65 kombi bring back help

[jrmicrobits]

Hi everyone, a few months ago I purchased a 1965 kombi barn find that had been stored properly since 97. The man I bought it from was the original owner and has been for 51 years meticulous in keeping records and care for the van. He is 71 now and his cancer has returned. This is how I came about being the second owner of such a treasure. Overall the bus is in excellent shape with very little rust. Of course its not running and needs a complete brake overhaul which I am quite capable of completing myself. I currently own a 68 bug and a 72 Ghia which the Ghia I have owned (2nd owner also) for 24 years. I have had quite a few vw' s in my life time and have always done all my own work on them. At present my triage of the bus I have found that the starter armature was fried and I bought a new 6v and put it in. I've replaced the distributor also and rebuilt the dual 32 pdsit carbs. I'm getting fuel and I'm getting fire and everything is timed correctly but can't get it running. This is a matching numbers engine that the owner upgraded with the duals, p&C's and old school scat exhaust Back in the late 60's early 70's. OK finally here is my question for all experts that might help. The battery is charged fully and when I turn it over it sounds like something is dragging slowing the turning. When I pull all the plugs and have no load then of course it spins freely but makes a " clunk" every 4th revolution. Through lots of diagnosing I think its either a warped flywheel or possibly a bad gland nut. I have check for end play by trying to pull back and forth on the lower flywheel but it doesn't move at All. I intend to pull the engine soon and inspect the clutch and everything because I need to remove the fuel tank and redo it. I've tried to be as specific in my question and what I'm doing but if I've left out something I'm sorry as it is a lot to start off explaining. Anyone willing to help is appreciated.

[Red Fau Veh]

That sounds like an awesome bus, you should post some pics as soon as you can, congratulations!
_________________
1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[jrmicrobits]

Hey thanks I will post some pictures as soon as I can figure out how. I will post pictures of all of my VW's but I can't figure out how to set the size that the website will accept. I'm using my " stupid phone" to post with.......or is it operator error .... hmmmmmmm

Have any idea about what's dragging on the bus engine?

[Red Fau Veh]

I don't know, sounds like one piston has a problem. But I know you should wait to try and start it until some of the better people here have a chance to comment on it. It could be bad if you do and something screws up you original engine. Original buses like yours need to be carefully diagnosed.
_________________
1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[jrmicrobits]

Thanks I will, that's why I'm asking for help because I want to properly get it going as gentle as possible. I tried again to upload some pic again but it said my file type is not accepted. One day I might get it all going

[jrmicrobits]

[EverettB]

You can email me the photos if you want.

It's weird that it had dual carbs - that is not normal for a '65 but someone may have added them in the past for more power.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[Red Fau Veh]

_________________
1971 Deluxe Sunroof Bay 1905 stroker, dual idf40's, 74mm Scat forged crank, engle 110 cam. CB 044 heads, AutoCraft rockers, chromoly push rods
1973 Orange transporter stock type 4 with dual 40 Dellortos and Empi single quiet pack
1969 Adventurewagen blue whale Gene Berg 1776 built by Dave Kawell dual 36 DRLA's, Vintage Speed exhaust, Bosch 019 screamer
1961 Swivel Seat camper, L345 grey

[Abscate]

Solid looking Bus.

Definitely want the story behind that press pass.

Don't tow backwards, it's bad karma ( old nautical meme, I'm sure you were just positioning it)
_________________
.ssS!

[esde]

Any carb that has been sitting for 20 years needs to come apart for cleaning and new accelerator pump diaphragms.
Nice find, looks amazingly solid
_________________
modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that.

[BulliBill]

Odd distributor too?
_________________
I'm looking for these license plate frames for my fleet:
Coeur D'Alene - Lake Shore Volkswagen
Mission VW - San Fernando
Thornton VW - Stockton

Thanks for any help!

[BarryL]

[jrmicrobits]

Well I believe its every 4th half revolution because it goes....... 123 klunk 123 klunk 123 klunk. That's the best way I can describe it but the " klunk" is very faint but I can hear it. When I put the plugs back in it drags and turns slow with a mild grinding sound. With the plugs out and turning it over by hand it seems to Be hard to turn sometimes on #1 or #4 or #3 different each time that's what makes me think that the needle bearing in the gland nut might have fallen apart causing the sound or uncommon dragging but I'm not sure any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks for the response

[jrmicrobits]

Thanks everyone for the positive feedback. The original owner put the duals on it and a Mallory dual point dist. With a merged header and scat muffler back around 68 or 69. That's about the only mods he made to it being he was the only owner until I got it. As far as the press pass I'll have to ask him more about it but I think he said he did some reporting for a local news station back in the 60's when he lived in California. he bought the bus new and saved every receipt,dealership document, window sticker, payment booklet, service receipt ect.... he gave me a whole pile of documents pertaining to the entire history of the bus since 65. Quite amazing to me as well as being one of the most interesting fellows I've meet in years. He also was a shop teacher for 2 different colleges in his career.

[BarryL]

[jrmicrobits]

Yes sir I have taken off the valve covers and checked to make sure all rockers were moving by having my son rotate the engine. I pulled all the plugs first thing and put a little marvel mystery oil in each cyl. And a little down each push rod tube to get to the lifters then let it soak for a day or so. I then static timed the engine when I put another dist. In because I had a hard time finding replacement parts for the old Mallory. I put fresh oil in and checked the filter screen for any grit or metal bits ( very clean). Even the inside of the cyl heads and rocker Assembly's are nice and shiny clean for such an old engine. Once I installed the dist. I put fresh plugs in the new plug wires and had my son turn the engine over and they all fired. Then I moved onto the carbs.looking at the push rods none appear to be bent as the valve lash all checked out at .006.

[BarryL]

[jrmicrobits]

Mr. Barry I haven't noticed the oil light coming on or going off. I will test the circuit to verify it is working as the bus was stored for many years and wouldent be surprised at any failing circuit. I also have a screw in type compression tester. I will check out both of these issues and post my results. Last night I took a push button starter switch I have and by passed the key switch and headlight switch only producing the same results so I would say that both of those switches are working and can eliminate them as a fault location. Thank you for your interest

[Pinetops]

Man that looks like a good bus, congratulations! Maybe you can post some pics of the interior when you get a chance.
_________________
"A rolling bus gathers no rust."

[jrmicrobits]

Well I pulled the engine this weekend and quickly figured out what was causing the dragging and clunk sound. I found that the spring clip on the drivers side of the throwout bearing had come out and was chewed up by the flywheel.intermittingly getting stuck between the bell housing and flywheel teeth causing the starter to drag. The other spring clip was just barely hanging on.