, it's not worth the risk,,

[katykoo]

I know what you are saying..its just my mechanic doesn't know what cost is involved, until he investigates, he's estimating £5-600.
As am extremely tight on money, I need to have a fixed price, eg recon engine or similar..


Am tempted to stick a 1600cc recon from say volkspares in...mine was losing power for the last year anyway, so changing to a 1600cc in a T25 would still give me reasonable cruisng speed on the motorway?/

[Therunner]

i think CT's are more 'fun' than Cu's wish we'd just gone the easy route
& stuck a Cu in ours..

i wouldn't buy another 2nd hand engine off ebay, but i would possibly
buy a 2nd hand head if it looked allright in the blurry pics ,.
surely you can get it done for less than that..

k8

[katykoo]

I think I amgoing to shop around for prices..so you'd say its a head problem, hence no compression in the cylinder?

what sort of price should I be looking to pay to get a new or 2nd hand head and labour?

Thanks

[Therunner]

sorry, was the other person that said it was a head or valve
problem,. i couldn't say but it's gotta be cheaper to fix than
risking 2nd hand or buying a new one,.

[Therunner]

Try joining a local club for info on a mechanic/garage in your area that knows Aircooled engines.

Better - and cheaper in the long run - to repair the engine you have, than take a chance on an unknown. A good recon is going to cost upwards of £1000, an engine off ebay could cost you £150-200, or more, plus the cost of fitting and comes with no guarantees(s?)!

Melvin

[dugcati]

you have PM.....

[Therunner]

T