Exposed Flywheel...is it a problem?

[BigGirther]

Hi everyone
Got a new van at weekend. Its got a peogeot 1.9 xantia engine with the original 4sd. Its quite a tidy conversion but the bell-housing doesn't completely cover up all the workings. Worried some horrible road crap is going to get in there n mash up the clutch and jazz.

Does anyone reckon this is destined to be a problem? Is there owt i can do about it without having to get some fancy replacement bell housing?

[camper]

Post a pict of the conversion then we can see what might be needed.

[BigGirther]

ok, ill take a picture tomorrow

[camper]

I like the pug engine conversion as an alternative engine.Its the adapter plate to the VW gearbox and engine support that needs to be well made .I think you will have difficulty in finding a bell housing for Pug engine to a VW gearbox .I have searched the web but carnt find a bell housing conversion kit .There is a person nicknamed famous phil who supplied adapter plate kits for the conversion but he seems to have not been on the VW forums lately.He would be able to advice you about the exposed flywheel. http://vwkd.co.uk/bb/viewtopic.php?t=393" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Here is a link to a Topic

[BigGirther]

Cheers mate
well iv got the pictures if anyone wants to see them

not sure where the oil is coming from, not had a chance to look at it yet

[camper]

The adapter plate looks a solid job.If it was me i would make up some templates out of cardboard to cover the exposed areas then copy to sheet metal & find away to hold them on.Ive been interested in the pug conversion there are some right bodge jobs that have been done with regards to the adapter platee & engine cradle.From the pict your adapter plate up to the job.

[andysimpson]

The adapter plate looks a solid job.If it was me i would make up some templates out of cardboard to cover the exposed areas then copy to sheet metal & find away to hold them on.Ive been interested in the pug conversion there are some right bodge jobs that have been done with regards to the adapter platee & engine cradle.From the pict your adapter plate up to the job.

How can you say its good or bad from them pictures?

[camper]

I am talking about the thickness of the adapter plate compared against 2mm home made.

[PC52]

Now, in my opinion (and I'm not slating anybody here) I suspect you may be loosing oil from the gearbox via the spiggot shaft seal.
The pug engine is a big old heavy lump, probaly far to heavy for the back of a T25 especially once you have loaded it up and off on your travels.
The adapter plate is secured using the 4 original VW bolts on the petrol bell housing, this is by no means man enough to hold the engine with it's torque securely.



The movement created causes this:



and



It may be possible to avoid the movement or most of it by doweling it all but... who knows 'cos I couldn't be arsed with it. Just lucky no more damage was caused.

Been there done it, scrapped the lump and replaced with what should've gone in there in the first place a proper VW mTDI. Oh you probably could do with some tinware at the back, can't remember exactly but think there was some tinware behind the fly wheel.

If you are to persist I do have some engine mountings we fabricated that come off of the pug and go onto standard diesel bars - makes it look a lot tidier inplace of the ugly thing like this that they all sit on.

[jed the spread]

I had a similar problem on the first engine I had in my Westy Syncro. It had an engine conversion with only 200 and odd miles on when i bought it and I could see the fly wheel like you can on your picture. It was pissing oil out and i thought the clutch was becoming contaminated with stray drips of oil as it started to slip. I had Syncronutz have a look at it for me (as my gearbox wanted a rebuild i found out on the way up to them) and it turns out the engine conversion being a right bodge job they had forgot to put a spigot baring in place when the last lot of cowboys fitted the new engine. Its happened to a few people i know i have now found out sice. I ended up having an AAZ fitted properly by Synconutz and its been good as gold since.

jed

[PC52]

... and it turns out the engine conversion being a right bodge job they had forgot to put a spigot baring in place when the last lot of cowboys fitted the new engine. Its happened to a few people i know i have now found out sice. I ended up having an AAZ fitted properly by Synconutz and its been good as gold since. jed

Actually, it should be the second instruction fit spiggot bearing (writing to the outside) on any engine conversion.

Common mistake made by lots, even the so called knowledgable mechanics - bit the same as fitting the jx head gasket upside down.

[BigGirther]

Seems i need to find out soon where this oil is coming from then. I have noticed the clutch slipping, thought it could be from the oil but i dont know what condition the clutch is in. Think i might as well get the gear box out, have a look if its pissing oil, check the spig, check clutch and if alls well get some tin round the bellhousing...sound like a plan?

[PC52]

Seems i need to find out soon where this oil is coming from then. I have noticed the clutch slipping, thought it could be from the oil but i dont know what condition the clutch is in. Think i might as well get the gear box out, have a look if its pissing oil, check the spig, check clutch and if alls well get some tin round the bellhousing...sound like a plan?

Yep sounds like a plan, don't forget the naughty bolt in the starter hole.
We had 50mph bad clutch slip, low revs seemed okay, anything more and well, it wasn't good, just got home and gearbox oil spewed out.
If you are going to continue with the engine consider dowels and make sure it is DEFINATELY plumb inline.

[BigGirther]

Cheers mate..i do want to keep this engine just hope im not going in over my head..

Ill keep you all updated

[BigGirther]

...can i ask where do these dowels go? what do they do?