Hi guys, I am a newbie here and no very little about mechanics but am looking for some help / guidance. I recently bought a 1972 Doormobile and am pleased with it but have an issue :-( I bought the bus and the new engine had already been fitted and only covered about 100 miles, I finished running it in to 500 miles, changed the oil and adjusted the tappets as per the manufacturers guidelines - this is the engine - http://www.theengineshop.info/acatalog/Green-Engine-211100033B_GREEN.html the bus was running with very little power (for a new engine) . Although it starts 1st time and runs ok on idle it still lacks any power. I called out green flag to be welcomed bya bloke who literally hated VW's !! however he adjusted the points by eye and it was running absolutely great, good power and great even up hills and said I needed to get the timing done. Under his advice got this done and since then it has very little power again. I thought an electronic igniton kit (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190631798025#ht_5816wt_1189) would sort this out and has made no difference whatsoever. I have taken it to my mechanic twice and he adjusts timing etc bit each time still the same. I know the bus can drive sooo much better form what the guy form greenflag did but now don't know what to do. She is booked in for a full windows out respray inside and out in about a months time so want to get the engine running great beforehand. The other thing is it is a little bit poppy from the exhaust. Any help of advice would be greatly received on what i can do to get the power back as it was. Thanks !! Mark
if the green flag guy adjusted the points and it was better until the timing was adjusted then the timing could have been done incorrectly in the ebay link, is that the exact distributer you fitted with the vac advance? vac advance distributer timing is set differently to a 009 so could have been set at max advance? when you did the tappets did you have a stone cold engine? if not, do them again
Checked your link to the engine supplier and every item on that site says CATALOG SUSPENDED! no other information is given. I wonder which engine you have fitted. Can you check what size it is? Do you have a receipt? You refer to it as a "new engine" but they supply reconditioned engines so I wonder iJf anyone else on here has bought an engine from these guys? The Engine Shop Ltd Unit A2 Darenth Works Ray Lamb Way Erith KENT DA8 2SP, United Kingdom 01322 350022 And does anyone know how good their work is and are they still in business? If anyone lives in or near Erith perhaps you could take a drive there and have o look?
TES have (had) a reasonable reputation. They certainly know VW engines. I'm not sure whether they're still in business. I'd start with checking the ignition timing again, properly.
With regard to whether or not TES are still trading it might be worth bunging Josh at JK a query as they still list their recon boxes.
Hi and welcome to the late bay jigsawmark Where abouts are you located we may have a member near by who can take a look for you
Hi Guys, Thanks very much for the replies ! I know that TES are still trading as I needed to call them regarding what oil they recommended. I don't think the engine is the issue as after the Green flag guy played with it it was pulling great, which leaves me to think ignition or carb adjustment but as I say I am no mechanic :-( I have answered the things you asked below which may help I am located in Flackwell Heath near High Wycombe Paradox and that would be great if there is anyone close by. Will maybe get someone else to do the timing again Snotty as you suggested as does seem a bit odd and frustrating that the green flag guy just did adjustments by eye ! Here is the info I have on the engine Doubledecker; Part number211100033b/green. S/eng 1.6 unleaded, and yes you are quite right I mean recon rather than brand new. It cost the previous owner Just over £1k after clutch kit etc Hey Aussiebay, yes it is the one with the Vacum advance and would think the mechanic would have know about the timing and to do when cold, but cant be sure as left with them. Hope this helps a little further in working out this mystery :-( Thanks again for your help !
As has been said, timing sounds like the job to do. Static timing is good for basic set up but for an old engine and even a recon dynamic timing at normal operating temperature is the only way to be sure. It's the same for points and leccy. These engines were designed to work with vac advance so the standard dynamic setting for your engine should work.
Thanks for that double decker, will give it a spin and see how it goes. Have a good one and thanks for the help !
Out of interest does anyone know a mechanic close to High Wycombe who knows VW's well and could sort the timing , as I think it needs someone who specialises in them maybe ? Thanks !
Flat spot could be down to timing. But also perhaps the mixture needs adjusting as well : Because of the electric choke on the original 34PICT3 or a progressive DFAV 32/36 the mixture will be rich at first, making the engine sound poppy. You have to wait a couple of minutes for the choke to warm up. And if the carburettor is a progressive it may take a long time for the inlet manifold to warm up (if ever) and for the engine to settle down and to lose a possible flat spot caused by the petrol just coating the inlet manifold rather than vapourising properly when you stomp the accelerator. So it runs lean for a moment, almost dying with the progressive carburettor as the throttle opens causing a lurch. If this is a possible problem, the manifold just below the carburettor will likely feel cold to the touch - my setup suffered this until I changed the air intake back to the original oil bath from the chrome filter. That lets the engine breath properly warmed up thermostatically controlled air from the cylinder head when you push down on the accelerator. And the flat spot diminishes. A 20 mile journey seems to get everything to steady temperatures. A
