Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2003 05:46:25 -0400
Reply-To: Vanagon Man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Vanagon Man <vgonman@MSN.COM>
Subject: Re: 2.3L WBX build, install, test drive,
and confounding questions... (pretty darn long)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Sometimes the oil pressure is low on a new engine for a little
while............the oil is getting hotter for things are breaking in, and
causing more friction.
Adam P
Charleston,SC
81 Westy "The Brick "
70 Single Cab "Whitey"
74 Beetle "Ol Yeller"
73 Transporter (STILL at paint shop)
1988 Vanagon Wolfsburg
1976 Transporter (New CA bus)
1974 412 "Goldmember"
Used Vanagon Parts for sale (mostly aircooled)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Damon Campbell" <damoncampbellvw@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2003 12:52 AM
Subject: 2.3L WBX build, install, test drive, and confounding questions...
(pretty darn long)
> I finished up the 2.3L WBX engine last week, and got
> it running this week (couldn't work on it over the
> weekend because of that whole "wedding" thing getting
> in the way - and i mean mine :-). So we fired it
> up... or at least tried to. Really difficult to crank
> over, but with a boost (4 year old battery...), it
> fires up, and we are all happy. A mellow drive to
> Santa Cruz over hwy 17 shows it running strong, and
> willing to get up hills with enough power in 4th gear
> - not crazy amounts, but enough to accelerate a bit,
> too, and not have to downshift (even at 40mph). It
> drives really well... smooth, quiet, and enough power
> to feel solid and not wholly underpowered.
>
> However. And this is a *big* however, there are two
> problems...
> 1) When hot, even with a brand new battery, the
> engine simply won't crank over. At best, you may get
> 1/2 a lazy revolution. It cranks over and fires up
> cold with some difficulty, but it does.
> 2) Oil pressure is low (grrr...). When at full temp,
> idle is around 5psi and at say, 3000 rpm, we are
> closer to 20-25psi. These obviously aren't great.
> Not even close to good.
>
> The confusion is that these seem almost contradictory.
> No hot start almost seems like a bearing binding, but
> low oil pressure and smooth running seems like
> excessive clearances? Just stabbing in the dark here.
>
>
> I'm just about ready to pull it apart again and take
> it to volkscafe and have them rebuild the shortblock
> again, just so i know it is done right (quick plug for
> Peter's awesome customer service, btw). But i want to
> know if any of you have any thoughts on what these
> problems may be. In the stand, the crank turned over
> fine with no resistance, and with pistons installed,
> still felt pretty darn smooth... I'm pretty much at a
> loss, and could really use some help here.
>
> Thanks much to the list gods,
> -Damon
>
> (on a positive note, i have a really good idea of what
> is going on in the engine back there, and how to
> kludge up a 2.1/1.9 hybrid...)
>
> =====
> '84 Westy (Sparky)
> '65 Kharma Ghia (Dharma)
>
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