Help wanted !

[Richiee722]

just like to say, great site.
I've been a watching member for a while but this is my first post.
I bought a Westy last year with 2.0cu engine and it's never ran right, broke down on our 1st voyage and after losing heart has been parked up since.
Top speed of 45-50mph and overheated.
I've changed all the leads,plugs, dizzy cap, rotar arm etc, set the timing ,new fuel pump and still it runs rubbish and hot.
Basically I can't drive it due to all the problems and no mot now so am looking for anybody willing to come and have a look at it and hopefully fix it, in the Newport S.Wales area.
I've probably made it worse by messing with it so there's a lesson !
I can assist and don't expect any help for free
Thanks in advance and sorry if this is in the wrong section

[Fudgy666]

I bought a Westy last year with 2.0cu engine and it's never ran right, top speed of 45-50mph and overheated.

Hello Welcome to the forum

Not in South Wales I'm afraid, so some other kind member will have to offer to come and take a look.

Quickly off of the top of my head, these are a few basic things I'd check re: the Overheating.

Oil level and Oil type (Check the Wiki, but I think it says 15W50 mineral oil or 20W50 mineral oil for Aircooled ?)
Tinware is all accounted for and rubber seal around the engine bay is doing it's job.
The Thermostat flaps are either working, or have failed in the safe position (Allowing maximum cooling).
Side air vents are not blocked.
I'd also change the Oil Filter and Oil Strainer if it's a new van and you don't know when they were last done.

Plenty of other things to check, but that's all I could think of in the time it took me to drink my coffee.

Good Luck, don't lose heart.

Just systematically narrow down the problem and report back. Photos can also be useful for identifying probs.

[Richiee722]

Thanks for the reply
I should of said , I changed the oil & strainer after it broke down.
The engine bay seal is in place , all the tin ware is there ( I think ) the thermostat isn't connected but I think they fail , but I don't know how to check if mine has ( I'll have to have a read ).
The only other things I can think of worth mentioning is, I can vaguely remember the guy I bought it from saying he'd stuck a rag in some hose to stop it blowing air through the dash ?
Also because it sounded super tappety, even though they are hydraulic ( cos I took one out cos I had to change pushrod seals ) , they were all set as though they were solids.
There was also a random washer in the rocker cover but I can't see where it come from, and while I'm in the subject and it might sound a bit dull but I've had the rocker covers off a few times, taken it for a run in between, had it running loads etc, treble checked the oil level since I changed it but there never seems to be a drop of oil in the covers ?

[BOXY]

Also because it sounded super tappety, even though they are hydraulic ( cos I took one out cos I had to change pushrod seals ) , they were all set as though they were solids.

If you've gapped the valves and it has got hydraulic tappets the valves will hardly be opening so you'll be way down on power. I would get the valves set-up properly first and then check the timing.

[Richiee722]

Hi there Boxy
Sorry mate, I meant when I serviced it I checked them and they were all set as if they were solids ,so I thought great I've found the problem and reset them just touching and then in 1 1/2 turns.
Then reset the timing and it doesn't run right or even sound right.
I'm wondering how long they were set like it and if that may of damaged something else.